10/18/2024

UMass Lowell leaders, faculty, students, alumni and friends gathered Thursday to rededicate the university’s music department headquarters amid a celebration of distinguished alumni.

Now known as the Jacqueline F. Moloney Performing Arts Center, the renovated Durgin Hall on the university’s South Campus is benefitting from upgrades to its main concert hall, including new energy-efficient LED stage and house lighting in energy, a state-of-the-art audio system. and upgraded seating for 900 spectators. University Hall also includes a smaller recital hall, classrooms, private and ensemble music rehearsal spaces, recording studios, and a music technology lab for UMass Lowell music students and K-12 students who participate in community music programs offered by the university.

The improvements were made possible by a $2 million donation from Lowell philanthropist Nancy Donahue. The building’s rededication in honor of UMass Lowell alumna and Chancellor Emerita Jacqueline Moloney ’75, ’92 was approved by the UMass System Board of Trustees earlier this year.

“It is fitting that this performing arts center, which has become a focal point for the university and the community, is dedicated in the name of Chancellor Emeritus Jacquie Moloney. Jacquie’s commitment to the arts and humanities during her tenure as Chancellor has been an inspiration, and countless performers, composers and technicians have honed their talents in this building,” said the President of UMass, Marty Meehan. “I can think of no better way to honor him and his long-standing service to the university and the Greater Lowell community.”

The celebration included a series of performances from students involved in the UMass Lowell chamber singers, wind ensemble and marching band, as well as music faculty members.

“This vibrant performing arts center is an ideal home for UMass Lowell’s nationally renowned music programs, showcasing their breadth and scope while ushering in a new era of increased community engagement,” said said Julie Chen, chancellor of UMass Lowell.

In addition to honoring Moloney, the university recognized 12 other outstanding graduates with annual alumni awards during the event. Each of the nine honorees is a graduate of one of UMass Lowell’s schools or colleges, while three other outstanding young alumni were recognized for the impact they have made in service to the university, community or in their profession. The winners were:

• Nora Batson’95, ’00A Boston native and graduate of the School of Criminology and Forensic Studies, head of the Professional Development Office of the Boston Police Department
• Cynthia Conde ’87, ’91of New Castle, New Hampshirelaureate of the Francis College of Engineering, co-founder and board member of New Hampshire Life Sciences, which aims to grow the life sciences sector in the Granite State.
• Samuel Curry ’96of North Andoverlaureate of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, vice president and director of information security of the cybersecurity company Zscaler
• Jill Drury ’96, ’02of Manchester, NHlaureate of the Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences, retired researcher and former department head at MITER Corporation
• Bob Giles ’79, ’86, of Upton, Massachusettslaureate of the Kennedy College of Sciences, professor emeritus and professor emeritus of UMass Lowell
• Jerome ‘87 And Michelle ’87 Holland of Londonderry, New Hampshire, Zuckerberg College of Heath Sciences honorees, physical therapists and co-owners of Performance Rehab, Inc., an outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine physical therapy practice
• Martha Mayo ’92of Lowell, Massachusettslaureate of the School of Education, retired director of the Center for Lowell History, part of the UMass Lowell Libraries
• Douglas Reader ‘83 of Mound of Flowers, Texaslaureate of the Manning School of Business, senior managing director of Kainos Capital
• Kevin Whitney ’96 of Chelmsford, Massachusettslaureate of the Solomont School of Nursing, director of operations of Mass General Brigham Homecare

The Young Alumni Awards were presented to the following people:

• Bradley Buitenhuys ’14of Bristol, NHfor service to the community. He is executive director of Lowell Litter Krewe, a nonprofit organization that conducts volunteer beautification projects throughout the city. Buitenhuys also owns and operates Dutch Property Management, a property management and construction company.
• Shruti Jain-Lynch ’20of Westford, Massachusetts, for his pursuit of innovation and success. She is a Product Manager at Dell Technologies with experience in product management, software engineering, teaching and research.
• Patrick Kiley ’18 of Groton, Massachusettsfor service to the university. He serves as director of emergency management at the Boston Conference of University Hospitals, where he coordinates hospital preparedness and incident management efforts regionally.

Media contacts:
Emily Gowdey-Backus, [email protected]
Nancy Cicco, [email protected]