Wentworth News Archive

Life is often about finding the right opportunities. The opportunity to take a leap, a calculated risk. Often the opportunity to find success. Or an opportunity to help others find success.

People who come to Wentworth Institute of Technology seek opportunities, whether as students or as those working on our students' behalf.  

Sophia Maggelakis’ focus on fostering educational excellence and global engagement defines her vision for the university’s academic future. Through the work of Wentworth’s provost and executive vice president and her team, notable strides—like the implementation of the 7-Year Academic Programs Master Plan—signify a strong dedication to the university’s growth. 

Dear Alumni and Friends:

When I say that Wentworth is at an inflection point in this moment, I wholeheartedly mean it. As the university enters its 120th year, we are embarking on an ambitious Institutional Master Plan that will transform our Boston campus and have a tremendously positive impact on the Wentworth community and beyond.  

Wentworth Institute of Technology is honored to announce its 2024 Spring Commencement keynote speaker, architect and social advocate Carla Gautier Castro. 

A third-generation Puerto Rican and graduate of Wentworth with a passion for sustainable design, Gautier Castro’s career path has been shaped by a deep commitment to community, environmental responsibility, and building resilience in the face of adversity. 

Gautier Castro earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Architecture from Wentworth, where she focused on sustainable design. 

The 1904 Legacy Society honors, celebrates, and recognizes alumni and friends who have made a commitment to support Wentworth Institute of Technology through a planned or deferred gift. These future gifts contribute to the growth and success of Wentworth, and they will benefit future generations of Wentworth students and faculty.

James F. Adams,* MW&TM ’51

George V. Albert,* Sr., AC ’46

Charles T. Anderson*

Anonymous

Anonymous

Michael T. Anthony, IET ’82, MA ’84, Hon. ’15

Sherman L. Ayers,* EC ’28

A special thanks to those who gave to Wentworth in Fiscal Year 2023 (the time period between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023). The following list reflects individuals, as well as corporate and foundation partners, who contributed $1,000 and above during that time period. We apologize for inadvertently leaving anyone off this list. If you have edits or comments, please reach out to Crate Herbert at herbertc1@wit.edu. 

Hannah Schulze, Biomedical Engineering ’18, and Abbie Petersen, Electromechanical Engineering ’20, met as Wentworth resident assistants, and they’ve been friends and confidants ever since. They recently chatted with one another about mentorship and the transition from co‑op to career.

As a Wentworth student, Casey Galante earned both Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees. Upon graduation, she immersed herself in industry, but remained very closely connected to her alma mater, attending multiple events, mentoring students, and joining the board of the Wentworth Alumni Association (WAA). 

Felipe Pinto dislocated his patella 20 minutes into his first home game. For a lifelong soccer player, it was a low moment. 

In fact, it turned out to be one of the most defining moments of his life. “Fortunately, I didn’t have to undergo any surgery,” said Pinto, a business management major in the class of 2025, “but it was tough.”

On his second day of rehab, he brought in a Gatorade. Pinto, like many student-athletes, used the drink to replenish the sugars he lost during workouts. 

How do you teach students to roof without a roof? Or put up drywall without a wall? The answer is surprisingly simple: you bring the building to them.

Such a building, or kit, is being created by students and faculty at Wentworth’s School of Architecture and Design in partnership with YouthBuild Boston. The components—including floors, roofs, and walls—will be digitally fabricated in the Wentworth architecture studios.

Longtime Wentworth benefactor Lloyd Carney, EEE ’82, EE ’84, Hon. ’13, has returned to the Board of Trustees. Carney has previously served on Wentworth’s board, and is responsible for providing students with both the Tech Sandbox and the Lloyd Carney Reading Room. 

Carney is also the chair and CEO of Carney Global Ventures, a global investment vehicle. He previously served as CEO and director of Brocade Communications Systems, a global supplier of networking hardware and software, and CEO and director of information technology and hardware company Xsigo Systems. 

One of Wentworth’s hallmarks has long been its vaunted cooperative learning (co-op) program. Students have earned hands-on experience at real companies since 1975, and the university’s Co-ops & Careers office continues to find success for our students, with 10,000 students working at 780 companies since 2016 alone. 

Wentworth Institute of Technology alumni have a reputation for making great strides in the world, and some of the brightest examples were honored in August at the Wentworth Alumni Association (WAA) Awards Ceremony. 

Located at 600 Parker Street, once completed, Wentworth’s Athletic Center will provide current and future student-athletes with the opportunity to practice and compete on a field that meets their competitive needs. 

It all began with one poignant question: Do you believe?

For Wentworth Institute of Technology President Mark A. Thompson, the answer is a resounding yes. It's a belief that Wentworth students can change the world, and in alumni, friends, faculty, and staff to help provide the tools to do so.

When Raquan Wright Pritchett first walked through the doors of the STRIVE Wentworth Program at age 19, he didn’t know how to ask for help–or have the skills he needed to land a job and launch a career.  

One of Wentworth’s most beloved and dedicated alumni, Keith Blackey EE ‘73, passed away at age 78 in North Las Vegas on July 8, 2023. Although he lived on the West Coast for four decades, Mr. Blackey made a regular pilgrimage to the university to attend the Annual Veterans Luncheon.

The Wentworth Board of Trustees unanimously voted to extend President Mark A. Thompson’s contract for five additional years through June 2029.  

Chair of the Board of Trustees Gregory B. Janey noted that President Thompson was recruited in 2019 to develop a long-term vision to evolve Wentworth to meet its full potential amid a rapidly changing higher education landscape.  

Enter the realm of leadership psychology with a lecture series curated by Wentworth Institute of Technology Professor Adam Payne of the School of Sciences and Humanities.  

The Spring 2024 Psychology of Leadership series uses I/O (industrial and organizational) psychology to translate theory into actionable strategies for effective leadership in the trenches. Speakers hail from a variety of industries and backgrounds including design build, DEI, religion, accounting, business, and talent acquisition.