Derek Cunningham ’07

Derek Cunningham grew up in New England and graduated from Lasell in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He joined the Marine Corps in 2008 and went on to earn his wings and become a jet pilot, flying EA-6B Prowlers. He deployed several times to the Middle East and Asia before relocating to Washington, D.C., in 2019 to serve as staff secretary for the commanding general of Marine Corps Training Command. Derek left active duty in 2020 as a captain. He earned an MBA from Georgetown University and worked as an investment banker in New York until he started his own company, Prowler Capital Group, which focuses on acquiring and operating companies in the manufacturing and aerospace/defense sector. 

Ashley Doak ’15 G’20 

Ashley Doak received her undergraduate degree from Lasell in 2015 and went on to earn her master’s degree in education from Lasell in 2020. She is a special education teacher and a mom. She is excited to run her first marathon for Lasell in honor of fellow alum D.J. Simmonds ’08. She also runs in honor of strong women and says, “May we raise them, may we know them, and may we be them!” 

Jonathan Klippert ’12 

Jonathan Klippert graduated from Lasell magna cum laude as a marketing major and business law minor in 2012 and served as captain of the men’s soccer team. Jonathan loves giving back to Lasell while mentoring students and speaking to larger groups about succeeding in the work force. “I look back at my time while at Lasell and smile,” he says. “A lot of my Lasell friends are still in my life to this day and will be lifelong friends. My professors still assist me with questions and serve as coaches. Lasell is a place of giving – and you get even more back when you help others there."

Dan Hudson 

An avid runner, Dan Hudson is aiming to run the six Abbott World Marathon Majors over a three-year period, having completed London and New York City in 2024 and secured a place for the Chicago Marathon later this year. After tackling Boston, Dan hopes to complete Tokyo and Berlin in 2026. Dan is one half of “A Gay and A Nongay” podcast, the UK’s most popular LGBTQ+ podcast with a large audience in the United States. To date the podcast has been downloaded over 5 million times. In 2021, the podcast was featured in the BBC TV documentary “Sashay To Hell.” Outside of the podcast, Dan is a radio host, producer, stand-up comic, and rock music expert. 

Daniel Nathan 

Daniel “Dee” Nathan grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury High School in 2014. A proud graduate of Framingham State University in 2019, he has completed six marathons and currently works as a special education teacher in the Bedford Public Schools. His hobbies include hiking, running, traveling, sports, and spending time outdoors. Growing up in the Boston area, it has long been a goal of his to run the Boston Marathon. He looks forward to supporting the D.J. Simmonds ’08 Memorial Scholarship and Lasell University! Go Lasers! 

Meg Flaherty 

A member of the Lasell Admissions staff, Meg Flaherty is returning after successfully running for Lasell in 2024. She says, “I have never felt that amount of pride and support from myself and my community. Running the Boston Marathon has always been a dream of mine, and I was able to accomplish that dream last year. I want to run again, with Lasell, because of the connections I have to the University – with current students, prospective students, and alumni. Working at Lasell has opened so many doors for me, and watching my students have opportunities they wouldn’t have had anywhere else has been one of my favorite parts about working here.” She is honored to raise money for the D.J. Simmonds ’08 Memorial Scholarship to help more students have access to a Lasell education. 

Kelly Donahoo 

Kelly Donahoo is a 2018 graduate of Western New England University and is a legal recruiting professional in New York City. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, baking, and running, and is a donut enthusiast. She ran the Disney Marathon in 2020 and the New York City Marathon in 2024. As the daughter of a retired New York Police Department counterterrorism lieutenant, the niece of two retired NYPD officers, all of whom were 9/11 first responders, and the sister of a police officer in Greenburgh, N.Y., Kelly is honored to raise money for the D.J. Simmonds ’08 Memorial Scholarship in his memory.