2026 Alumni Award Recipients Announced
Assumption University is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Alumni Awards before the University’s upcoming Reunion Weekend, June 5-7. This year’s honorees include a distinguished financial manager, an accomplished NASA scientist, a successful mergers and acquisitions director, an award-winning general counsel, and a beloved professor, mentor, and scientific scholar.
The award recipients are:
- Jack L. Bresciani ’72 Outstanding Alumni Award: Jeff Lagarce ’76, presented by Mike Burlas ‘76
- Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 Outstanding Achievement Award: Rebecca Klotz ’06, in absentia
- Young Alumni Award: Kevin Flaherty ’16, presented by Dr. David Crowley, and Lauren McCarthy ’16, presented by John White
- Honorary Alumnus Award: Dr. David J. Crowley, presented by his daughter, Grace Crowley ’24
Recipients will be celebrated during the Alumni Awards Breakfast on Saturday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m. in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center Ballroom, hosted by President Greg Weiner.
Alumni Award Winners
Jeff Lagarce ’76: Jack L. Bresciani ’72 Outstanding Alumni Award
The Jack L. Bresciani ’72 Outstanding Alumni Award is presented to an alumnus/a who has distinguished themselves by their outstanding dedication and service to Assumption University.
Jeff and his wife, Susan (Daley ’80) reside in Chatham, MA and in Miromar Lakes, FL.
They enjoy spending time with their 3 children and spouses (Tim and Maggie, Jamie and Mary, and Danny and Ariel) along with their 5 grandchildren.
Jeff spent the past 25 years working at Fidelity Investments in Boston in various management roles. His responsibilities included managing director of Germany, Austria and Switzerland based in Frankfurt, Germany, managing director of global retirement business based in London England, head of Fidelity’s Asia Pacific business based in Hong Kong, president of Fidelity’s Pyramus global investors based in Boston and president of Fidelity institutional based in Boston.
Jeff was a direct report into Abigail Johnson, CEO and Chairman of Fidelity Investments, and a member of her Global Operating Committee.
Jeff retired in 2018 and currently Chairs three Fidelity Boards: Fidelity Canada in Toronto; Fidelity Funds Board in London; and Fidelity’s China Asset Management Board in Shanghai.
Prior to joining Fidelity, Jeff spent 18 years with the MetLife Retirement division.
Jeff and Susan continue to stay closely involved with Assumption University as former members of the Board of Trustees and President’s Council members. In addition, they remain closely involved with numerous charitable organizations, such as Golisano Children’s Hospital in Florida, Cape Cod Food Bank, and Catholic School Foundation of Boston.
Rebecca Klotz ’06: Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 Outstanding Achievement Award
The Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 Outstanding Achievement Award honors an alumnus/a who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in their field or area of interest.
Rebecca Klotz is a manager and project scientist in the Space Biosciences Division at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. Rebecca oversees Biological and Physical Sciences Space Biology flight payloads and manages the NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC) and Space Microbial Culture Collection (SMCC). Rebecca resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two children.
Kevin Flaherty ’16: Young Alumni Award
The Young Alumni Award shall be awarded to an alumnus/a who has graduated within the past ten years and has demonstrated professional and/or civic accomplishments through their career and/or service to their community, as well as a strong devotion to the University.
Kevin Flaherty is an associate director of M&A and Strategy at Optum Financial, where he leads M&A transactions and strategic growth initiatives within the healthcare payments ecosystem. He brings a diverse range of experience spanning a Fortune 4 organization, hypergrowth startups, including serving as an early employee at Thrasio. He started his career at the intersection of public policy and impact investing with Advantage Capital.
While at Assumption, Kevin was actively involved in campus life as a member of the inaugural SOPHIA Program class, as Class Vice President, and was a participant in SEND and Spring Break cultural immersion trips.
Since graduating, Kevin has remained actively engaged with the Assumption community, serving as a core team member for the ASPIRE program and supporting career networking initiatives.
Outside of work, Kevin stays busy chasing his almost 2-year-old son, Teddy, around the house, traveling with his wife Meg (Class of 2013), and working on keeping his golf game mediocre at best.
Lauren McCarthy ’16: Young Alumni Award
The Young Alumni Award shall be awarded to an alumnus/a who has graduated within the past ten years and has demonstrated professional and/or civic accomplishments through their career and/or service to their community, as well as a strong devotion to the University.
Lauren McCarthy serves as deputy general counsel at the United States Department of Education. She previously served as senior policy advisor for the Domestic Policy Council at the White House under President Donald J. Trump.
While at Assumption College, Lauren embraced the full range of opportunities offered by a liberal arts education. During her senior year, she was elected Vice President for Student Affairs of the Student Government Association and President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. At the same time, she was a four-year member and captain of the women’s rowing team.
After graduating from Assumption College, Lauren earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Massachusetts School of Law. She received the Michael Dukakis Public Service Award for her commitment to public interest work and interned at the U.S. District Court in Worcester.
Lauren then relocated to Washington, D.C., where she built a career dedicated to public service and policy across the legislative and executive branches. She served as legislative counsel to Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) in the U.S. House of Representatives, providing legal and policy support. Her previous roles also include positions at the Republican National Committee and the Heritage Foundation’s Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies.
A proud Catholic, Lauren remains actively involved in her faith community at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Washington, D.C.
Dr. David J. Crowley: Honorary Alumnus Award
The Honorary Alumnus Award recognizes an individual who, though not a graduate, has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and service to the University community.
David Crowley is a professor of Biology at Assumption University, where he has taught since 2004. He earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from Anna Maria College. David is an alumnus of the College of the Holy Cross, where he met his wife, Christina. They have three grown children, Grace (’24), Thomas, and Matthew, and live in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.
David’s scholarship focuses on DNA repair and mutagenesis, and he has mentored over thirty undergraduates in his research lab and has published several journal articles with undergraduate co-authorship. He is a longtime supporter and past board member for Collegium, a national organization dedicated to promoting the mission of Catholic Higher Education and has contributed extensively to the integration of mission and intellectual life at Assumption. David has served as associate director of the Center for Purpose and Vocation and as director of the ASPIRE program, supporting mentoring relationships among students, alumni, staff and faculty. He is completing three years of service as the Emmanuel d’Alzon Chair for Mission and Identity, an endowed position dedicated to advancing the University’s mission among faculty.
Join Us in Celebration
The Assumption community congratulates Jeff Lagarce ’76, Rebecca Klotz ’06, Kevin Flaherty ’16, Lauren McCarthy ’16, and Dr. David J. Crowley on their well-deserved recognition. Their lives of service, leadership, and achievement reflect the very best of Assumption’s mission. We look forward to celebrating these inspiring individuals together at Reunion Weekend.