University News

During the Fall 2009 semester, four Bentley University students enrolled in the Human Relations in Healthcare Organizations class led by Natural Sciences Professor Helen Meldrum, were invited to work with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals to help the company assess and develop solutions for the growing problem of low health literacy, or individual's lack of ability to read, understand and use healthcare information to make decisions and follow instructions for treatment.

During the past decade, neuroscience has made enormous progress with regard to the question of how humans and non-human primates perceive the intentional dimension of actions. The Valente Center for the Arts and Sciences at Bentley University is hosting a one-day conference, Mirror Neurons and Social Cognition, on Thursday, April 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in LaCava Room 305B, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, Mass. The free workshop will bring together philosophers of mind and neuroscientists to discuss the relevance of mirror neurons in social cognition.

The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) honored Bentley University academic adviser Henrietta Genfi, with 2010 Academic Excellence Advising Award for Region 1 (Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and the eastern provinces of Canada.) An academic adviser in the Undergraduate Academic Advising Center, Genfi received the award at the regional conference March 10 to 12 in Newton, Massachusetts.

In recognition of Mathematics Awareness Month in April, an essay from Bentley Professor and Chair of Mathematical Sciences Richard Cleary is featured on the web site for Math Awareness Month (www.mathaware.org), which this year focuses on the theme "Mathematics and Sports." 

In February, Professor and Chair of Mathematical Sciences Richard Cleary was appointed to a two-year term as chair of the Joint Data Committee of five mathematical organizations: Mathematical Association of America; American Mathematical Society; American Statistical Association; the Institute of Mathematical Statistics; and So

Recent earthquake tragedies in both Haiti and Chile and the generous outpouring of support have put a spotlight on the challenges of collecting charitable donations effectively. A recent study by the Design and Usability Center at Bentley University, in partnership with UserZoom, shows that the degree of usability on organizations' websites varies greatly in relation to their incoming online donations.

Bentley University has named 25 outstanding high school juniors to be the 2010 Bentley Tomorrow25. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the international competition launched by Bentley in 2004 to identify exemplary leaders of tomorrow.

Suze Orman, internationally acclaimed personal finance expert, will deliver the commencement address to approximately 1,000 Bentley University undergraduate students on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. on the south campus of Bentley University, with an expected 7,000 in attendance.

The 13th annual Bentley Business Bowl drew 270 students to participate in the business case competition on February 27. Bentley alumni were among the representatives from 76 companies and agencies who joined Bentley faculty and administrators to judge student presentations that analyzed and solved business cases centered on ethics issues.

Bentley students rallied for the 2010 Blackout Challenge to reduce electricity usage in residence halls during four weeks in February - saving enough electricity to power 5.3 homes for one year. The top three residence halls - Cape, Castle and Stratton - each produced a 9.4 percent change in electricity use.