UMass Boston

By Vanessa Chatterley

Christina Fasciana G’99 Commits $500,000 Bequest to UMass Boston’s Critial & Creative Thinking Program

UMass Boston Alumna Christina Fasciana G’99 recently made a decision that will impact countless futures at UMass Boston: a $500,000 bequest to the Critical & Creative Thinking (CCT) program—the same program she credits with reshaping her own path.

“UMass Boston gave me an opportunity to earn my master’s when other doors might have been closed,” Fasciana said. “That degree is the reason behind every career move I’ve made. I wanted to make sure future students have the same chance to change their lives.”

As a CCT student, Fasciana benefited from a graduate assistantship that covered her tuition and provided a much-needed stipend—a lifeline that supported her growth in and out of the classroom.

“That was huge. I was working as a course assistant, doing research, helping faculty—gaining skills and a community while they paid for my degree. I’ve never forgotten what it meant to have that kind of support,” she said.

After earning her master’s degree, she spent a decade in the classroom before moving into behavioral health and addiction recovery. Today, as alumni coordinator at Flagler Health and Wellness and MindFree Therapy Center in West Palm Beach, FL, Fasciana creates events and support groups that offer hope to families and individuals alike. The CCT program, she said, is tied into everything she does.

“UMass Boston’s Critical & Creative Thinking program gave me the mindset I needed to see problems from every angle and to create solutions where none existed before,” she explained. “I built entire curricula and alumni programs from scratch. That takes creative and critical thinking.”

Fasciana’s gift is also a tribute to Professor Delores B. Gallo, the CCT program’s longtime leader and mentor, whose legacy lives on through an endowment bearing her name.

“Dolores was a huge part of that program. She worked with me as a student, and that’s really where the money is going—her endowed fund,” Fasciana said. “It gives her legacy even more possibilities, and it guarantees this program’s future. There’s no other master’s degree program like it in the world.”

To the CCT students who will benefit from her gift, Fasciana offered this advice:

“Embrace the experience. The program has so many dimensions. Be present, soak it all in, and let it shape the way you see the world.”