UMass Dartmouth will bestow honorary degrees upon Richard Lafrance, Nishita Roy-Pope, and Dr. Jacqueline G. Somerville during its 2026 Doctoral Commencement ceremony on May 21st, the university announced Tuesday.
Richard Lafrance, Chairman of Lafrance Hospitality, will be recognized for his decades of leadership in the New England hospitality industry. Lafrance Hospitality, founded by his parents in 1946, has grown into a multi-brand hotel developer and manager, partnering with major brands like Hilton and Marriott, and operating restaurants and event facilities including White’s of Westport. Lafrance, a 1968 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, has as well held leadership positions with Bank Five, the United Way, and UMass Dartmouth itself, and was an Olympic torchbearer in 1996.
Nishita Roy-Pope, CEO of Courage Builder, will be honored for her work in workforce development and her prior career at Dell Technologies. Roy-Pope launched a global innovation program and a talent initiative at Dell, and led a $150 million global sales-leads program, according to a LinkedIn post from January 28, 2026. She has actively engaged with UMass Dartmouth students, providing opportunities through conferences, internships, and resulting in over 40 hires by Dell, the university stated. Roy-Pope was a 2021 recipient of the 40 Under Forty award from Providence Business News, where she described herself as a champion for diversity and community change.
Jacqueline G. Somerville, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, NEA-BC, System Chief Nurse for Southcoast Health, will receive an honorary degree for her extensive career in healthcare leadership. Dr. Somerville previously served as Chief Nursing Officer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Her research, conducted during her doctoral studies at Boston College, focused on the patient experience of feeling “known” by nurses. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and serves on the United Way of Greater New Bedford Board.
The University stated the honorary degrees are its highest distinction, recognizing individuals whose achievements and service inspire graduating students.
