PINE MANOR COLLEGE INDUCTS SEVEN STUDENTS, ONE FACULTY MEMBER INTO ALPHA CHI HONOR SOCIETY

CHESTNUT HILL. PA - 3/2/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET) -- Pine Manor College, a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, today inducted seven students into the Delta Chapter of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society. The College also named Dr. Michele Ramirez, Professor of Psychology, as an honorary inductee.

“We are proud to recognize these inductees for their academic excellence and hard work,” said Interim President of Pine Manor College, Rosemary G. Ashby, Ph.D. “They exemplify the strong academic rigor and determination that Pine Manor values.”

Alpha Chi is a national college honor society that accepts only the top 10 percent of juniors, seniors and graduate students in all academic fields. To qualify, students must be full time juniors or seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5, and at least one semester in the junior or senior year with a grade point average of 3.75.

Pine Manor is the fifth college in Massachusetts to establish an Alpha Chi chapter.

This year’s inductees include Jennifer Barrios ’16 of Allston, MA, Yaye Cherif ’17 of Boston, MA, Monserrat Jifkins ’17 of Cancun, Mexico, Jose Occelin ’17 of Mattapan, MA, Ashley Piermarini ’16 of Lancaster, MA, Patricia Pierre ’16 of Boston, MA, and Tashiana Wolfe ’17 of Hyde Park, MA

“It has been an honor to watch these inductees grow academically and personally,” said William Stargard, Ph.D., Professor of Art History and Alpha Chi advisor, who led the induction ceremony. “They have set the highest challenges for themselves, and it is truly inspiring to witness the talent and dedication that they embody.”

The Honorary Alpha Chi inductee Michele Ramirez, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, was recognized for her outstanding contribution to academic excellence at Pine Manor College. In her acceptance speech Professor Ramirez shared her fascination with Cognitive Psychology: “I have always been curious about how each of us learn and the influence of culture on our thought processes. We all have our own learning style and that is the focus of the research I have been conducting over my career.” Addressing the Alpha Chi inductees Ramirez said “I see myself as going on a journey with you, my students, as together we engage in learning. There is nothing more delightful then to be enthralled in class discussion, and yes, I learn as much from my students as they learn from me. As we share diverse experiences and unique ways of understanding the world around us - we all benefit. I would like to end by giving you a few words of advice: remain curious, be a life-long learner, and take what you’ve learned and share it with the world.”

Diane Mello-Goldner, Ph.D., Dean of the College, congratulated Professor Ramirez for her Alpha Chi award recognition: “I am pleased that Dr. Ramirez was honored tonight along with our students. Michele has been an outstanding mentor to her students and has helped them develop important practical skills, while also instilling in them a love of giving back and being a positive change agent in their communities and in their families.”

Michele Ramirez, Ph.D., has been a teacher, a mentor and a leader at Pine Manor for 23 years. She is a resident of Northborough, MA. 

The Alpha Chi induction ceremony was followed by the Honor ceremony in which Pine Manor students were recognized for their academic achievements in the past Spring and Fall semesters.

ABOUT PINE MANOR

Pine Manor is a small, private four-year liberal arts college situated on 45 wooded acres in the pristine Chestnut Hill section of Brookline, Massachusetts, only a few miles outside of Boston. For over 100 years Pine Manor has provided a highly student-focused education and mentoring grounded in the liberal arts tradition. Pine Manor is one of the most affordable private colleges in Massachusetts, and offers Bachelors degrees in a variety of areas including Biology, Psychology, Community Health, Business & Management, and Early Childhood Education. The College focuses on pathways to careers through internships and organizational partnerships. As a result, over 90% of our 2015 graduates were either employed or enrolled in a postgraduate degree program within six months of graduation. Learn more at www.pmc.edu