School of Sciences and Humanities 2026 Letter
Dear Friends,
The 2025–2026 academic year was one of remarkable momentum for the School of Sciences and Humanities. Across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, our faculty continued to expand opportunities for students to engage with the ideas, technologies, and challenges that will shape their professional lives. At Wentworth, we believe our responsibility is not simply to prepare students for today's careers, but to prepare them to exercise sound judgment in a world where knowledge, technology, and society are changing more rapidly than ever before. Whether students are conducting scientific research, writing and communicating across disciplines, exploring Boston's neighborhoods and ecosystems, or collaborating with community partners, our faculty are helping them develop the habits of mind that enable them to ask thoughtful questions, evaluate evidence, communicate effectively, and apply knowledge responsibly in service to society.
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape higher education and nearly every profession. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, our faculty are thoughtfully integrating AI in ways that reflect the goals and traditions of their disciplines. In some courses, students learn to use AI responsibly while examining its ethical, social, and professional implications. In others, faculty intentionally create screen-free learning environments that emphasize close reading, writing, observation, experimentation, discussion, and human interaction. We see these approaches not as competing philosophies, but as complementary expressions of thoughtful teaching. The most effective educational practices are grounded in disciplinary expertise, informed by evidence, and shaped by the learning outcomes each faculty member seeks to achieve.
Innovation in teaching extends well beyond AI. Faculty continue to expand the use of game-based and simulation-based learning across the curriculum, creating immersive educational experiences that encourage students to grapple with complex scientific, ethical, and societal questions. In Anatomy and Physiology, for example, Professor Nadine Stecher challenges students to apply their understanding of human physiology through imaginative scientific scenarios, from hypothetical zombie outbreaks to the biological constraints of life on planets with different gravity or atmospheric conditions. These creative learning experiences transform complex scientific concepts into opportunities for curiosity, collaboration, and lasting understanding.
This year also marked an important milestone as we welcomed the inaugural class of students into our new undergraduate majors in Climate Resilience and Physics. Students in Climate Resilience are already exploring solutions to pressing environmental challenges through field experiences focused on green infrastructure, healthy oceans, clean water, renewable energy, and resilient communities throughout Greater Boston. Our new Physics program is building an equally vibrant culture of scientific inquiry, pairing rigorous study with a welcoming and collaborative community where students gather not only in laboratories and classrooms, but also in shared spaces designed to encourage conversation, curiosity, and friendship. We believe that learning happens as much through community as it does through coursework.
Hands-on learning remains the defining characteristic of the School. Whether students are conducting laboratory research, analyzing environmental data, writing for professional audiences, engaging in fieldwork, or collaborating with community organizations, they are learning by doing. More than two dozen students gained career-launching experiences this year working alongside faculty as research assistants and co-op students. Increasingly, Wentworth students are contributing as co-authors on scholarly publications and conference presentations, participating directly in the creation of new knowledge rather than simply studying what others have discovered.
The School's research enterprise also reached an important inflection point this year. Faculty secured a dramatic increase in external funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and the Royal Society of Chemistry while submitting an unprecedented number of competitive proposals across multiple disciplines. Faculty also expanded their scholarly contributions through peer-reviewed publications, books, conference presentations, invited lectures, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and research on innovative pedagogies such as game-based learning. These accomplishments strengthen the School's national profile while creating new opportunities for students to engage in meaningful research and scholarship.
Several faculty exemplify the breadth and impact of this work. Professor Ella Howard, in collaboration with Computer Science Professor Mehmet Ergezer, is employing artificial intelligence to analyze extensive environmental datasets from Superfund sites, engaging student co-op researchers in projects that address environmental health through advanced computational methods. Professor Yalinu Poya is advancing an ambitious research agenda grounded in the One Health framework, recognizing the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment. Her work integrates chemistry, environmental science, and public health to address sustainable materials, environmental remediation, and community resilience while providing students opportunities to participate in research with direct societal impact. This year, she received support from the Royal Society of Chemistry for her research converting waste cooking oil into biodiesel and bioplastics.
Across the life and physical sciences, faculty continue to expand opportunities for student discovery. Professor Malinda Stull is developing new research exploring the role of fungi in bioremediation and the microbiology of kombucha, introducing students to biological solutions for environmental challenges. Professor Chris Bode-Aluko continues to build momentum through research on water pollution, contaminant mitigation, and sustainable remediation technologies while expanding undergraduate research opportunities. Professor Jeremy Wachter, supported by the National Science Foundation, is involving students in theoretical physics research exploring the earliest moments of the universe, while Professor Benjamin Boe continues to secure national funding for internationally recognized research on total solar eclipses and the Sun's corona, giving Wentworth students opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge astrophysics.
Discovery takes many forms. This year, the School hosted its inaugural Poetry Festival, bringing students, faculty, and visiting writers together to celebrate the power of language and the written word. Professor Gloria Monaghan continued to receive recognition for her poetry and literary scholarship, reminding us that the humanities remain essential to helping students find their own voice and agency as writers, thinkers, and engaged citizens. Whether our faculty are studying the early universe, the human body, environmental health, or the power of poetry, they share a common commitment: inviting students to participate in the creation of knowledge and to use that knowledge in service to society.
Looking ahead, we remain optimistic about the future of the School of Sciences and Humanities. The defining strength of our School is our faculty: scholars and educators who combine disciplinary expertise, innovative teaching, meaningful scholarship, and a deep commitment to student success. They understand that the future will demand more than technical competence alone. It will require curiosity, sound judgment, ethical leadership, adaptability, and the ability to think across disciplinary boundaries.
To our alumni, donors, community partners, and colleagues across Wentworth, thank you for your continued support of our students and faculty. Together, we are building a School where scientific discovery, humanistic inquiry, and engaged learning reinforce one another, preparing graduates not only for successful careers, but for thoughtful lives of leadership, service, and lifelong learning.
Sincerely,
Thaddeus Guldbrandsen, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Sciences and Humanities