William James College has bestowed honorary degrees on two distinguished Newton residents:
Dr. Rochelle Walensky served as the 19th Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021 to 2023) and before that was at the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard University (2012-2021), and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Massachusetts General Hospital (2017-2021). Her honorary degree pays tribute to her work as an infectious disease clinician whose beliefs on research led to groundbreaking discoveries and over 300 publications. Her research and publications changed the way the U.S. does HIV testing, expanded funding on HIV-related research and treatment, revised policies toward aggressive HIV screening for those who are underserved, and led to earlier treatment in resource-limited international settings.
Josephine McNeil is the Executive Director of Citizens for Affordable Housing in Newton Development Organization, Inc. (CAN-DO), a nonprofit, community-based organization that manages and builds affordable housing. During her tenure as Executive Director, CAN-DO had built approximately 50 houses that serve individuals with developmental disabilities, women survivors of domestic violence, and formerly homeless veterans. Forty-three of these houses are deed-restricted, ensuring that they remain affordable. Her honorary degree reflects her recognition across the Commonwealth and beyond for being able to successfully create affordable housing for the underserved in Newton.
Arpit Patel, Dante Capasso, and Glenn Rosengard have been elected to the board of directors of the Charles River Regional Chamber. Arpit Patel is the owner of the Newton-based business Oak n’Barrel, Dante Capasso is the owner of Newton Capasso Realty, and Glenn Rosengard is a Vice President and Area Manager at Eastern Bank.
Jacquline Liu has earned a Master of…