Distinguished Alumni

MS in Computer Information Systems
The founder and CEO of LatInc Corporation, Claritza Abreu has been a senior technology executive for organizations such as Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Federal Reserve Bank System, State Street Corporation, and Cambridge College. Named among the 100 most influential Hispanics in Massachusetts, she received the “Women to Watch” Award from the Boston Business Journal and Mass High Tech Magazine; the Excellence in Technology Award from the Governor of Massachusetts; the MET Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community (2012); and a distinguished alumni award from Santo Domingo Institute of Technology. She has been recognized as a meritorious Dominican abroad by the President of the Dominican Republic.

MS in Business Administration
General Alexander is founder and CEO of IronNet. His 40-year military career includes roles as longest-serving director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Security Service (CSS), from 2005 to 2014, andfirst commander of the US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), from 2010 to 2014. He is recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.

MS in Arts Administration
The first Brazilian to be awarded the Clore Leadership Fellowship, Claudia Castro is a musician and arts manager. She is founder and trustee of the Aarya Foundation; general coordinator of promotion and international cooperation at the Ministry of Culture in Brazil; and cultural sector coordinator for the Organization of Ibero-American States.

MBA (Questrom), BS in Business Administration (MET)
Douglas Chamberlain is CEO and founder of Appleton Partners, Inc., and founder of Cambridge Appleton Trust, NA. He serves on the advisory board of BU’s Questrom School of Business and the boards of Franciscan’s Hospital for Children, Bay Cove Human Services, Opera Boston, and the Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Museum. In 2013, he was Commencement speaker at Metropolitan College and recipient of the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Profession.

Master of Criminal Justice
Mark Conrad is founder and president of WesCon Personal Protection and director of the Bridge Partnership Program at Bridgewater State University. He is the former chair of the Massachusetts Parole Board of Pardons and Commutations. He is recipient of the Governor Deval Patrick Award for Outstanding Leadership and the MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community (2010).

MS in Administrative Studies
Since 2005, Tom Costello has served as Washington Correspondent for NBC News, reporting daily for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, and CNBC. He is recipient of multiple National Emmy Awards, the DuPont-Columbia Journalism Award, Edward R. Murrow honors, and the National Air Traffic Controllers’ Sentinel of Safety Award.

BS in Interdisciplinary Studies
BU Athletic Hall of Famer Jim Craig is founder, president, and CEO of Gold Medal Strategies, Inc. He is a former NHL player for the Atlanta Flames, Boston Bruins, and Minnesota North Stars (1980–1984), and author of the book Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons from America’s Miracle Team. He is an Olympic gold medalist for the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team known for the “Miracle on Ice.”

BS in Business Administration & Management
Johan Danneels is founder and CEO of Essensium, and former CEO of Alcatel Microelectronics. In 2008, he delivered the commencement address for students graduating at MET’s former campus in Brussels, Belgium.

MS in Business Administration & Management
Judge Diaz serves on the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2010–present). In 2012 he was Commencement speaker at Metropolitan College and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Profession.

Master of Urban Affairs
Melanie Fallon is former Community Development Director for Long Beach, California. She is the recipient of MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community (2005).

MS in Business Administration
Edward Francis is operating partner of Gridiron Capital, LLC, and was president of Space business unit at Hamilton Sundstrand Division. He is the recipient of MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Alma Mater (2006).

MS in Administrative Studies
Author of “The Jobless Trap,” Rand Ghayad worked for The Brattle Group where he advised the US government and multinational corporations on economic and financial matters. He received the Excellence in Graduate Studies Award from Metropolitan College in 2009, as well as the Outstanding Research Award from Northeastern University, where he earned his PhD.

MS in Banking & Financial Services Management
Kimberly Grant is former CEO of ThinkFoodGroup and former president and COO for Ruby Tuesday. Honors include 50 Most Influential Women in Foodservice (2020); NRN Power List (2019); and MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Profession (2013).

MS in Computer Information Systems
George Haddad is founder and CEO of Liaison International and recipient of MET Distinguished Alumni Award for Computer Science (2009).

MS in Arts Administration (MET); Master of Theology in Philosophy, Theology & Ethics (STH); BA in Philosophy & Political Science (CAS)
Ben Hires is CEO of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. He is former director of strategic partnerships at Boston Public Library and sits on the boards of the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation; Urbanity Dance; and the Advisory Committee of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center’s Pao Arts Center. He is former president of the BU Arts Administration Alumni Association.

Master of Criminal Justice
Karin Addison Jack created the Addison Female Prisoners Education Fund at Boston University to assist in funding the Prison Education Program. She is the recipient of MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community (2014).

BS in Urban Affairs
Mary Kennard is chief legal counsel for American University and served as cochair of AU’s Diversity Strategic Plan. She is recipient of BU’s College of General Studies Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2009, she delivered MET’s Commencement address and received MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Profession (2009).

Master of Urban Affairs, Master of City Planning
Andrew Kenneally is communications director for the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). In 2008, he was at-large candidate for Boston City Council.

Master of Laws in Banking & Finance Law (LAW), BS in Economics (MET)
A senior partner at Maalouf, Ashford, and Talbot, LLP, and an international arbitrator for the London Court of International Arbitration, John Maalouf has been ranked as one of the top 10 international trade and finance lawyers in the US for the past 15 years. In 2019, Maalouf, Ashford & Talbot was named Law Firm of the Year in the US, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, China, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, UK, and Brazil. Maalouf is recipient of MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Profession (2011).

MLA, BLS, Interdisciplinary studies
A former Massachusetts State Trooper who served 10 years in prison for armed robbery, Richard Marinick earned his bachelor’s in BU MET’s Prison Education Program. He is an addiction counselor and author of Boyos (2004) and In for a Pound (2008).

BASc in Business Administration
Kathy McShane is senior advisor to the Small Business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development. She is former CEO of Kendrew Group, Ltd.; founder and former CEO of Ladies Who Launch and Ladies Launch Club; and former special advisor to the Office of the Administrator for US Small Business Administration. She is recipient of the CBS News Radio Small Business Hero Award; the Small Business Award of Honor from The National Business and Disability Council (presented by Bill Gates); and the Outstanding Leader Award from the Association of Women’s Business Centers.

BASc in Business Administration
Former Executive Vice President of Boston University Joseph Mercurio is CEO and higher education business practices consultant for TJAC Development. He is recipient of MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Alma Mater (2011).

MS in Business Administration & Management
Udi Mokady is founder, chair, and CEO of CyberArk. He is recipient of the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the New England region (Technology Security category), and the 2018 Asper Award for Global Entrepreneurship.

Master of City Planning
Luisa Paiewonsky is director of the Center for Infrastructure Systems and Technology at Volpe Center, US Department of Transportation. She was first administrator of the MassDOT Highway Division, appointed by Governor Patrick, and former commissioner of the Massachusetts Highway Department. She is recipient of MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community (2011).

MS in International Marketing Management
The former president and vice chair of NYK Line North America, Bill Payne is principal at W. Payne Advisors, LLC, a maritime and international transportation consultancy. He is a recipient of MET’s Excellence in Graduate Studies Awards for International Marketing Management.

MS in Business Administration
In 2021, Janet Petro was named director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

MS in Computer Information Systems, BS in Management Studies
Nick Pinheiro is senior AI, cloud, and software architect at Microsoft. He is a public speaker, “self-made millionaire,” and founder of Modern Appz.

MS in Business Administration & Management
Major General Pollock is founder and CEO of eleVIVO. She is former commander of the US Army Medical Command; former acting surgeon general of the Army; and 22^nd chief of the Army Nurse Corps. She established the Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration and is recipient of the 2008 Agatha Hodgins Achievement Award from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Major General Pollock delivered MET’s Commencement address in 2007.

MS in Business Administration & Management
Philippe Rixhon is managing director of Philippe Rixhon Associated, Ltd., and recipient of MET’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Alma Mater (2007).

MS in Business Administration & Management
Andrei Soran is CEO of Pipeline Health Systems, LLC, and former CEO of MetroWest Medical Center, Verity Health System, Novaseek Research, Inc., and TridentUSA Health. He was named Businessman of the Year 2010 by the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce.

MS in Advertising
Tim Sullivan is director of communications for The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network & Partners Continuing Care. He is a lecturer and program facilitator for Boston University’s Master of Science in Health Communication programs.

MS in Computer Science
A listed author on several highly cited genetics papers and first inventor on two broad software patents, Marcia Yates is principal software architect at Ximedica and former chief informatics officer at Claritas Genomics.