Wentworth Institute of Technology Names Ian Lapp as New Provost

Ian Lapp, Ph.D., an experienced academic leader with a track record of building diverse teams around innovative initiatives, has been named senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Wentworth Institute of Technology, effective June 8. Lapp has held positions at Babson College, Harvard University and Columbia University, and worked on public health education programs in Africa, Asia and Europe.

“Dr. Lapp’s entrepreneurial mindset and proven leadership in developing and implementing strategic initiatives make him uniquely qualified for this role at an important time in Wentworth’s history,” said President Mark A. Thompson.

Thompson said Lapp is also recognized for his strong value system centered on students, social justice and inclusive excellence, which ensures that all members of the university community are given the tools and support to succeed.

Lapp comes to Wentworth from Babson, where he served as dean of the Undergraduate School for the past four years. During that time new records for enrollment, selectivity, yield, retention and graduation rates were achieved. He partnered with faculty and staff to advance career education and professional development efforts for students and fostered creation of a new undergraduate curriculum for fall 2021. Lapp earned a reputation at Babson for supporting women’s entrepreneurial leadership and promoting diversity, equity and inclusivity across the institution. He helped to expand corporate and non-profit partnerships, engaged actively with alumni and families, and was a prolific fundraiser for the college.

Before his Babson tenure, Lapp was recruited to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to lead a multi-year strategic planning process. There, as associate dean for Strategic Educational Initiatives, he co-led the “Roadmap to 2013,” which resulted in the introduction of four new or redesigned degree programs.

Lapp began his career at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Center for Education Research and Evaluation. He rose to the level of associate dean of Academic Affairs and Education, where he co-led the transformation of the nation's largest accredited master of public health degree.

On a national level, he has chaired several significant committees for the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health, was the president of the Council on Education for Public Health and served as a board member for the National Board of Public Health Examiners. He also serves as a consultant and advisor to leadership in higher education, non-profits, and non-government organizations across the United States and around the world. He has worked extensively with public health education programs in Africa, Asia and Europe, including playing a key role in the launch of the James P. Grant School of Public Health in Bangladesh.

Lapp received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He also received a master’s degree in television, radio, and film from the Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications.

--Dennis Nealon