Letter from President Thompson

In last year's President's Report, Wentworth’s Board Chair Greg Janey and I were able to highlight how Wentworth had responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and how we were positioned for the uncertainty of the year ahead. Now, one year later, I can share how much we accomplished while recognizing some of the challenges we endured.

Writing this annual letter to you, our strongest supporters and cherished community members, provides an opportunity for me to pause and reflect on where we were in 2020. The last year tested us: We faced times when members of our community could not return to campus due to travel restrictions, we faced the shift of in-person coursework to remote, online learning, and we faced the loss of normalcy and connection with one another. However, a guiding light throughout the last year was our ability to face these challenges as one community—one Wentworth—conquering these challenges resiliently.

Today, we are looking toward a bright future.

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Central to our identity, Wentworth has always been positioned to respond to the needs of the moment. We are closely tied in with industry and able to pivot quickly to ensure our success. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated Wentworth’s ability to do just that.

Over the last year, we continued to make significant progress toward achieving the university’s strategic priorities established in 2019 while overcoming the day-to-day pandemic challenges we confronted in 2020. Toward our goal of creating a transformative student experience, we focused on two key areas that have significant impact for our students. We notably enhanced our Center for Wellness this summer, moving it to a brighter, refreshed, and expanded space on the second floor of Williston Hall. This important upgraded space is helping us to foster a culture of health and wellness for our students. As I noted in the Strategic Plan, we know that when we help students live healthy lives in a supportive environment, we boost their capacity to learn, work, and take full advantage of their Wentworth educational experience.

This fall, we launched the Success Studio, a new space in Beatty Hall that is home to an integrated, one-stop shop for students dedicated to seamless academic advising, support, and student success. As I have outlined in the strategic plan, we have a responsibility to maximize student return on investment in a Wentworth education, and we must provide the highest quality of services in response to all aspects of student needs. The new Success Studio is positioned to help us accomplish this goal.

While the last year has been challenging, it has demonstrated the significant accomplishments we can make when we come together as the Wentworth community. In looking toward the future, we will be on an unstoppable path with the support of alumni and friends like you.

No matter how you chose to support Wentworth, we are thankful for your involvement. Throughout this report, you will see why members of our community give back. “Why I Give” will introduce you to alumni and friends of the institution who have chosen to help Wentworth succeed in the most challenging times. Large gifts, like Douglas Schumann giving $500,000 to the Wentworth Cares Fund,

allow us to respond to immediate student needs. However, gifts under $100 add up to over $54,384 collectively and make a great impact on the lives of our students. With much uncertainty still ahead, your support is needed now more than ever to meet the needs of tomorrow and ensure our students succeed.

Beyond financial support, there are many opportunities for members of the greater community to remain involved with Wentworth. Perhaps you’d like to host a Wentworth student for a co-op this year or mentor current students in your professional area. Be sure to stay connected with the Wentworth Alumni Association to give back in a way that makes sense for you.

I invite you to read about the exciting opportunities the last year presented coupled with news about where we are going. As an institution responsive to the needs of today, we celebrate our progress and the future you will help us create. I invite you all to journey with us as we are one Wentworth.

With gratitude,

Mark A. Thompson, Ph.D.
President