Meet the Team

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kinh Ha (he/him) graduated from UMass Boston in 2020 as a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology. He then went on to pursue a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in children, youth, and families from Boston College. During his time as a graduate student, Kinh worked in the field of early childhood education and supported families by providing them with resources in the Fields Corner, Dorchester area. As an alum from UMass Boston, Kinh enjoyed the many opportunities and courses that the university offered, such as the Honors College and the Asian American Studies Program. Now as an Academic and Career Advisor, Kinh is excited to work with students in higher education and provide them with the resources that were available to him when he was an undergraduate at the university.