William Boag

Computer science alum William Boag ’16 isn’t just a proud graduate of UMass Lowell’s Honors College — he’s helping to shape its future.

Boag serves on the Honors College Advisory Board, a 10-member group that works closely with Dean Jenifer Whitten-Woodring to advance the college’s mission. He is also a member of the Honors Alumni Leadership Circle, which plays a vital role in expanding the college’s alumni network and increasing engagement. The group supports current honors students by facilitating professional connections, building relationships and offering guidance as students consider entering the workforce or pursuing graduate school.

“The Honors College holds a special place in my heart, particularly for its commitment to interdisciplinary learning and seminars that challenge and broaden our perspectives,” Boag says.

Originally from Dracut, Massachusetts, Boag started college as a mechanical engineering major at Boston University before transferring to UML to study computer science. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in computer science from MIT in 2022, where he focused on artificial intelligence and health care. 

After graduation, he spent nearly two years as a machine learning research scientist with the Duke University Health System. In January 2024, he returned to the Boston area to take on a new role as a senior health care data lead for MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid and health benefits program.

Despite a demanding career, Boag continues to prioritize his connection to the Honors College. In a recent address to graduates, he reflected on the impact of the honors seminar “Experiencing Philanthropy,” which he still considers the best class he’s ever taken. The course challenges students to research and allocate a $10,000 grant to local nonprofits, teaching them how to balance equity, effectiveness and values.

Boag recalled one proposal that was nearly rejected early in the process — until a single student spoke up in its defense. That advocacy helped the proposal advance, eventually becoming the class’s top choice.

“That one student changed the outcome,” Boag says. “It showed me how even small actions can have a lasting impact.”

In 2019, while still a graduate student at MIT, Boag established a fellowship for UML honors students in STEM fields to conduct interdisciplinary research with faculty in the social sciences or humanities. His goal was to encourage students to “go outside of our disciplines and our comfort zones to see what others bring to the table.” 

The projects the fellowship has supported reflect that mission: one student explored how social media fuels conflict around the world, while another examined how public polling can shed light on democracy and civic engagement. 

“It’s been amazing to meet these students and support their impressive projects,” Boag says. 

He created the fund while earning just $44,000 a year as a graduate student — a decision he made after reflecting on the opportunities he’d been given.

“Each choice and contribution, no matter the size, has the power to spark change,” Boag says. “That’s why I stay involved — and why I’ll keep paying it forward.”