2024 Urban Scholars
Massachusetts State Representative Bill Driscoll was elected to represent the 7th Norfolk District in the Massachusetts State Legislature in 2016, but his career path was shaped by his response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After graduating from Boston College, he took a two-week break from his job in the film and television industry to assist communities in Mississippi, which turned into a two-year mission. This experience led him to a decade of leadership in disaster response, coordinating efforts across organizations and government agencies. He has held executive roles in nonprofit organizations, including serving as Interim President and CEO of National VOAD. Bill and his wife, Beca, now reside in East Milton Square.
Massachusetts State Representative Andy Vargas made history as Haverhill's first Latino elected official at 22, beginning a career focused on community welfare. As Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, he championed education, passing legislation mandating civics education and universal free school meals. His leadership in housing reform led to a landmark zoning overhaul promoting multifamily housing near transit. Andy also tackled gun violence with a nationally recognized prevention program and reformed the parole system to promote fairness. He has been pivotal in expanding access to naloxone to fight the opioid crisis. He lives in Haverhill with his wife Rikelma, son Rubén, and dog Merengue.
- Amy Mahler, former Director of SPARK Boston, 2020
- Massachusetts State Representative Dylan Fernandes, 2020
- Katie King, Assistant Town Manager, Needham, 2019
- Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Chair, Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, 2018
- Senator John Keenan, Chair, Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, 2018
- Ramon Soto, Director of Policy, Massachusetts, uAspire, 2016
- Jennifer Benson, President, Alliance of Business Leadership and former State Representative, 2015
- Sarah Zapharis, Consultant, 2015
- Linda Dorcena Forry, Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations, Northeast Region, Suffolk Construction and former State Senator and State Representative, 2014
- Theresa Lynn, Senior Vice President of Advancement, United Way of Central Massachusetts, 2014
- Carl Sciortino, Executive Director, Massachusetts AIDS Action Committee and former State Representative, 2013
- Steven Walsh, Executive Director, Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals and former State Representative, 2012
- Mayor Joseph Curtatone, City of Somerville, 2011
- Jeffrey Sanchez, Senior Advisor, Rasky Partners, Inc. and former State Representative, 2010
- Joseph Driscoll, Senior Vice President, O'Neill & Associates and former State Representative, 2009
- State Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley), House Chair, Joint Committee on Education, 2009
- Barbara Salfity, U.S. General Services Administration, 2007
- Mark Falzone, Deputy Director, National Immigration Forum and former State Representative, 2007
- State Representative William Straus (D-Mattapoisett), House Chair, Joint Committee on Transportation, 2007
- Tim Davis, Deputy Director for Policy Development and Research, Department of Neighborhood Development, City of Boston, 2005
- Brad Swing, Mayor's Office of Environmental Services, City of Boston, 2004
- Mayor Joseph Sullivan, City of Braintree, former State Representative, 2004
- Katherine Kottaridis, Executive Director, Historic Boston, Inc., 2003
- Barry Finegold, Dalton and Finegold, LLP and former State Senator, 2003
- Rachel Kaprielian, US Government Relations for McDonalds, former State Representative, 2003
- Peter Koutoujian, Middlesex County Sheriff, former State Representative, 2003
- Charles Murphy, consultant, former State Representative 2002
- Carol Blair, OnwardVia, 2001
- Joseph LaRusso, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Finance Manager, City of Boston, 2000
- Jack Hart, Nelson Mullins, and former State Representative, 2000
- Lillian Shirley, Director, Multnomah County and Portland, Oregon Health Department, 1999
- State Representative Kevin Honan (D-Brighton), House Chair, Joint Committee on Housing, 1999
- Bryan Glascock, Senior Advisor for Regulatory Reform, Boston Planning and Development Authority, 1998
- Honorable Stephen Lynch, U.S. House of Representatives, 1998
- Antonio Torres, Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, 1996
- Maureen Flynn, Deputy Director, Boston Home Center, City of Boston, 1995
- John Munier, Managing Director, Syndicated, MarketStrategies, International, 1994
- Theresa Bourgeois, Founder, Esperence Consulting, 1993
- John Mills, Director, National Network of Sector Partners, 1992
- James Jordan, Criminal Justice Consultant, Strategic Solutions for Criminal Justice Organizations, 1991
- Honorable Justice Robert Rufo, Massachusetts Superior Court, 1991
- Charles Yancey, former Boston City Councilor, 1991
- John McDonough, Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Director of the Center for Public Health Leadership at Harvard School of Public Health and former State Representative, 1990
- Jeffrey Cronin, City of Pasadena, California, 1990
- James Brett, The New England Council, former State Representative, 1989
- Susan Tracy, The Strategy Group, former State Representative, 1989
- Thomas Bledsoe, Housing Partnership Group, 1987
- Kevin McCluskey, Associate Director of Athletics, UMass Boston and former Boston School Committee Member, 1986
- Priscilla Teague, Boston Public Schools, 1986
- Richard Rouse, Boston, former State Representative, 1986
- Thomas Vallely, Vietnam Program, Harvard University, former State Representative, 1983
In Memoriam
- Bruce Bolling, MassAlliance, former Boston City Councilor, 1985
- Thomas Kennedy, former State Senator, 2005