UMass Amherst University Without Walls

05/26/2026

05/08/2026

Congratulations to UWW Interdisciplinary Studies graduate Joanne Charland for earning the 21st Century Leaders Award! The 11 graduating leaders selected for this prestigious campuswide award will be honored at the main commencement ceremony on May 15.

05/07/2026

We are proud to introduce our 2026 University Without Walls Interdisciplinary Studies student commencement speakers, Ana Ximena Peralta Pedroza and Joanne Frances Charland! They will deliver addresses during the UWW Senior Recognition Ceremony, next Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m. in Tillis Hall at the Bromery Center for the Arts on the campus of UMass Amherst.

Read their bios and get a streaming link in the comments 👇

04/30/2026

Scholarship spotlight: forty-three-year-old First Generation college student, nonprofit founder, and mother of eight Kenya Brown-Milfort was awarded a UWW Faculty Student Scholarship this spring.

“I’m a full-time student, the founder of Sis, It’s Safe, and I continue to work per diem as a personal care attendant after more than 16 years in that field. My life story is really about learning how to keep going, even when things didn’t turn out the way I first imagined. I became a mom young, and from then on, my focus was always on taking care of my kids and doing what I had to do for my family”

04/29/2026

Scholarship spotlight: thirty-one-year-old landscape designer and mother of two Rachel Begley was awarded a University Without Walls Scholarship this spring.

“In 2024, I launched my own business, American Dream Landscape Design, before changing my major to UWW Interdisciplinary Studies. The business idea just clicked for me. I’ve loved following this nontraditional path and am excited for the projects ahead, bringing thoughtfulness, sustainability, and beauty to every space I touch. The journey to get here hasn’t been easy, but it has been deeply rewarding.”

04/28/2026

starts tomorrow, April 29! Your gift during our Power Hour at noon Eastern Time will make the greatest impact, helping us unlock up to $27,500 in bonus funding. Together, we can help students who left college for financial reasons return to UMass Amherst to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

04/24/2026

We'll be celebrating our 55th anniversary at UMass Amherst at Fenway on June 3, with a pre-game ceremony before the Red Sox host the Orioles!

Meanwhile, is coming up on April 29–30, and the student and alumni UMassGives Ambassadors who recruit the most family and friends to donate to UWW scholarships will earn no-cost tickets to UMass Amherst at Fenway, including the opportunity to participate in the on-field celebration! Email [email protected] to get more information and accept the challenge!

03/26/2026

Part three of our In These Times community conversation and workshop series begins this Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m.! Co-presented with the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield, the series is free and open to the public.

Photography As Storytelling features a conversation with Aiko Wakao Austin, Dr. Eunice Aviles, Sophie Markham, and Stephen Cary (March 31, 6 to 8 p.m.), followed by workshops with Aiko Wakao Austin (April 7, 6 to 8 p.m.) and Sophie Markham (April 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

More info and workshop sign-up: https://www.umass.edu/uww/news/conversation-and-workshop-series-itt--photography

Thank you to co-sponsors Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Focus Springfield Community TV, UMass Amherst Office of Equity and Inclusion, Asian American & Pacific Islanders Commission, Art for the Soul Gallery, and Asian & Asian American Studies Certificate, UMass Amherst.

[Image description: poster with small black and white photos of panelists, sponsor logos, and text. In These Times: Documenting Stories through Our Own Lenses. Part Three: Storytelling with Photography Tuesday, March 31st, from 6-8 pm, UMass Amherst Henry Thomas III Center at Springfield. Presentation/Conversation with: Aiko Wakao Austin is a Japanese interdisciplinary artist whose multicultural upbringing informs her exploration of identity, family, and cultural memory. Dr. Eunice Aviles, Doctor of Psychology, creator and project director of a narrative and photographic exhibit centering trans Latinx lives. Sophie Markham, born and raised in the Forest Park neighborhood of Springfield, MA, is an observant photographer who focuses on capturing authentic candid moments in everyday life. Moderator: Stephen Cary, Executive Director of Focus Springfield. Coordinating Workshops: Beyond the Photograph: Transforming Everyday Images into Art with Aiko Wakao Austin. Tuesday, April 7 from 6-8pm ET Online Only. Bring a photo or two that you are willing to cut, add-to, or otherwise change. Smart Phone Street Photography Workshop with Sophie Markham, Saturday, April 11 from 11-2pm ET at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield, Sponsored by Art for the Soul. Both events are free and open to the public, but the workshops have limited spaces and require registration.]

03/20/2026

First Gen Fridays: Meet First Generation UWW Interdisciplinary Studies student Candace Ogonowski!

Q: What does being First Generation mean to you?

A: Being First Generation means pushing through an invisible wall of limited opportunities and creating a generational shift—showing my family that higher education can open doors and create greater possibilities for the future. It hasn’t always been easy—I’ve had to navigate admissions, financial aid, and balance school, work, and life—but those challenges have made me stronger and more determined. Being First Gen also means paving the way for others and helping them navigate the path ahead.

Q: What advice do you have for First Generation UWW students?

A: To say I was overwhelmed at the start would be an understatement! Starting later in life added extra pressure, but it also gave me perspective and motivation to succeed. My advice is to trust yourself, keep your eye on the prize, and give yourself grace along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; resources are available to support you. Remember, we’re all here for the same reason: to better ourselves and grow into the people we want to become!

First Gen Fridays is a series that profiles First Gen students, alumni, faculty, and staff at UWW. If you're interested in participating, email a photo and answers to these two questions to Department Chair Julie Skogsbergh: [email protected]

*The views and opinions expressed are those of the person being featured and do not necessarily reflect those of the University.

02/28/2026

Part two of our In These Times community conversation and workshop series begins this Tuesday, March 3 at 6 p.m.! Co-presented with the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield, the series is free and open to the public.

Telling Stories with Oral History Research features a conversation with Princess Garrett, Dr. Patricia Romney, and Millicent Jackson (March 3, 6 to 8 p.m.), followed by a workshop with Dr. Sam Redman and Dr. Emily Hamilton (March 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

More info and workshop sign-up: https://www.umass.edu/uww/news/conversation-and-workshop-series-itt--telling-stories

Thank you to co-sponsors UMass Department of History, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and UMass Amherst Office of Equity and Inclusion.

“In These Times: Documenting Stories Through Our Own Lenses” is a free, public community conversation and workshop series presented throughout the spring at the Springfield campus.

12/02/2025

As we look ahead to our 55th year of serving amazing adult and nontraditional students in 2026, we’re launching the UWW Completion Fund, which will help students who dropped out due to financial pressures and unanticipated circumstances return to UMass Amherst to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

Become a founding donor this : https://minutefund.uma-foundation.org/project/48754