News Highlights

iCons Announces the 2023 Crowley-Nowick Award for iCons Student Leadership and Philanthropy

Jack Minella and Sriya Munugoti

We are excited to announce the 2023 recipients of the Crowley-Nowick Award: Sriya Munugoti ‘25 (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) and Jack Minella ‘24 (Environmental Science).

Making the STEM World a Better Place

Picture of Kitty Lovell

iCons senior, Kathryne (Kitty) Lovell ‘23, was recently selected as one of ten members of the Class of 2023 to be awarded the 21st Century Leader Award. This prestigious award recognizes graduating seniors at UMass Amherst who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, academic excellence, and a commitment to making a positive impact on their communities.

When asked why she joined the UMass iCons Program, Kitty said, “I joined iCons because I wanted to find a group of people who are interested in making the world a better place within their field of STEM.” Through her senior thesis work, Kitty is working towards this goal and helping to make the world of STEM education a more inviting and inclusive atmosphere.

UMass iCons Hosts Spring Info Session for Interested Students

Image of Zoom Screen from Event

UMass iCons hosted a virtual Spring Info Session for students interested in UMass Amherst and to help recruit the next amazing cohort of iCons students.

iCons Women in Power

Dylan Masi in on hill with wind turbines

Full story from UMass Amherst: The Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program alters expectations about what undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and business are capable of achieving.

UMass Amherst iCons brings the real world into the classroom with two goals in mind: preparing undergraduates for success after graduation and equipping them to change the world for the better. To do this, iCons asks students to tackle problems that have defied solution by even the world's foremost experts.

Christine Hatch Named Associate Director of Academics for iCons

Christine Hatch. photo credit: Ricard Torres-Mateluna

UMass Amherst’s Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program has announced the appointment of Christine Hatch, extension associate professor in the Department of Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences, as the new associate director of academics. In her new role, Hatch will oversee the academic programs of iCons and provide leadership to the program’s faculty and students.

Fermann Reflects on iCons Legacy

Fermann Leading Discussion During the 13th Cohort Launch

Dr. Justin Fermann is a Chemical Education and Theoretical Computational professor at UMass Amherst and has played a critical role in the creation and continued development of the UMass Integrated Concentration in STEM Program (iCons) as an educational program, serving in multiple roles: instructor, program director, and associate director of academics. This spring semester, Fermann is taking a step back from his major responsibilities as an iCons administrator and will be focusing more on student education. Without Justin Fermann, iCons would not be what it is today and we all thank him.

The Clean Energy Living Lab: Helping Students Go Beyond The Classroom

Image of solar panels and wind turbines

Full story from UMass Carbon Zero news: When undergraduate student Emma Cady first began applying to colleges, she was unsure of what she wanted to do for her academic career. When the UMass iCons Program was introduced to her at UMass Amherst’s Accepted Students Day, a lightbulb went on in her head, powered by a new passion – the ability to tackle real-world environmental problems through practical application. Even so, one question lingered as she pursued her education: how do I, a young college student, actually solve real world problems and make a difference? For Emma and many students like her, the Clean Energy Living Lab provided the answer.

iCons' Advisory Board Chair Discusses New Phase of Her Company

Picture of Peg Crowley-Nowick

Dr. Peggy A. Crowley-Nowick '86, chair of the iCons Advisory Board, turns the microphone around on her podcast, Medical Affairs Unscripted, and is interviewed by Dennis Crowley of The Entrepreneur's Story podcast.

Water Scarcity Wins the Day at the 13th Cohort Launch

UMass iCons 13th Cohort Launch | December 3, 2022

On December 3, 2022, the 13th cohort of the UMass iCons Program was launched. The UMass iCons Program is a certificate in real-world problem solving open to science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and business undergraduates.

A Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Picture of Sean McGrath

Most people in their mid-20s are just getting started in their careers. Some are taking tentative steps towards management roles or continuing on to get postgraduate degrees. But very few are taking the giant leap of starting their own companies and also being responsible for the employment of others.

This is what puts Sean McGrath, an iCons alumnus and the co-founder and chief technical officer of a New York City software startup, in a league of his own.