New Faces, New Roles

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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.

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SOPHIA MAGGELAKIS / Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Maggelakis comes to Wentworth from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) where she had been the dean of the College of Science since 2010. Prior to that, she founded and served as head of RIT’s School of Mathematical Sciences after progressing through the faculty ranks. She has published book chapters, refereed journal articles, and presented numerous papers at national and international conferences in her research specialty of mathematical biology.

Maggelakis earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Computational and Applied Mathematics and B.S. in Mathematics from Old Dominion University. She also completed the Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education program.

“Wentworth is well-positioned for greatness and to address the needs of a fast-changing society and industry by staying true to its mission, building on its strengths, and continue to empower learners with the skills they need to be successful in the global marketplace,” Maggelakis said.

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SUSAN DUFFY / Associate Provost for Transformational Learning and Partnerships

For 10 years, Duffy served as the executive director of the Babson College Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership and faculty director of the Babson Executive Education Inclusive Leadership Portfolio. She built a sustainable and extensive portfolio of educational assets that serve diverse learners “from 14 to forever,” including a nationally recognized women’s leadership scholar program for undergraduates that has produced an illustrious group of accomplished leaders and rising stars. She earned her B.S. from Penn State University, her M.S. from John Hopkins University, and her Ph.D. from The George Washington University School of Business.

Sedef Doganer
SEDEF DOGANER / Dean of the College of Architecture and Design

Doganer comes to Wentworth from the University of Texas at San Antonio (2008–2021), where she served as department chair and associate dean of Design, Inclusion and Engaged Scholarship. During her leadership at UTSA, Doganer partnered with faculty and staff to initiate new programs, dual degrees, and certificates in order to better prepare students as future professionals and practitioners in a rapidly changing workplace. She additionally initiated international collaborations, projects, and workshops with Mexico, Turkey, Colombia, Turkmenistan, and South Korea. Doganer received bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in architecture from Istanbul Technical University.

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THADDEUS GULDBRANDSEN / Dean of the School of Sciences and Humanities

Guldbrandsen brings to Wentworth two decades of higher education experience as faculty member, research center director, and administrator at the University of New Hampshire, the Plymouth State University, and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST). He also served more than two dozen universities, colleges, and schools across the United States and Asia as a higher education consultant, and is strongly committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and environmental sustainability. Guldbrandsen earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in anthropology from the University of New Hampshire and his doctoral degree in anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

JENN KOSSES / Dean of Students

New Board Members

In May and September, Wentworth elected the following people to the Board of Trustees.

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ANTHONY BOND ’12,  CEO and President of BOND Brothers, Inc.

“Programs that Wentworth has developed in order to provide not only the workforce of the future but the leaders of the future is something that not many organizations can claim. I wanted to be a part of that impact.”

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MICHAEL CARRAGHER, President and CEO of VHB

“I have admired Wentworth for many years. I am excited to join the board during this time of transformation, as President Thompson charts the next decade of progress with a deep commitment to inclusive excellence, a value that I am passionate about and eager to support.”

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NOELLE BENAVIDES ’19, Senior Agile Project Manager at Foundation Medicine

“I care deeply about the institution and am passionate about giving back and ensuring the current and future students of Wentworth are just as prepared as I was for their future.”

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MICHAEL SANTORA ’05, CEO of Logic Inc.

“Wentworth has the unique opportunity to take from our foundation of hands-on learning and establish a new format of technical education to mold the leaders of tomorrow. I look forward to creating the framework for this evolution with my fellow trustees.”

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YANEL DE ANGEL, HON. ’22, Managing Director and Principal at Perkins & Will

“Committed to expanding knowledge, unafraid of hard work, and with a healthy dose of determination and humbleness, Wentworth students are poised to take on the challenges we face today. Serving on the board was a natural step toward contributing to catapult Wentworth further into the future.”