For the past 37 years, Bentley celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with an annual breakfast, an important annual tradition. This year, the dream of a bigger, bolder, more inclusive and campuswide event became a reality. Classes were cancelled for a day so that everyone could participate in exploring the theme of the “Business of Justice.”
President Chrite welcomed more than 400 members of the Bentley community who joined in-person — and another 248 who participated via streaming video — saying, “We will through our own individual measures commit to critically reflecting on our collective stewardship of Dr. King’s legacy — to take account and to be accountable for our nation’s ability to, as yet, fulfill its highest aspirations.”
Students presented the Dr. Earl L. Avery MLK Leadership Award to Assistant Professor of Management Mateo Cruz and Associate Director of Financial Assistance Nivia Mogan ’99.
After the breakfast, the celebration continued across campus. Offerings included more than 50 insightful presentations and conversations about the influence of Black culture on fashion, music, brand marketing and social media, as well as art workshops and a faculty and staff talent show.
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See the Highlights from MLK Celebration at Bentley
Looking to the Future at Town Hall
President Chrite and Chief of Staff Amanda King welcomed faculty and staff to the first Town Hall of 2024. Provost Paul Tesluk and Dean of Students Andrew Shepardson also took the stage to outline a vision for Bentley’s future.
The Town Hall presentations brought to life plans for two initiatives that stem from our Falcons Forward 2030 strategic plan: Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Student Wellbeing. The plans include a reimagining of space and resources on our campus to provide a comprehensive approach to student wellbeing and position Bentley at the leading edge of business.
Watch the Video
Join us for the next President's Speaker Series featuring special guest, Rich Gotham, president of the Boston Celtics.
President Chrite will engage in a conversation with Rich Gotham about the career path that led him to the Celtics and discuss lessons learned along the way.
Wednesday, Feb. 28
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Koumantzelis Auditorium, Lindsay Hall
The event will also be livestreamed.
Register
As curator of the RSM Gallery in Bentley’s library, Danielle Krcmar says her goal is to find artists whose work is relevant to the university’s curriculum, but who also bring the “wow” factor to campus.
“In looking for artists for Bentley, I try to always show something new in the gallery in terms of medium and subject matter,” says Danielle. “I’m interested in artists who address issues that offer potential for curricular and co-curricular tie-ins as well as collaboration with campus offices.”
The latest RSM Gallery exhibit, Landscapes and Lives Partitioned: Witnessing the Borderlands, features a range of mediums from artist Shelley K. White. The exhibit invites the viewer to consider their own immigration story and take a small booklet of poetry that inspired some of the art in the exhibit, a tangible remembrance of the gallery experience. In addition to viewing the art, the Bentley community is also invited to participate in related workshops and discussions.
As with most artists that Danielle exhibits, she began her exploration of White’s work with a visit to her studio. “I thought her artwork was very strong and compelling.”
For Danielle, becoming a curator for a business-focused university was a natural fit, and not just because she had previously curated for Babson College. Danielle says that artists need more than artistic skill, they also need an entrepreneurial mindset. An active artist who works primarily in sculpture, she learned early on that if she wanted to show her work, she needed to create a network and make her own opportunities.
“Artists are always looking for exhibition opportunities. So, I began curating group exhibitions that included my work and doing public art pieces.”
Like other entrepreneurs, Danielle says she must find the balance of creating the work and putting the work into the public sphere. “Your time can go into the marketing or into proposals, or it can go into the studio.”
Coming up next, Danielle is working with local gallerist and curator Beth Kantrowitz to curate work from Gateway Arts. This nonprofit studio art center, gallery and store supports artists with disabilities, providing them with studio workspace, exhibitions and sale opportunities for their art. The opening reception and talk on Feb. 29 is part of Disability Awareness Week events in collaboration with Bentley’s Disability Services Office.
On your next trip to the library, remember to explore the RSM Gallery, and check out Bentley’s events calendar to see upcoming events.
University Police put out a request to the Bentley community to donate warm winter clothing to people who are unhoused. The response? By the time campus closed for winter break, “Charlie’s Bin” in the lobby of the police station was overflowing with donations of more than 800 pairs of socks, 542 winter hats, 416 gloves and much more.
Two days after Christmas, Sergeant Matt Doucot, who spearheaded the effort, loaded his pick-up truck and brought the donations to The Movement Family, an organization in Lawrence, Mass. that provides a weekly dinner and other services for people who are homeless.
“Not only did the Bentley community fill up the bed of my truck with donations, but the back seats were filled as well,” said Matt. “A lot of institutions have logos or sayings that are just that…sayings. But Bentley University has the message of 'Be a Force’ all over campus, and that force of kindness showed up big time.”
Matt says he was inspired by the example set by his late father, Charlie, who was known for his generosity.
“One Christmas Eve, my dad helped a pizza shop owner in Chelsea get his kitchen back online. The owner was so grateful that he gave my father a couple dozen pizzas. Instead of coming home, my dad went to a homeless encampment under the Southeast Expressway and celebrated Christmas Eve with them,” says Matt.
In addition to the clothing donations, the Doucot family also sponsored a pizza dinner (pictured at right) for 60 people who are currently unhoused. On behalf of the Doucot family and the Falcon family, thank you to everyone who helped to make this winter a little warmer for people in need.
Bentley welcomed 15 new staff and faculty since December:
-Sardar Ali, Building Services Worker
-Michael Barry, Dispatcher I
-Emily Campia, Sexual Assault Resource Specialist
-Vincent Carrabino, Club Coach
-Juan Coca, Instructional and Online Audio / Visual Technician
-Immastrid Gillett, Space Planning Administrator
-Jose James, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Haptosphere
-Laura Kryzanek, Accountant
-Brendan Minahan, IT Project Manager
-John Mulvey, Director, Operations for Enrollment Management
-Herbert Muwanga, Senior Cybersecurity Engineer
-Fernando Prieto, Director, Procurement (Vendor and Supplier Management)
-Julia Rappaport, Senior Associate Director, Strategic Communications
-Wallys Sosa-Picard, Associate Director, Brand and Creative Services
-Jane Sulkin, IT Project Manager
From the Newsroom
A Bentley Student Reflection on ADCOLOR 2023
Jaychele Nicole Schenck ’26 shares insights on DEI advocacy and reflections from the 2023 ADCOLOR conference that celebrates and advocates for diversity in the creative industries.
By Jaychele Nicole Schenck ’26 with an introduction by Kristen Walsh
Professor, Alumna Inspire Readers in New Book, “This Era of Black Activism”
Bentley’s Mary Marcel, an associate professor of Experience Design , and alumna Edith Joachimpillai ’12, edited and contributed essays to “This Era of Black Activism,” a new book that explores social justice movements championed by Black activists.
By Molly Mastantuono
9 Fascinating Facts About Dan Everett
Learn all about Bentley’s Dan Everett, an internationally recognized linguist, anthropologist and philosopher, who has been hailed as “the closest thing we have to a real-life Indiana Jones.”
By Molly Mastantuono