Meet the Team

Monique S. Cooper is an equity-minded higher education professional who is passionate about creating and sustaining inclusive campus climates where students from diverse backgrounds can thrive. Her extensive professional experiences include teaching, counseling, advising, and administration at a variety of institutions. Her multicultural and equity-minded philosophy focuses on optimizing holistic development, cultural empowerment and empathy, and career readiness and satisfaction for all students. She possesses a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in School Counseling from Cambridge College, and a PhD degree in Learning, Leadership, and Educational Policy from the University of Connecticut. Her dissertation focused on examining perceptions and enactment of equity-minded, culturally sustaining career services.

She has served as one of the lead researchers on a campus wide racial microaggressions survey at the University of Connecticut that explored the racialized experiences of over 1,000 students of Color. In addition, she has published scholarly research in journals such as the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE). She has delivered trainings, keynotes, and workshops nationally on a variety of topics including anti-racist career services, building and sustaining culturally responsive teams, and enhancing DEI efforts in higher education.

Currently, Dr. Cooper is the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic and Career Engagement and Success at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She oversees a team of academic and career advisors and career services professionals who are tasked with implementing a holistic, student-centered advising model. Through collaborative efforts, she has secured over $1M in donor funding to support equitable student outcomes and career success.

Dr. Dee Smith brings over 15 years of proven expertise in academic advising, student services, admissions, and enrollment within higher education. Specializing in grant management, DEI initiatives, and international student support, Dee has successfully led various programs related to admissions, enrollment, orientation, and student advising. With an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and a track record of completing campus QEP projects, Dee received the 2008 Community Service Award from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Dee is committed to creating a collaborative and vibrant work environment.

Charlie Klemmer is the Assistant Director for Employer Partnerships for the Academic and Career Engagement and Success Center at UMass Boston. He is passionate about developing employer and community partner networks to improve student access to career success. Having worked in Co-ops and Careers at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Cristo Rey Boston High School’s Corporate Work Study Program, Charlie understands the importance of working collaboratively to develop sustainable career pathways. He has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in English Language and Literature from Santa Clara University and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Secondary Education and Teaching from Providence College. Charlie is proud of his commitment to volunteering, previously serving in the Peace Corps in Mozambique, and currently supporting the Boston community through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and Boston Partners in Education programs. In his spare time, Charlie enjoys gathering with friends and family, organizing a pick-up soccer league, and relaxing with a good book or newly recommended TV show.

Evelyn González-Otañez is the Associate Director of the Professional Apprenticeship Career Experience (PACE) program and the University of Massachusetts Boston. Born in Los Angeles, California, Evelyn’s commitment to her career in postsecondary education is informed by her lived experiences as Salvadorian American growing up in Latinx communities in the Central Valley of California, where she has worked in both community colleges and public four-year universities. She has a passion for supporting first-generation students by providing guidance in their career development and exploration.

Evelyn has proudly received her B.A. in Sociology from California State University, Fresno, Master’s degree in Education Policy from Boston University and she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Boston Higher Education program. Evelyn also recently obtained a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida.

Kurt Klopmeier is the Assistant Director of Programming for the Academic and Career Engagement and Success Center at UMass Boston. He comes from the St. Louis, MO area and went to Washington University in St. Louis where he received his undergraduate degree in English, German, and Philosophy. He moved to Boston in the Fall of 2010 to get his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry and then taught Critical Thinking and tutored undergraduate and graduate students for about 10 years in the Center for Academic Excellence before moving into academic and career advising. His interests include poetry, fiction, graphic literature, and media literacy.

Annie Sferrazza is a first-generation college graduate with a BA in Creative Writing & Literature from Hofstra University and an EdM in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Boston University. Prior to joining ACES in July 2022, she was an ESL teacher, and prior to that, she worked in the marketing industry. Annie grew up just outside of Boston, but has also lived in New York City and Spain, and has a passion for traveling and exploring different cultures. Annie really enjoys working with the students at UMB and is happy to interact with students both one-on-one or in classroom and workshop settings. In her spare time, Annie enjoys reading, running, hiking, and writing.

Joseph Browne is the Research Training Manager for the UMass Boston – Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Partnership Research Education Core. Jo has over a decade of experience managing education programs at research universities. His focus is on increasing access to STEM professions for students from historically underrepresented groups, and he has supported students on their journeys from high school through graduate school. Jo has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Brown University.

Justyn Santiago is the new University of Massachusetts Boston Professional Apprenticeship Career Experience Program (PACE) Coordinator. He is an alum of Umass Boston where he received 2 degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Finance, and a Bachelor of Art in Sport Leadership Administration. While at Umass Boston, Justyn’s most notable work came from co-founding the Umass Boston My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) chapter in 2019 aimed at elevating graduation rates by implementing targeted strategies and comprehensive support systems through a multi-generational mentorship model. In his final year as a student Justyn was awarded the Beacon Leadership, “Unsung Hero” award for his commitment to student life and student success on campus. He most recently served as the Staff Advisor to the MBK program. Justyn is excited to implement his strategic thinking and bridge the gap between academics and career success to the PACE program. 

Susan has been working in higher education for over 20 years. She really likes talking to students 1:1 to learn about their career path and discussing how to help the student to reach their career goals.

She has been at UMass Boston for several years in Career Services, helping students learn professional skills to make them a competitive candidate when applying for jobs and internships. She previously worked as an academic advisor. In addition, Susan also teaches a class in the Psychology Department.

Susana Tran (she/ they) joined the Academic and Career Engagement and Success Center in July 2022. She is a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from UMass Boston. Susana enjoys working with students to achieve their academic and career goals and creating a space where they feel they belong. She encourages and shares resources and opportunities on and off the UMass Boston campus with students to help them explore, grow, and succeed academically, personally, and experientially.

Gabe graduated from UMass Boston in 2022 after getting his degree in English. He loves the community at UMass Boston and wants to continue building that sense of belonging after he got his degree. Working to foster a feeling of trust and safety amongst his students is his number one priority while working as an Academic & Career Advisor. In his free time, Gabe loves to play basketball, read, listen to music, and strives to be the best version of himself by remaining a lifelong learner.

Stephanie Hicks-Williams is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. She joined the UMASS Boston staff in 2006 and has worked at the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement and Urban Scholars Programs, and the Academic Career Engagement & Success Center (ACES), giving her exposure to middle school, high school, and college students.  Stephanie’s desire to improve the quality of life in her environment resulted in more than 15 years of community service as a political operative in the Massachusetts political arena, and her eventual enrollment in UMASS Boston’s College of Public and Community Service (CPCS). At CPCS she earned her BA in Legal Education with a concentration in non-profit management. Stephanie’s passion for the advocacy of students, parents and families led her to the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) also at UMASS Boston, where she earned a M.Ed. in Special Education and a M.Ed. in School Counseling. Stephanie is highly interested in the philosophy and proven benefits of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) teaching and learning technique and sees it as a needed teaching tool for the diverse educational, social emotional, and cultural needs represented in classrooms, community colleges, and universities of the future. Stephanie is a wife, mother of three sons, and proud grandmother, who enjoys spending her free time with her family.

Ivy Bui (She/Hers) graduated from UMass Boston’s College of Management in 2016 with a B.S. in Leadership and Organizational Change and a program – of – study in Asian American Studies. Before joining the Academic and Career Engagement and Success Center, Ivy explored a multitude of career pathways, gaining experience in various sectors including beauty industry and educational travel industry. Ivy also served as a core member of the UMass Boston Digital Storytelling in Asian American Studies team led by Dr. Shirley Tang. She co-produced multimedia projects with Asian American and other BIPOC students, including personal digital stories that address complex and intersecting critical issues for public audiences. She believes that storytelling practices can be a powerful tool for UMass Boston students to connect their lived experiences with their academic efforts, career goals, and broader society. With all these experiences, she looks forward to engaging with students and helping them make connections between their academics, their career aspirations, and more.

Clyde has been a long-standing member of the UMASS Boston community for many years. His vast experience at UMASS Boston ranges from Admissions, University Recruitment, Marketing, Communications, Financial Aid, Registrar, Bursar, and has been a part of the Academic and Career Advising community specifically, for over 14 years. He currently serves as an Academic Advisor in the Academic and Career Engagement Success Center known as “ACES”, here at UMASS Boston. Clyde is passionate about academic and career advising and is a strong believer that this combination goes hand in hand with one another in order to provide essential, comprehensive development for our students. Clyde believes in and utilizes an asset-based, strengths-based, equity-minded, holistic approach to his academic and career advising with students, and has been a long-time advocate for students and their success.

In his academic and career advising role, Clyde works with a wide variety of students ranging from Undergraduate First-Year students, Undergraduate Transfer students, Undergraduate Non-Degree/Guest students, students on a “Future Student Contract” with Undergraduate Admissions, Visiting students from other colleges, Post-Undergraduate students, Pre-Matriculated students, Dual Enrollment students, Graduate students, Senior Learners, and a host of other Life-Long Learners of all ages; he also provides academic and career advising services for Prospective students as well, who request to have an in depth advising and/or career-oriented discussion with an advisor before making that important decision to enroll at UMASS Boston at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Clyde understands the vital importance of good, competent academic and career advising and the difference it can make in the lives of students of all ages, and strives to provide these services at the highest level to students. He has spent many years in academic and career advising and has demonstrated a long-time commitment to helping students of all categories and in all situations navigate their way to and

through UMASS Boston to reach their particular academic and career goals, and he is still going strong!

Clyde enjoys nice long walks on nice spring and summer-like days, being social, a good sense of humor, writing poetry, and making people feel special. He also is into music, and you might even catch him singing a tune as he goes about his day!

Kim Fragopoulos (she/her) is a UMass Boston alum who started out as in Italian major, switched to Spanish and graduated with a degree in Psychology. She earned her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at Northeastern University. Prior to joining ACES as an Academic & Career advisor, Kim was the Student Retention Specialist in Financial Aid Services working with students who are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress. She proudly held this role for 11 years. Kim is a fierce advocate for underrepresented, marginalized, and neurodiverse students and has an emotional investment in student success. She takes an appreciative and strength-based approach to advising, is a deep empath, and strives to create a safe and welcoming space for students.

Kim is a Boston native and is a product of the Boston Public Schools system. She loves to travel, especially to Sedona Arizona, and the mountains of Western Greece. She also loves learning new languages – she can converse in Spanish and Italian, but has also studied Latin, Greek, French, and Mandarin Chinese. Some hidden talents include speaking several languages within the same sentence, classic rock trivia, and cartoon voiceovers. At home, she is mom to a beautiful sassy daughter, a dog, and a cat – none of whom like to share her attention.