Wentworth News Archive

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If Allison K. Lange appears a bit busier than usual these days it’s because the country is on the brink of celebrating a major milestone—the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18 and its certification a week later on August 26.

Nasser Yari stood in his home office, virtually presenting a variety of images that showcase the use of mass timber—large solid wood panels for wall, floor and roof construction. One such image was of the Richmond Olympic Oval in British Columbia, an indoor arena with an impressive six-acre, all-timber roof (the largest of its kind in the world), its interior more resembling a cathedral than a sports stadium.

“Mass timber is considered the new steel,” said Yari, an assistant professor in Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Department of Civil Engineering and Technology.

We’re speaking with Class of 2020 students as they prepare to graduate. Our next installment is with Chris Cassidy, an Electrical Engineering student and member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

What are you most proud of during your time at WIT? 

I'm most proud of what I've achieved, from friends made, to grades and my co-op experiences [with iRobot and Analog Devices]. It's all blurred together over the last four years to feel like a single, monumental achievement.

The National Academy of Construction announced that academic scholarships have been awarded to three students in the United States, including Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Julia Gravano.

This marks the first time NAC has awarded scholarships, providing two $5,000 scholarships and one $2,000 scholarship for the 2020 academic year.

Recent high school graduates in Boston are faced with a sobering reality this summer: the COVID-19 pandemic has suspended many educational programs and the prospect of finding a paying seasonal job is slim at best.

But where other opportunities have dried up, Wentworth Institute of Technology’s RAMP program is finding record enrollment, ready to educate and provide a stipend to more than 60 City of Boston residents who have committed to Wentworth in the fall, an increase after a record 46 RAMP participants last year.

Wentworth Institute of Technology will not compete in traditional athletics programs this fall due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.

Wentworth President Mark A. Thompson made the announcement on July 17. The decision comes on the heels of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) officials announcing that they would not be competing in Fall 2020. Thompson extended Wentworth’s plan to also include teams outside of the CCC, including varsity and club sports.

Wentworth, in partnership with BPS STRIVE Wentworth Training Program, has been awarded a grant of $25,000 from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust.

With the support of this grant, the program will implement new programming focused on growing the student’s computer, financial literacy and social skills. This new initiative further enriches the mission of BPS STRIVE Wentworth Training Program, which is to support workforce development with pre-vocational, vocational, and transitional services to high school students, ages 18-22 with unique physical and learning needs.

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Have you ever thought about being part of a summer camp among other campers from around the world? If so, you’ll have that chance with “From Dreams to Entrepreneurship,” an online summer program offered by Wentworth’s Department of Management.

Open to high school students, the program will explore the idea of what it means to become an entrepreneur, examining how to formulate ideas and then market them, while also teaching finance and accounting.

Six sessions will take place between August 10 and 21.

Kristin R. Tichenor, Ed.D., an experienced higher education leader with a track record for increasing diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) has been named vice president for Enrollment at Wentworth Institute of Technology, effective July 27.

Prior to coming to Wentworth, Tichenor spent the majority of her professional career as a leader in a variety of roles at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) where she gained national prominence for her groundbreaking work in developing a test-optional policy more than a decade ago.

With indoor movie theaters currently closed, an old staple of motion picture past is making a comeback this summer: the drive-in.

Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Parker Street parking lot, along with the lot at the Seaport’s Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), will be hosting the outdoor movies through July. The events are coordinated officially through the City of Boston and not affiliated with Wentworth directly.

The Parker Lot will screen the following films:

Learn about the latest innovations in timber engineering and design. Join professor Nasser Yari (Civil Engineering) for, “Timber Structures: Engineering for the Future,” Thursday, July 16 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM.

Register to Attend

Wentworth students working to become architects have been given a major boost toward that goal with the university’s recent acceptance into IPAL, or Integrated Path to Architecture Licensure.

IPAL programs at approved institutions let students earn their licenses in less time by incorporating experience and examination into their education. Acceptance into the program is a major mark of distinction, according to industry leaders and Wentworth administrators who worked on the university’s IPAL application.

To ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in the Wentworth community and our guests, we have suspended on-campus admissions events and tours. Instead, we have created a number of different ways for you to learn about the Wentworth experience while following public health physical distance guidelines.  Check out the virtual opportunities below and get a feel for what it’s like to be a Leopard!

We’ve developed a comprehensive framework for students to return to campus for the Fall 2020 semester. This framework is built on maintaining the health and well-being of the Wentworth community as well as offering a high-quality and engaging educational experience. The linchpin of this plan is what we call “Social Solidarity” where we all take individual and collective actions to care for ourselves, each other, and our broader community. We ask for your flexibility as we as approach the fall semester.

The following is Part III of our discussion with Nakisa Alborz, David Simpson, Alex Cabal, Rebecca Drossman and Aaron Carpenter. Part I and Part II are also online.

Greg Abazorius, Director, Content: You’ve all talked about expression and making oneself heard. Do you think that’s easier or harder when you are being quarantined and have to do it remotely?

The following is Part II of our discussion with Nakisa Alborz, David Simpson, Alex Cabal, Rebecca Drossman and Aaron Carpenter. Part I and Part III are also online.

Greg Abazorius, Director, Content: Do you feel there is more accountability right now? Do you believe that having more of a spotlight on people through videos and social media, et cetera, will lead to behavioral changes?

We recently hosted a virtual call with Wentworth faculty (Nakisa Alborz, David Simpson and Aaron Carpenter) and staff (Alex Cabal and Becky Drossman) to discuss the issue of race in America and how it affects academia. Mostly, we listened and tried to absorb as much as we could.

Department of Architecture Professor Mark Pasnik spoke with Interior Design magazine about Pride Month, sharing his belief that pride is “a liberating concept connected to equality and dignity.”

He notes that his studio classes have engaged with Boston Public Schools and other organizations in an effort to respond to respond to urgent community needs.