Three local leaders will be honored during the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's commencement ceremonies.

 

Richard Lafrance, Jacqueline G. Somerville and Nishita Roy-Pope will receive honorary degrees, according to a community announcement.

 

The Doctoral Commencement ceremony is set for 4 p.m. May 21 in the Main Campus Auditorium.

 

Lafrance is chairman of Lafrance Hospitality, a Westport-based family business founded in 1946 by his parents after purchasing a small diner in Fall River. The company develops and manages multi-brand hotels across New England and Florida, partnering with Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Choice. It also operates restaurants, catering services and event facilities, including White’s of Westport.

 

Roy-Pope is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker and former Fortune 50 corporate leader who now serves as CEO of Courage Builder, a workforce development company focused on leadership, innovation and emerging industries such as technology, life sciences, entrepreneurship and the blue economy.

 

Somerville is an experienced nurse executive with over 30 years of healthcare leadership. She currently serves as system chief nurse for Southcoast Health in New Bedford. Previously, she was chief nursing officer at both the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

 

See more at heraldnews.com.