Jody Rose to Give Keynote Address at Summer Commencement Aug. 18

BOSTON -- Wentworth Institute of Technology will honor Jody Rose on Aug. 18 for her accomplishments in advancing access to education and humanitarian work to empower women.

Rose is president of the New England Venture Capital Association, where she collaborates closely with local venture and startup communities. She co-founded Hack.Diversity, a program that connects Black and Latinx STEM students with internships at major tech firms.

Rose will give the keynote address and receive an honorary degree when Wentworth holds its summer commencement at the Seaport World Trade Center beginning at 10 a.m. Some 650 students are scheduled to receive degrees.

Wentworth officials said Rose is being honored for her “bold determination” to help talented Black and Latinx students break into the innovation economy in Boston while simultaneously helping tech companies fill high-skilled positions in the local business ecosystem.

This will be the first Wentworth commencement for the university’s new president, Mark A. Thompson. Frederick Driscoll, a professor and dean who has been at the institute for 54 years, is also receiving an honorary degree for his “remarkable body of work” and service to Wentworth and its students.