Happy Women's History Month 2022!
Wentworth Institute of Technology is overjoyed to celebrate our fem-identifying students, faculty, and staff. During this month of celebration, we are pleased to honor the members of our community who help enrich our lives. This month, we ask you to join us in celebrating Aly Bouchard and Gloria Monaghan.
Celebrating Our Beautiful Community: Aly Bouchard and Gloria Monaghan
What is your name?
Aly Bouchard
What is your Title?
Assistant Director for Residential Student Leadership
What year did you start teaching or working at Wentworth?
July of 2019
What courses do you teach OR what is your role?
I serve as the liaison for all things residential student leadership. I manage the RA recruitment and selection process. I also oversee our S/RA yearly trainings and staff development opportunities. I also lead our department in our Inclusive Excellence practices, constantly encouraging all those around me to dig deeper into DEI work.
Briefly share what led you to the work you do now? (e.g. interests, research, or experiences)
I was a student leader myself at my undergraduate institution. I served as an orientation leader for one summer and a program coordinator for our campus programming board for two years. I loved planning programs that put smiles on the faces of students, and I knew I wanted to make an impact on the lives on students the same way that my mentors did for me. I just recently became highly invested in inclusive excellence - it wasn't something I thought much of in college (#privilege), but as a young professional, I witnessed a lot of my students and colleagues endure systemic issues that I wanted to help reduce and mitigate.
Describe why you believe the work you do is important.
Student leaders RUN this school!! It's my responsibility to give them the tools they need to be successful and then watch them use their creativity and ambition to take the tools to the next level.
What is something exciting currently happening in either your professional or personal life?
We are in the process of planning the RA End of Year Celebration and it's always an exciting time to plan a celebration of all of the hard work that the RAs put into their work for the entire year. They deserve to be recognized every single day, but I hope that I can put together an event that makes them feel valued and that their work was meaningful and did not go unnoticed.
Share a quote that guides what you do personally or professionally.
"No rain, no flowers"
What is one piece of advice you have for our aspiring female students OR students in general at Wentworth?
Use your voice - it's so much more powerful than you think.
Please list any recent publications, awards or achievements you received within the last 3 years.
Ugh, I'm boring and don't get awards lol
Feel free to express anything else you'd like to share.
This is an awesome initiative, thank you again for including me!
What is your name?
Gloria Monaghan
What is your Title?
Professor of Sciences and Humanities
What year did you start teaching or working at Wentworth?
2002
What courses do you teach OR what is your role?
Freshmen English 1 and 2, Poetry Workshop, Art and Technology, Shakespeare on Film
Briefly share what led you to the work you do now? (e.g. interests, research, or experiences)
My work is informed by what is going on in the world today and what my students are experiencing. My research on modernism includes the writers and artists of 00 years ago. My Poetry Workshop course, Shakespeare on Film, and Art and Tech courses were written with what student might miss in their technical or design courses. There is a real thirst for subjects in humanities, even if many students lack previous exposure to these subjects. They find relevance in today's chaotic world and a sense of solace in looking at history and art.
Describe why you believe the work you do is important.
Students at Wentworth will be impactful in society, but they must be exposed to history and literature. It is an important space from where they can develop reactions and voice their ideas in a class discussion. It is probably one of the few spaces on campus where gender, identity and race are discussed and explored. Therefor, it is valid and important work.
What is something exciting currently happening in either your professional or personal life?
My sixth book of poetry is coming out in 2023. I was working on it for the past 5 years.
Share a quote that guides what you do personally or professionally.
"“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts." Charles Dickens
What is one piece of advice you have for our aspiring female students OR students in general at Wentworth?
I would tell the women at Wentworth to never let some one steal your beauty, power or joy. It is within you and no one can take it away.
Please list any recent publications, awards or achievements you received within the last 3 years.
My books: Hydrangea (Kelsay Books) 2020, Torero, (Nixes Mate) 2020, False Spring (Adelaide Books) 2019. Nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Lily Book Review.
Feel free to express anything else you'd like to share.
This is a picture of my daughters and myself. I always told them if you have the ability to be successful in science, you can change the world, but the most important thing is to use your ability to help others.