Wentworth News Archive

The following is the full speech delivered by Wentworth President Mark A. Thompson during his inauguration ceremony on October 18, 2019.

Good morning and welcome.

For many students, tuition costs remain an insurmountable barrier to higher education. Wentworth Institute of Technology President Mark A. Thompson, Ph.D., says he wants to help those students with a $10 million scholarship matching challenge called ASAP—for Advancing Student Access and Potential. Thompson announced the initiative at a dinner the evening before his Oct. 18 inauguration as Wentworth’s fifth president.

The following article is part of a series previewing the events taking place during Wentworth’s Inauguration Week, October 15-20.

What motivates you? Are you more likely to do something because it brings you joy or because you feel you have no other choice? Dr. Jonathan Stolk seeks to answer these questions and others in workshops planned for Wentworth faculty and staff next week.

Wentworth welcomed Bahrain’s ambassador to the United States, Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, to campus Oct. 7 for a community event and the announcement of a collaboration. 

The following article is part of a series previewing the events taking place during Wentworth’s Inauguration Week, October 15-20.

What might JFK say?

In the spirit of innovation, Wentworth Institute of Technology will look back at the Apollo 11 moon landing event with a discussion sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

The following article is part of a series previewing the events taking place during Wentworth’s Inauguration Week, October 15-20.

When Karyn Thompson delivers a keynote speech at the Oct. 15 Fall Women’s Lunch event, many in the audience will be meeting the person behind the “first lady” moniker—and her altruistic work—officially for the first time.

Wentworth is known for front-line learning opportunities and its work in implementing VR (virtual reality) is growing by the week. To celebrate the success faculty have had in this area, a VR showcase will take place this Tuesday, Oct. 1 in the CEIS Atrium.

“Faculty at Wentworth will be sharing their stories and promoting the use of VR in teaching and learning. These are leaders in the field of VR,” said Donald Tracia from the Department of Learning Innovation and Technology.

The 2020 Best Colleges rankings from U.S. News & World Report show Wentworth Institute of Technology posting its best performance to date—rising significantly in three main categories: Best Regional Universities North; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (with no doctorate available); and Best Value Schools (North).

Wentworth will adopt a test-optional admissions policy beginning in the fall 2020, giving high school students the choice to submit or not submit SAT or ACT scores when applying to the university.

Research has found that standardized test scores are not always the best indicator of academic success and can be a barrier to applying to college for some students, according to Keiko Broomhead, vice president of Enrollment Management.

Do you know what was happening at Wentworth roughly 100 years ago？What’s the difference in campus life between that time and today?

To help answer those questions, the Guarracino Gallery within the Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons is hosting an exhibit called “TBTwenties: Student Memorabilia and Tools in the 1920s” — a decade of boundless discovery in art, literature, science, and politics.

Presiding over his first Wentworth Commencement ceremony, President Mark A.Thompson called members of the graduating class, "a great source of hope and optimism."

“You are equipped with everything you need to understand and help solve the complex problems of the day and of the future,” he said. “Be intentional about it. Be purposeful about it. Give the world the benefit of your full creative capabilities. It is a world that greatly needs you!”

Forbes has released its 2019 list of “America’s Top Colleges” and named Wentworth number 355 in the nation. Wentworth comes in at number 24 among Massachusetts institutions.

According to Forbes, “Whether a school is in the Top 10 or near the bottom of the list, these 650 count as the best in the country. We include just 15% of the 4,300 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S., so appearing here at all is an indication that a school meets a high standard.”

BOSTON -- Wentworth Institute of Technology will honor Jody Rose on Aug. 18 for her accomplishments in advancing access to education and humanitarian work to empower women.

Rose is president of the New England Venture Capital Association, where she collaborates closely with local venture and startup communities. She co-founded Hack.Diversity, a program that connects Black and Latinx STEM students with internships at major tech firms.

Already a well-respected Wentworth staff member, Edie Waldsmith decided to return to the classroom after a 25-year break to pursue a degree in Building Construction Management. This Sunday, she’ll graduate with the top GPA in that program.

Senior Construction Management students finished their final projects with a presentation to industry experts.

Students split their time between a multitude of real-world projects this semester. A sampling included:

A 3D-printing recycling system, thermal regulation bathing device for handicapped patients, autonomous underwater vehicle to detect bleached coral, and a design project of a brewery in Waltham. These are just a few of the items available at the Wentworth senior showcase of College of Engineering and Computer Science.

With more than 170 student teams participating, the showcase took place on August 6 in Tansey Gymnasium.

Wentworth has designated a special area on campus for military veterans to study and socialize. 

U.S. Army Infantry Sgt. Sean Kennedy, BSME ’20, speaking at an Aug. 7 preliminary opening for the space, cited the team work that made the designation possible.

“We weren’t the first class to suggest a lounge and it is something that so many of us can benefit from,” he said. “We’re very grateful for your support and I know with President (Mark) Thompson at the helm that the future is bright for ROTC at Wentworth.”

Two teams of management students at Wentworth Institute of Technology have completed business proposals for the City of Boston to designate a “safe haven” gaming center for teenagers in Dorchester’s Codman Square and culture café and community space in the Fields Corner area.

Each of the students is scheduled to graduate from Wentworth Aug. 18 at the university’s Summer Commencement.

The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) published its list of Zag Sports Academic Honor Squads for the 2018-19 academic calendar year and the Wentworth women’s lacrosse team earned a spot in the Division III category.

The list includes 312 schools from across Divisions I, II, and III, as well as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. To make the list, a team must have posted a 3.0 or higher collective GPA for the academic year.

Mark Pasnik’s scholarly focus emerged 12 years ago when ArchitectureBoston Magazine asked his firm to study potential improvements to Boston City Hall, following a proposal by then-Mayor Thomas Menino for the city to sell the structure and move the seat of government elsewhere.

That plan wilted under Menino, who died in 2014. But the city’s discussion about the building and its plaza continues to this day, with Pasnik filling a couple key roles in the debate.