AMHERST — University of Massachusetts Amherst faculty Lili He, Govindarajan Srimathveeravalli and VP Nguyen have been named senior members of the 2026 class of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
The recognition program was created to recognize active faculty, scientists and administrators at NAI Member Institutions who have successfully produced, patented and commercialized technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society and economic progress.
He, professor and food science department head, stumbled upon her first of seven patents when one of her students accidentally discovered that the chemical coating He’s lab was working on had an unexpected property. He had been awarded a grant from the USDA to help develop a method and technology for quickly and accurately quantifying how many bacteria are in food — one of the core problems in food science. The team developed a hypothesis that involved a complex, multi-step protocol, but it turned out that the chemical coating itself eliminated all the intermediate, and costly, steps.
That coating is now the backbone of a patent for BactiSee, a rapid surface-bacteria detection system for food processing, pharmaceutical and healthcare environments. He has also launched a startup, HertZ Innovation Tech, to bring BactiSee to market with her postdoc Yuzhen Zhang.
Srimathveeravalli, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Riccio College of Engineering and director of the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring in the Institute for Applied Life Sciences, holds several patents for medical devices for minimally invasive therapy and image-guided treatments.
He highlights upcoming technologies that are based on this principle, including a diagnostic system that reimagines cancer biopsy, medical devices and energy delivery approaches for arresting early-stage bladder cancer, and a catheter-based system that can clear tumors or plaque from major blood vessels.
Nguyen, assistant professor in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences, studies wireless and sensing systems. Applications of his sensor technology include device-free sleep breathing monitoring, tongue- and teeth-manipulated computing systems via an ear-based wearable, wearable devices for cardiovascular health, and a bioelectronic sensing and stimulation platform for adaptive balance therapy. His sensing network research has also been used for drone swarm tracking for alternative firework displays.
This year’s class of NAI Senior Members is the largest to date, hailing from 82 NAI Member Institutions across the globe and collectively holding over 2,000 U.S. patents. The 2026 class of Senior Members will be honored during the Senior Member Induction Ceremony at NAI’s 15th Annual Conference taking place June 1-4 in Los Angeles.
Granby resident appointed to GCC trustees
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) has appointment of Margaret A. Nugent of Granby to its board of trustees. A seasoned leader in vocational education and workforce development, Nugent brings experience in bridging the gap between secondary technical education and higher learning.
Nugent’s appointment reinforces GCC’s commitment to strengthening regional educational pathways and fostering a resilient, skilled workforce in the Pioneer Valley. As the current vocational director at Franklin County Technical School (FCTS), she is uniquely positioned to align the college’s strategic vision with the needs of local industry.
Nugent’s dedication to the community college mission is rooted in her own educational journey, which began at Holyoke Community College. She credits the affordable foundation she received there as the essential “door opener” for her admission to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Administration.
Before transitioning into education, Nugent spent two decades in the hospitality and food service industry. In the early 2000s, she began teaching Culinary Arts at Putnam Vocational Technical High School, sparking a passion for vocational training that led her to earn an M.Ed. from Westfield State University. Over the past 15 years, she has served in diverse administrative roles, including Cooperative Education Coordinator, Adult Education Administrator, and Grant Writer.
A lifelong resident of western Massachusetts, Nugent lives on a small farm in Granby with her husband, Kevin. They enjoy life on the farm with their horses and three Golden Retrievers, sharing their time with their six adult children and six grandchildren.
Bank to offer homebuyer grant programs
EASTHAMPTON — Hometown Mortgage, a division of bankESB, recently announced that three homeownership assistance programs will soon be available to lower-income homebuyers across Massachusetts and neighboring states.
Hometown Mortgage has been selected to participate in three grant programs funded by FHLBank Boston. The Equity Builder Program provides grants of up to $32,099 to income-eligible, first-time homebuyers to help with down payment or closing costs or to supplement rehabilitation costs associated with the purchase. The Housing Our Workforce Program provides grants of up to $25,000 toward down payment or closing costs. Funds will be available starting April 1.
The FHLBank Boston Lift Up Homeownership Program provides grants of up to $40,000 toward downpayment or closing costs for first-generation homebuyers. This program will begin on April 1.
For all programs, applications are submitted, and grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for as long as funds remain available. Only owner-occupied units intended to be used as the homebuyer’s primary residence are eligible for funding. Eligible units include one- to four-family properties, townhouses, and condominiums. Income restrictions apply. For all FHLBank Boston programs, homebuyer counseling courses through an approved agency are required.
Other requirements and restrictions may apply. For more information and to determine eligibility, contact a Hometown Mortgage loan officer at 855-230-3939 or at HFGmortgage.com/grant-programs.
Doctor recognized as top woman entrepreneur
HADLEY — Dr. Nitya Eisenheim, the founder and owner of Cedar Rose Naturopathic, has been recognized with the 2026 CWE Women Entrepreneurs Who Lift Up Massachusetts award.
This prestigious accolade was presented during CWE’s special event on March 10 at the Massachusetts State House in Boston, attended by members of the Massachusetts Legislature. This award highlights the contributions of women business owners to the Massachusetts economy and community. Recipients are celebrated for their outstanding achievements in job creation, fostering innovation and providing impactful leadership that uplifts their communities.
Cedar Rose Naturopathic operates clinics in Greenfield and Hadley (as of April 2026), that assists people in overcoming chronic illnesses, including pain, fatigue, neurological diseases, and mood disturbances. Through a combination of traditional natural medicines and cutting-edge research, patients are able to regain their health, vitality and energy. The mission is to transform those who are barely functional or not functional at all into thriving, healthy people who are full of energy, vitality, compassion and enthusiasm for life.
Eisenheim is a Massachusetts and Vermont licensed naturopathic doctor, craniosacral practitioner, herbalist, and lover of cooking, healthy food and community building. She served as a primary care physician at Windhorse Naturopathic Clinic in Brattleboro, Vermont, for three years before starting her own practice. She graduated from Bastyr University, a leading research and educational institution.
Women entrepreneurs are a critical force in Massachusetts’ economy. According to the Small Business Administration, the State is home to 275,549 women-owned small businesses. In 2024 alone, the top 100 women-led businesses and nonprofits collectively generated over $141 billion in revenue across diverse industries, including health care,
manufacturing, education, and financial services.