Kier Byrnes MBA’01, DLP’11 and his band, Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners, won “Americana Artist of the Year” in the 2025 Boston Music Awards, held Dec 17th, 2025. their release “Before the Fall” won “Best Album of the Year” from Twangville in their readers poll, and our EP, “Dances by Firelight”, landed on Americana UK’s Top 10 Releases of 2025.

James Whitley, L’01, won the 2020 Red Mountain Press Poetry Prize for his latest poetry collection, SONGS FOR SOLO VOICE, that will be published in April 2021. This music-inspired collection tackles themes of betrayal, heartbreak and loss. Whitley currently serves as the Dean of the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education at Post University in Waterbury, CT.

Vladimir Gomez, DMSB’01, is working on a blog about interfaith relations called Abraham1.com. Contact Vladimir on his website with any feedback!

Cyrus McQueen, AS’01, published his debut book in December 2020, “Tweeting Truth to Power: Chronicling our Caustic Politics, Crazed Times, & The Great Black & White Divide.” McQueen transitioned from stand-up comedian to political and cultural critic combatting the growing racial divide. His book details personal experiences with racism as a Black man in the United States. Read More