The Year in Pictures: A Look Back at 2024
BU photographers pick their 20 favorite photos of the year
The Year in Pictures: A Look Back at 2024
BU photographers pick their 20 favorite photos of the year
Before we embrace a new semester and a new year, let’s take a look back at life at Boston University in 2024. BU Today photographers Cydney Scott and Jackie Ricciardi chose their favorite images from the past year. These 20 photographs captured everything from the arrival of BU’s comfort dog (Bean, we’re talking about you!) to annual events like Commencement and Move-in to the historic inauguration of Melissa L. Gilliam as the University’s 11th president.

Typically, the photography team covers the action on and off the ice during the annual Men’s and Women’s Beanpot hockey tournaments. But, in 2024, we tried something different, deciding to focus on the people in the crowd. (BU Athletics provided the action shots.) This was one of my favorite photos of a fan reacting to BU scoring a goal during the 45th Women’s Beanpot championship at TD Garden on January 23. (Footnote: BU fell to Northeastern 2-1 in overtime.)
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

In early February 2024, the Boston University Police Department (BUPD) acquired a not-yet-named community resource dog in training. The 10-week-old, English Cream Golden Retriever, who was subsequently named Bean, took the campus by storm, causing squeals and squeezes wherever she went with her handler and owner, BUPD officer Geovanni Chevere. Over the past year, I’ve followed the pair for an upcoming photo story on the newest campus celebrity. In this picture, Bean, then 16 weeks old, keeps an eye on Officer Chevere during her first vet visit on March 20 at Randolph Animal Hospital.
Photo by Cydney Scott

The year was marked by a series of labor strikes by graduate student workers and RAs on campus. The graduate workers strike, which began March 24 and ended October 17, was the longest strike in BU history. It was organized by the Boston University Graduate Workers Union (BUGWU), which is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union Local 509.
Here, Niki Thomas, a Northeastern graduate student, cheers during a rally in support of graduate workers at Marsh Plaza on March 25. The students were striking for fair pay, better healthcare coverage, and stronger benefits.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

Peter Emero (CDS’27) (from left), Sean Sun (CDS’27), Junha Lee (CDS’27), and Eddie Super (CDS’27) play the video game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on March 26 at CDS Game Night, where data science majors and minors gathered for food, drinks, video games, board games, puzzles, and cornhole.
Photo by Cydney Scott

It’s tricky to continue to make interesting images after 14 years in one community, but I still love the challenge! The addition of BU’s Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences offers seemingly endless opportunities to capture the building from various perspectives.
Photo by Cydney Scott

Lina Jackson, a cook at Marciano Commons (from left), and Justine Kotongo, a BU barista, at the GSU on May 15 prepare small rolls for sandwiches being provided to folks during Commencement week, as cook John Quessa steps in to offer some assistance. Leading into Commencement, the BU photo team did something we’ve never done before: we put together a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to prepare for Commencement week each year. This image wasn’t included in the photo essay that ran, but I love it because it shows how hard the BU Dining Services staff works. The racks of buns in the background give some sense of just how many sandwiches it takes to feed the crowds that gather at more than 70 events held during the week.
Photo by Cydney Scott

Grounds worker Matt Pereira on April 30 waters plants waiting to be planted in flower beds across the Charles River Campus ahead of Commencement.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

Roger Vicente of BU Facilities Management & Operations sets up chairs on Nickerson Field May 13 in preparation for Boston University’s 151st Commencement.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

It’s always such a joy to see seniors relax and have some fun during Senior Week. Here, Jessica Spiers (CAS’24) (left) and Reghan Lanning (Sargent’24) launch down an inflatable slide at a carnival held on BU Beach May 15.
Photo by Cydney Scott

Alanna Martins (CAS’25) takes advantage of the virtually empty Think Tank study space in the College of Arts & Sciences in the late afternoon, June 13. Martins was taking Summer Term 1 classes remotely, but came to campus once a week for an assignment related to the psychology 101 class she was taking. “It’s really weird being here with the lights off and no one here, but I like it,” said Martin, who added that she “lives” at the CAS Think Tank during the regular academic year.
Capturing moments during the summer can be a challenge with the campus population decreasing. On this particular day, I wandered for quite a while and was thrilled to come across Martins, sitting in the dark in the beautiful window light! It was a good reminder for me that wandering across campus in search of a great photo can pay off.
Photo by Cydney Scott

An excited group of School of Hospitality Administration faculty and staff, including Leora Halpern Lanz, associate professor of the practice (right), greet President Melissa L. Gilliam during a tour of their building July 3. She had officially begun her presidency two days before, on July 1. BU Photography joined her for parts of her campus tour—which took place over two weeks—as she met faculty, staff, and students.
Photo by Cydney Scott

President Gilliam meets Bean, the BUPD comfort dog, during her first day as Boston University’s 11th president, July 1.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

President Gilliam tours BU’s Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering (CILSE) building with Provost Gloria Waters, David Boas (right), and Chantal Stern (left), during her first day as the new president on July 1.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

President Gilliam takes in the view from the ninth floor of Kilachand Hall August 28.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

It’s always fun to photograph something unique happening on campus. As I was walking down Comm Ave on August 27, I found Dylan Briggs of Jack’s Services washing the windows of the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences building.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

Inoa Manfredy (CAS’27) (right) embraces her new roommate, Riddhi Kasralikar (CAS’27), as Kasralikar arrives to move into their shared room at Kilachand Hall on Bay State Road August 28. The two, both enrolled in Kilachand Honors College, had been messaging through Instagram, but this was their first time connecting in person.
I loved the idea that I was capturing the moment when these potential lifelong friends were meeting for the first time face-to-face.
Photo by Cydney Scott

Jadin Steele (Sargent’27) (left) takes a minute to stretch her back while unpacking her room with the help of her mom, Kim Steele, August 30 in StuVi II.
Photo by Cydney Scott

Valerie Dam-Nguyen (CAS’28) (left) and Bamari Davis (Sargent’28) take a ride on a light swing September 6 on BU Beach during Night of Lights, an event that was part of Student Activities’ Weeks of Welcome programming. Providing a gentle push (left, standing) is Zania Mendes-Sang (Sargent’28).
Photo by Cydney Scott

Katerina Katopis-Lykiardopulo snaps a selfie with other members of Boston University’s International Advisory Board in the waiting room prior to the inauguration of Melissa L. Gilliam (center) as BU’s 11th president, September 27.
Photo by Cydney Scott

Melissa L. Gilliam is inaugurated as the 11th president of Boston University during a ceremony at Agganis Arena September 27.
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi
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