Wentworth News

Wentworth Institute of Technology will be the first university in the Boston area to host on-campus commencement ceremonies for the Spring 2021 season.  

After halting in-person events last year due to the pandemic, Wentworth officials are looking forward to welcoming graduates from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 in a trio of events during the weekend of May 1 and 2. 

Wentworth Institute of Technology celebrated the achievements of many great student leaders this month. The following students were honored during a ceremony that can be viewed online.  

Nicole Price continues the conversation, asking the group which women specifically inspire them and if they grew up with Women’s History Month. 

Wentworth Institute of Technology Provost and Senior Vice President Ian Lapp will join thought leaders from across the globe to mark the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of the Escuela de Salud Pública de México (The School of Public Health Mexico), part of the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (National Institute of Public Health).

The Wentworth Institute of Technology chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers has received the organization’s 2021 Certificate of Commendation.  

The Center for Diversity and Social Justice and the Department of Fitness and Recreation are hosting the first Women Lifting Women Virtual Discussion on Thursday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m.  

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Sarah Perciaccante will talk about her experience in the world of fitness, providing tips on how to boost confidence in order to feel comfortable in the weight room and own a fitness journey. She will also be available to answer any fitness related questions. 

Bridge design has long held an interest for Nasser Yari. As a civil engineer with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for 33 years, he helped build many of the structures that have become commonplace for motorists in the Granite State.  

This summer, he will bring that knowledge to a Wentworth Institute of Technology classroom with his “Bridge Design” course.  

Nicole Price, vice president of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, recently led a discussion with other Wentworth Institute of Technology women in celebration of Women’s History Month.  

All five participants talking with Price identify as cisgender female. Ke'Anna Skipwith additionally identifies as a Black woman, while Julie Wong notes she is a biracial Asian-American. Sandenya Zorokong is Sierra Leonean-American. Yihra Peralta and Ghislaine Ruiz both identify as Latina and Dominican. 

Thousands of pounds of steel that must be shaped into a model bridge within a limited amount of time? Sounds like a task for Wentworth’s Civil Engineering students.  

Officials at Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Boston Public Schools’ Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (EMK) have devised a creative plan to allow 60 EMK juniors and seniors to attend their regular classes on Wentworth’s Huntington Avenue campus beginning March 29.  

In support of the high demand for advanced STEM expertise, Wentworth Institute of Technology is launching APEX (Accelerated Pathways to Engineering & Computing eXperience). Serving as a pipeline for students who want to build the foundation for advanced degrees in careers in Engineering and Computing, professionals and other qualified individuals with bachelor's degrees in non-STEM fields can prepare themselves for master’s degree programs at Wentworth in Engineering or Computing and Data Science.

Wentworth is proud to celebrate and recognize the contributions of our women faculty in honor of Women’s History Month. We’re shining the spotlight on a few of these remarkable women, and we invite you to read about their diverse talents and accomplishments. 

Part II begins with the group discussing ways that racial biases have played a role in their careers. 

Nicole Price, vice president of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, recently led a discussion with Wentworth Institute of Technology faculty and staff on the topic of “Black in America and Beyond.” All four participants identify as Black and they talked about racial biases they have encountered, perception of Black America through the media and art, and why it’s important to celebrate Black lives and contributions throughout the year, not simply as part of Black History Month in February. 

As wildfires ravaged California in 2020 and COVID-19 spread across the globe, people were in serious need of N95 masks. Leif Hauge, Industrial Design ’22, decided to play a role by designing masks that are comfortable, versatile and sustainable. Now, Hauge and his work are representing Wentworth Institute of Technology in the IDSA Student Merit Award competition.  

As part of its strategic framework to move forward boldly in a post-pandemic world, Wentworth Institute of Technology is beginning to lay the foundation for its next century, including new programming and real estate development.

“We are entering a new and exciting phase in Wentworth’s history,” said the school’s president, Mark A. Thompson. “We are located in the heart of a thriving city with a booming expansion in the life sciences, technology and manufacturing sectors, offering high-demand degrees in those industries.”

Helping to distribute $25 million is a lot of responsibility, especially when a plethora of community groups are counting on it. But that’s the situation in which Wentworth senior Andy Ngo found himself as he sat at the controls of Boston’s Community Preservation Act online public meeting, making sure the allocation of funds went smoothly.

Nearly 100 city leaders, community advocates and anxious applicants joined the virtual gathering to see if their projects for affordable housing, parks and open space, and historical preservation were funded.

The March 11 edition of The Boston Globe features leadership from various Massachusetts universities—including Wentworth Institute of Technology President Mark A. Thompson—discussing a return to mostly in-person classes and other shifts this fall.  

Thompson notes that Wentworth housing is expected to be back to 90% occupancy by that point, up from around half that number this semester. 

“I don’t think we’re going to look the same as pre-pandemic,” Thompson said of the fall semester. “But we’ll look and feel more normal.” 

Several departments at Wentworth Institute of Technology are celebrating International Women’s Day, Women in Construction Week and Women’s History Month through a host of various programs and events.  

CDSJP VIRTUAL EVENTS  

The Center for Diversity and Social Justice Programs has partnered with Wentworth Women's Council, CROWNS, NOMAS, and several offices to present several events that are open to the public. All events will be held virtually.  

The Commonwealth Coast Conference Board of Directors approved its plan to return to conference competition for the spring 2021 season. The plan affirms the Board's previously stated intention to begin CCC play for spring sports beginning on March 27.