Wentworth News

As Staff Sergeant Bethsaida Ramos sang Lee Greenwood’s patriotic “God Bless the USA” to a Watson Auditorium audience, numerous attendees swayed to the music and mouthed the lyrics. And when Ramos belted out, “And I’d proudly stand up!” a pair of military veterans sprang from their seats to honor the song’s message.  

This past Sunday, Wentworth Institute of Technology's Industrial Design faculty and staff hosted several design sessions for the Junior Tech Girls STEM Summit. 

Professors Carlos Villamil and Liza Lynch inspired the next generation of designers with an exploration in 3D composition and material connections using laser cut EVA foam. Guests also had the chance to speak with current second-year students Kenzie Fry and Erin Sweeney about becoming an industrial designers.

This year Wentworth took another step in implementing its strategic goals with the establishment of a new program, Industry Corps. Industry Corps—born of the work and philosophy used in the Center for Community and Learning Partnerships to launch initiatives such as Beacon Pathways and RAMP—leverages Wentworth’s strengths to create education-to-career pathways comprised of stackable credentials that activate career opportunities for students.

Industry partners play a valuable role in the educational experience: Through in-kind gifts, they ensure that Wentworth students have access to the tools and technologies they will use on co-op and in their future careers.  

Through capstone sponsorships, they provide students with a hands-on learning experience in a real work environment.  

As Wentworth continues to evolve, it remains important to bring in fresh, diverse voices to top positions. In the last year, the university has welcomed new faces in leadership roles, while also elevating others within the Board of Trustees. Here are but a few of those people.

Athletics at Wentworth has a history almost as long as the university itself. Beginning with baseball in 1914, the Wentworth athletic roster has since grown to include basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

One of Boston’s most-trafficked areas will soon have a fresh look as a 640,000-square-foot mixed-use building is slated to occupy the current Sweeney Field at 500 Huntington Avenue.

A PRIME LOCATION for students, MBTA riders, and area attractions visitors—including the abutting Museum of Fine Arts—the spot also provides extremely high visibility for Wentworth.

The first women to enroll at Wentworth arrived 50 years ago this year: Doris Dennis, Jane Estella, Virginia Butcher, Deborah Banks, and Susan Hardt. “Know your history,” urged Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Nicole Price at this year’s Women @ Wentworth breakfast marking this milestone. “Because there are people who have built a foundation upon which you can launch.”

Wentworth continues to take steps to improve the student experience in every way, including for those who may become future students. The following are a few examples of our commitment to student success and retention.

Success Studio

The Center for Academic Excellence was enhanced to become the Success Studio this year with a new home in Beatty Hall. One central hub now offers tutoring and academic support, first-year and transfer student advising, and student accessibility services.

When students arrived on campus this fall, they were greeted with new sights and smells in a renewed Beatty Dining Commons. The renovated space features foodie favorites Sal’s Pizza, The Huntington Ave Grille, and Fenway Greens alongside new additions: a dessert station, all-day breakfast, and a designated allergen/ gluten-free zone.

Entrepreneurship is one of the power skills of the 21st century. Like technological literacy and critical thinking, entrepreneurship—the ability to see what is, what could be, and how to get from point A to point B—has rapidly become a necessary skill for college graduates.

With the Wentworth community back for a new semester and a fresh cohort of students discovering on-campus programming, Accelerate is in the midst of a renaissance.

Steered by new Executive Director Ashley Lucas, as well as Associate Provost for Transformational Learning and Partnerships Susan Duffy and Lab Technician Tory Lam ’14, Wentworth’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center has re-emerged from a quiet period during the pandemic to once again being a prominent force on campus, available to all who have an idea.

The challenge was issued: Create the coolest, most creative, and original pumpkin design that you can think of. Wentworth Institute of Technology students delivered. 

Accelerate and the Center for Student Life recently asked Wentworth Institute of Technology students to design race cars out of Legos and to see which one could go the furthest. But there was one trick—each car would be sent down an 11-foot ramp. 

Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Sedef Doganer, dean of the School of Architecture and Design, is among a team of researchers based out of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) looking to prevent hurricane damage to historic buildings along the Gulf Coast.  

Decorated major general and Wentworth alum Allan M. Pepin has been named keynote speaker for Wentworth Institute of Technology’s 15th Annual Veterans Luncheon event on November 3. 

Delphine Surel-Chang spent some of her most formative years in Paris and Brussels, growing a deep appreciation for European art and architecture, as well as technology and construction.  

Inspired by NASA’s annual pumpkin carving competition, Accelerate and the Center for Student Life are excited to present Wentworth’s Pumpkin Innovation Challenge. 

The Colleges of the Fenway (COF) collaborative hosted a Graduate and Professional Fair on September 28 for those interested in exploring opportunities offered through the COF. 

Pioneer computer science’s impact on the world with Wentworth’s Computer Science & Society degree!

Join us at the Fall Open House on Oct. 9 and Nov. 6!

Wentworth’s Computer Science & Society degree offers students courses, projects, and applied learning experiences using the tools of Computer Science and the frameworks of the Humanities and Social Sciences to tackle global and local problems including inequality, sustainability, and public health.