UMass Boston

Ricardo Castaño-Bernard, PhD
Interim Dean

Interim Dean Ricardo Castaño-Bernard earned his PhD and MSc in mathematics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, and a BSc in mathematics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He joined UMass Boston in 2015 and served as a Graduate Program Director from 2016 to 2021. He was appointed Associate Dean for the Faculty Personnel, Research and Graduate Studies of the College of Science and Mathematics in 2021. Prior to joining UMass Boston, he was a Program Director in the Division of Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation.

Catalin Zara, PhD Interim Associate Dean

Catalin Zara is the 2024-2025 Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Personnel, Graduate Studies, and Research in the College of Science and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from MIT and an M.S. and B.S in Mathematics from the University of Bucharest, Romania. Previously, he served as CSM Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Academic Programs, and Policy from 2018 to 2022, and as Chair of the CSM Senate from 2012 to 2016. His research focus is on Hamiltonian group actions, combinatorial aspects of equivariant cohomology, enumerative and algebraic combinatorics, and distances on finite spaces. Professor Zara has taught multiple courses in the Mathematics Department, with an emphasis on Multivariable and Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, Complex Analysis, Number Theory, and the Mathematics Problem Solving seminar.

Karen Ricciardi, PhD Associate Dean 

Karen L. Ricciardi is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs in the College of Science and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she plays a pivotal role in instructional planning, budget management, and program coordination that promotes undergraduate education. With a Ph.D. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Vermont, along with an M.A. in Geology and Geophysics from Columbia University, her academic expertise spans mathematics, environmental science, and hydrology. She has held multiple leadership positions at the institution, where she has contributed to curriculum development, student success initiatives, and university assessment efforts. Dr. Ricciardi's research has focused on groundwater remediation, hydrology, and mathematical modeling in environmental systems. She has been integral in programs funded by organizations such as Oracle and the Davis Educational Foundation and remains a strong advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration and STEM education.

Executive Assistant to the Dean

Laura Lopes
Assistant Dean, Personnel and Operations

Laura leads all personnel and operational functions for the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM), focusing on strengthening its management framework. She drives the development and implementation of CSM’s management standards, best practices, and standard operating procedures, ensuring efficiency and consistency. As a key liaison, she collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support seamless operations.

Since joining CSM in 2016, Laura has applied her extensive experience in business ownership, human resources, and communications to enhance organizational effectiveness. She holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Boston, a Master of Management from Cambridge College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Stonehill College.

Karen Doherty
Assistant Dean, Administration, and Finance

Teresa Goyette 
Director, Student Success Center

Teresa has worked for the University for over 34 years, mainly in the University Advising Center, and now most recently in the CSM Student Success Center. Teresa is passionate about incorporating a strengths-based advising approach to aid students in discovering academic programs and careers that align with their talents, interests, and values. Teresa is an advocate of the appreciative advising model, and she is a certified Strengths Coach through the Gallup Organization.

Ethan Labowitz 
Manager, Scientific Instrumentation and Prototyping (SIP) Lab