Assumption University Board Elects New Chair and Trustees
At its annual meeting in May, Assumption University’s Board of Trustees elected new leadership and members. Effective June 1, 2026 Andrew S. Viens ’94 will serve as chair. Outgoing chair Candace Race ’78 will continue to serve on the board as a trustee, as she has since 2002.
“After three years as chair, and with Assumption operating in a position of strength, it felt like the right time to step back,” Race reflected. “It has been a privilege to lead this extraordinary group of trustees, united in our singular desire to see Assumption thrive, and I am excited to continue working with them to accomplish great things. Andy and I have served together on the board for nearly a decade, and I have the utmost confidence in his ability to continue elevating Assumption’s distinctive commitment to educational excellence and access.”
Viens, who has been a trustee since 2018, extended his thanks to Race, saying, “Assumption has greatly benefitted from Candy’s almost 25 years of service as a trustee and especially her leadership over the last three years as chair, and we are grateful for her continued service on the board. As chair, I look forward to her continued partnership and her work to advance Assumption’s strategic plan, Thrive, at a time of real momentum for the University.”
The board elected distinguished new leaders for three-year terms: Anne Ames ’88, Jared Bouzan ’97, Sister Nuala Cotter, R.A., Alexandra Dumais ’24—Joseph Manning, CFA ’83 was also recently elected in May 2025.
“We are truly honored to welcome these talented and devoted members of the Assumption community to our Board of Trustees,” Assumption President Greg Weiner said. “Each of them has a special connection to the University and to the kind of education we provide, rooted in the charism of the Augustinians of the Assumption, whether as alumni or former faculty and religious. All have led impressive and wide-ranging careers, and we are confident that their breadth of knowledge and experience will enrich the Board of Trustees, expanding its ability to lead and serve the University.”
Four trustees also retired from the board at the May meeting: Sr. Clare Teresa Tjäder, R.A., Fr. Vincent Leclercq, A.A., Maj. General Robert G. Catalanotti, Ret. ’80, and Elizabeth “Liz” Paquette ’20.
“We also celebrate the service of our retiring trustees with gratitude,” Weiner said. “Their steadfast leadership has helped build the foundation for Assumption’s sustained success, and we will continue to benefit from their continued contributions as engaged members of the community.”
New Board Chair:
Andrew S. Viens ’94 is a Partner and Head of Risk & Strategic Initiatives at Bain Capital, he is also Chairman of the Risk and Oversight Committee and a member of the firm’s Valuation Committee and Technology Committee. He has worked at Bain since 2005, previously serving as Global Head of Operations for the Credit and Special Situations businesses. Prior to joining Bain Capital, he worked as Director of Treasury Operations at Investors Bank & Trust and Project Manager at BankBoston. He has been a member of Assumption’s Board of Trustees since 2018. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Assumption.
New Trustees:
Anne Ames ’88 is the Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Fidelity Brokerage, at Fidelity Investments. Prior to this role, she served in various senior leadership roles at Fidelity, including Head of Human Resources for Enterprise Technology, Head of Strategy & Planning for Workplace Investing, and Head of Talent Acquisition. Before working at Fidelity, Ames was a Senior Search Consultant at Gatti & Associates and held several leadership roles at Bank of America and FleetBoston Financial. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Assumption.
Jared Bouzan ’97 is the Vice President and Chief Development & Strategy Officer at the New England Center for Children. Prior to this role, he worked in several development roles across educational institutions, including at Boston University and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science. He holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Assumption and a master’s degree in education from Springfield College.
Sr. Nuala Cotter, R.A., is a retired college professor and Religious of the Assumption Sister. She served as provincial of the U.S. Province of the Assumption starting 2012 and has served as treasurer for the province since 2018. Before her retirement in 2012, she spent 20 years educating Assumption students in the English and theology departments. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of New Rochelle, a master’s degree in English and a doctorate in Renaissance and medieval literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in theology from St. Michael’s College. Cotter entered the Religious of the Assumption in 1989, making her final vows in 1998.
Alexandra “Alex” Dumais ’24 is the Coordinator of Administration and Fan Services for the Worcester Red Sox. Starting as an intern for the Worcester Red Sox during her senior year at Assumption, Dumais became a full-time employee for the organization shortly after graduating. In the role, Dumais works with several different departments, including marketing, human resources, and community relations, interacting with fans and helping the WooSox organization make an impact across New England. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Assumption University.
Joseph Manning, CFA, ’83 is a senior strategic advisor to Halcyon. He retired last year after serving as an analyst, sales trader, and senior relationship manager to institutional alternative investment clients at Bank of America securities. Prior to his roles at Bank of America, Manning spent 38 years with Merrill Lynch, focusing on risk arbitrage, convertible arbitrage, and equity finance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Assumption University and a master’s degree in business administration (with a concentration in finance) from the Stern School of Business at New York University. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst, administered by the Association of Investment Management and Research (now the CFA Institute).