RSS Feed for Latest News

WPI Named to First-Ever LinkedIn Top Colleges List

jcain — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has been ranked 39th on the 2025 LinkedIn Top Colleges list, an inaugural ranking of the top 50 schools in the U.S. LinkedIn, the world鈥檚 largest professional network, created the Top Colleges list to identify the undergraduate programs that best position their alumni for long-term career success.

鈥淟inkedIn鈥檚 Top Colleges list is additional proof of something we鈥檝e long known and prioritized: that WPI offers students an incredibly valuable education,鈥?said WPI President Grace Wang, noting that more than 95% of WPI graduates who responded to a survey reported that the university鈥檚 signature project-based learning prepared them for their current career. 鈥淥ur unique hands-on educational model is designed not only to equip students with specific expertise and skills in their fields but also to empower them to think critically, work well in teams, and learn how to learn. As a result, our graduates are well positioned to be versatile and successful throughout their professional lives.鈥?lt;/span>

LinkedIn's data finds WPI has the second highest percentage of recent grads working in engineering roles for their first job after graduation.

The first-ever ranking relies on exclusive LinkedIn data that measures the career outcomes of millions of alumni from universities and colleges. It uses a methodology that compares schools based on factors including job and graduate school placement rates, internship completions, and recruiter demand.

鈥淓mployers tell us consistently they love WPI graduates, and that鈥檚 for a number of reasons,鈥?said Amanda Laungani, director of the Heebner Career Development Center at WPI. 鈥淭he employers we work with praise our students for having the confidence and capability to contribute immediately to their organizations as well as the extensive experience working in teams that allows our graduates to turn knowledge into impactful applications.鈥?amp;nbsp;

The LinkedIn ranking echoes a March 2025 ranking by U.S. News & World Report that placed WPI 18th on its list of 鈥淐olleges with the Best Return on Investment鈥?lt;/span> and cited an estimated $3,408,000 return on investment for a WPI education after 40 years, as measured in 2023 dollars.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Names Crate Herbert VP for University Advancement

cbwamback — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester, Mass.鈥擜ug. 7, 2025鈥?Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) today announced the appointment of Crate Herbert as vice president for university advancement. A nationally recognized advancement leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit fundraising, Herbert brings a proven track record of transformational philanthropy, strategic innovation, and collaborative leadership to WPI. She will begin her new role Sept. 15, 2025.

Herbert joins WPI from Wentworth Institute of Technology, where she served as vice president for institutional advancement and external relations. There, she built a 40-person team, overseeing Advancement and Marketing and Communications, and managing a $7 million operation. During her tenure at Wentworth, the institute enjoyed unprecedented fundraising success as she reshaped the team with centers of excellence in donor relations and stewardship; industry and government relations; demand generation; advancement operations; and internal communications. She also laid the foundation for Wentworth鈥檚 first-ever comprehensive campaign including the closure of foundational lead gifts.

At WPI, Herbert will lead the Division of University Advancement during a time of extraordinary opportunity. The university was recently designated an R1 research institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is nearing the successful completion of its $500 million Beyond These Towers campaign. Reporting directly to President Grace Wang and serving on the president鈥檚 cabinet, Herbert will guide a strategic refresh of WPI鈥檚 advancement operations, donor and alumni engagement, and philanthropic partnerships.

鈥淐rate Herbert is a results-oriented leader who understands how to connect mission-driven institutions with the resources needed to fuel their impact,鈥?said Wang. 鈥淗er vision, energy, passion to deliver impact, and her empathetic leadership style position her perfectly to advance WPI鈥檚 distinctive impact.鈥?lt;/p>

鈥淐rate鈥檚 collaborative spirit and the energy she brought to each interaction throughout this process were notable,鈥?said George Oliver 鈥?2, member of WPI鈥檚 Board of Trustees and search committee chair. 鈥淭he committee was impressed by her deep understanding of how to cultivate meaningful philanthropic partnerships, and we look forward to having her join this community.鈥?amp;nbsp;

Prior to her role at Wentworth, Herbert held senior leadership positions at Harvard University, where she helped launch and lead campaigns totaling over $4 billion. As executive director of development for the Harvard Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, she exceeded the school鈥檚 $450 million campaign goal by 50% and played a key role in securing and stewarding a historic $400 million naming gift. She also pioneered Harvard鈥檚 Leadership Giving program, securing six- and seven-figure unrestricted gifts.

Herbert鈥檚 appointment reflects WPI鈥檚 commitment to building a data-informed advancement program that deepens alumni engagement, strengthens corporate and foundation partnerships, and attracts transformative gifts. She will lead a team of more than 50 people and work closely with faculty, trustees, and university leaders to scale philanthropic support with WPI鈥檚 strategic priorities.

鈥淚 am honored to join WPI at such an exciting time.鈥?said Herbert. 鈥淲PI embodies the best elements of American higher education, offering a powerful model for the future. WPI鈥檚 distinctive education blends hands-on, project-based learning with field-leading research. This is an exciting moment in WPI鈥檚 long, impressive history, and I look forward to partnering with President Wang and the entire community鈥攁lumni, parents, students, faculty, and staff鈥攖o build lasting relationships that advance this extraordinary institution. I can鈥檛 wait to get to work.鈥?lt;/p>

Herbert holds a master of music from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor of arts from Earlham College. She also serves as faculty dean of Cabot House at Harvard College and is a former professional classical singer.

WPI Welcomes Thomas Driscoll to Board of Trustees

cbwamback — Mon, 19 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) announced today the election to its Board of Trustees of Thomas Driscoll 鈥?5, retired managing director at Charles River Development and senior vice president at State Street. He will start his five-year term on July 1, 2025.

鈥淲PI has a strong track record in transformative STEM education and impactful research,鈥?amp;nbsp; said William Fitzgerald 鈥?3, board chair. 鈥淎s we seek to bring these offerings to a broader audience, Tom鈥檚 deep expertise in business, marketing, and corporate development will help shape our strategy and craft innovative approaches to new opportunities and partnerships.鈥?amp;nbsp;

Driscoll built his career in sales, marketing, and strategic operations management, involving software products and services for the financial industry. He currently serves on the boards of and advises a number of companies primarily focused on financial technology.

At Charles River, Driscoll oversaw global sales, marketing, and business development as well as Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East, and Africa operations. He joined the firm in 1994 and was instrumental in growing the company from 10 employees to over 1,300 when it was acquired by State Street in 2018. He previously served as chief financial officer for a private equity firm and managed sales, marketing, and client services for Greystone Technology.

Driscoll holds a BS in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MS in computer engineering from Northeastern University.

鈥淭hroughout Tom鈥檚 career, he worked at the intersection of business, finance, and technology to achieve great success. These experiences and insights will be valuable as WPI faces a rapidly changing world. We look forward to Tom鈥檚 advice and guidance as a trustee,鈥?said WPI President Grace Wang. 鈥淲e are grateful that he is giving back to his alma mater in this meaningful way.鈥?amp;nbsp;

The Power of Academic and Industry Collaboration Comes to Life through Student Research Projects at WPI

cbwamback — Fri, 02 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

On April 25, student teams representing every academic department on campus presented the results of their senior theses during WPI鈥檚 annual Undergraduate Research Project Showcase. This signature event showcases the culmination of WPI鈥檚 distinctive project-based undergraduate education, where students engage in team-based professional-level design and research that mirrors the challenges they will likely tackle in their careers. Known as major qualifying projects (MQPs), these yearlong experiences provide students with both technical skills and 鈥渟oft鈥?skills like communication, leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Industry support is vital to this process. Every year companies are invited to sponsor projects that introduce corporate-specific scenarios, offering students invaluable problem-solving experience while providing companies with bold new thinking and proposals for innovative solutions. Here are just a few examples of the exciting projects, conducted by graduating seniors, made possible by sponsors鈥?support this year.

Draper

L-R: Emma DeMartino; Fatimah Daffaie; Adeline Fede

Project: Investigating Endothelial Responses to Tissue Under In-Vitro Flow: System Development for the Preclinical Evaluation of Draper鈥檚 LEAP Valve
Department: Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Students: Fatimah Daffaie; Emma DeMartino; Adeline Fede
Advisors: Kristen Billiar, professor (BME); Corin Williams (Draper)

This project focused on helping children who have had heart valve replacements. Currently, replacement heart valves don鈥檛 grow as a child grows, which often means multiple surgeries. Draper has designed a new kind of heart valve鈥攖he LEAP Valve鈥攖hat鈥檚 made to grow with the child. The WPI team built a special lab setup that mimics how blood flows through the body, specifically how cells that line blood vessels react when the LEAP Valve is in place. This is a critical step in studying the efficacy of the valve and identifying how it affects the body prior to clinical trials.

鈥淲orking with Draper鈥檚 biotechnology department鈥攁nd learning from both the bio team and other departments鈥攚as an incredible experience,鈥?said Emma DeMartino. 鈥淥ur sponsor gave us so much helpful advice, and getting to see and understand the full scope of the project made it really fun and rewarding.鈥?amp;nbsp;

Draper advisor Corin Williams said, 鈥淚鈥檝e been really impressed with this team and the amount of work they put into the project. They essentially built this system from scratch鈥攏o one had created anything like it before. Watching it all come together from an initial concept to a fully realized system was incredibly exciting.鈥?lt;/span>

L-R: John Chau, Halim Faker

Fidelity Investments

Project: Creating the Metric Store for Business Performance Metrics
Departments: Computer Science (CS), Data Science (DS), Financial Technology (FT), Industrial Engineering (IE), Management Engineering (MGE)
Students: John Chau (DS, MGE, IE); Halim Faker (IE, FT); Mansi Gera (DS); Harshith Iyer (CS); Sophia John (CS)
Advisors: Marcel Blais, professor of teaching (mathematical sciences); Joshua Cuneo, senior instructor (CS); Kwamie Dunbar, associate professor (The Business School); Xin Gao, assistant professor (The Business School); Renata Konrad, associate professor (The Business School)

An interdisciplinary team of students worked with project sponsor Fidelity Investments to develop a prototype for a user-friendly web-based application for employees to view, search, and easily understand business performance metrics. The students said the partnership with Fidelity provided them with valuable connections who helped them gain technical expertise and a greater understanding of how data are used to inform business decisions.

鈥淲orking with Fidelity was one of the best experiences in my four years at WPI,鈥?said Halim Faker. 鈥淭his project was an opportunity to work in a company and learn how the financial world works and how important data are to customer analysis.鈥?lt;/span>

General Dynamics Electric Boat

L-R: Sofia Eckerson; Marc Donahue, MS 鈥?5 (CS); Samantha Germano; Taniya Crosby; Mir Valentine; Benjamin Perrin

Project: Designing an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle and Updating a Parametric Design Tool
Department: Mechanical and Materials Engineering (ME)
Students: Taniya Crosby; Marc Donahue, MS 鈥?5 (CS); Sofia Eckerson; Samantha Germano; Benjamin Perrin; Mir Valentine
Advisors: Ahmet Sabuncu, assistant teaching professor (ME); Shubbhi Taneja, assistant teaching professor (CS)

The team continued research started by the 2024 MQP team into the design of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), focusing on design features, materials, structural strength, and control systems. A key part of the work involved testing a new computer-based design tool and comparing its results to the 2024 team鈥檚 version. The students recommended refining the tool鈥檚 input settings, improving its ability to model water flow, and enhancing its real-time adaptability. Modeling is essential when working with large and complex systems like UUVs because it allows engineers to test designs virtually before anything is built. Another team will continue the sponsored project next year.

鈥淚t was a big responsibility to build on the work of last year鈥檚 team鈥攚e wanted to honor what they created while also making it our own and moving it forward,鈥?said Taniya Crosby. 鈥淲orking closely with our corporate sponsor helped us really understand the project鈥檚 full scope, and as we grew more confident, we focused on setting it up for success so next year鈥檚 team can launch it even further.鈥?lt;/span>

L-R: John Clendenin, Bora Hurst, Sara Kelly, Eli Budde, Dominic Brunetti

Honeywell

Project: GaN-based DC/DC Converter for Fuel Cell Applications
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Students: Dominic Brunetti; Eli Budde; John Clendenin; Bora Hurst; Sara Kelly; Vanessa Narciso
Advisor: Gregory Noetscher, assistant teaching professor (ECE)

The team worked with project sponsor Honeywell to design and develop a prototype for a compact and lightweight power converter for use in unmanned autonomous vehicles that utilize hydrogen fuel cell power. The students said the opportunity to work with Honeywell provided a valuable real-world experience, and they praised their project partners in the company for providing consistent feedback and information on industry standards.

鈥淚t was wonderful working with them,鈥?said John Clendenin. 鈥淭hey really helped show us their standard way of doing things. They mentored us through the printed circuit board layout schematic part of the project. We got insight from them on the whole manufacturing process, from simulation to schematic to printed circuit board to ordering it.鈥?lt;/span>

NVIDIA

L-R: Alexander Samra; Owen Rago

Project: Performance Architecture Team鈥擯owerSense
Department: Computer Science
Students: Owen Rago; Alexander Samra
Advisors: Mark Claypool, professor (CS); Lane Harrison, associate professor (CS)

NVIDIA, a top company known for making GPUs鈥攖he computer chips that help run advanced AI programs鈥攐pened its door to the MQP team at WPI鈥檚 Silicon Valley Project Center. The students worked on systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) within the Tegra division鈥檚 Performance Architecture Team, analyzing and improving how these chips perform so teams across Tegra can better understand and improve their technology.

鈥淲orking with a corporate sponsor at their headquarters gave me real-world experience鈥攚e were in the office from 8 to 5 every day, just like a full-time job. Being fully immersed in that environment helped me learn a lot about how I work best, what I value in a company, and what I鈥檒l be looking for as I start my career,鈥?said Alexander Samra. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just a class project鈥攊t was real work, with real expectations, and it gave me a true sense of what my future could look like.鈥?lt;/span>

L-R Aidan Eldridge; Abigail Stack; Lauren Mitcheson; Sean Sullivan

Saint-Gobain

Project: Optimizing the Finishing Process in Bond Plant 7
The Business School
Students: Aidan Eldridge, MS 鈥?5 (management); Lauren Mitcheson, MS 鈥?5 (business analytics); Abigail Stack, MS 鈥?5 (management); Sean Sullivan, MS 鈥?5 (management)
Advisor: Walter Towner, teaching professor (The Business School)

It鈥檚 no small task to increase the productivity of a manufacturing line, but that鈥檚 what four students set out to do for global company Saint-Gobain. The team members focused on improving the finishing processes on a production line in Worcester that makes large, circular abrasive wheels for cutting steel and other hard materials. The students, all of whom are graduating this year with BS degrees in industrial engineering plus MS degrees in business fields, proposed steps such as adding laser technology, organizing tools, and standardizing operating procedures to make the line more efficient. They estimated their proposed changes could increase production and revenue for Saint-Gobain.

鈥淚t was really cool. All the concepts we used in this project were concepts we had learned in courses,鈥?said Lauren Mitcheson. Added Aidan Eldridge, 鈥淎lmost everything we suggested, Saint-Gobain is trying out.鈥?lt;/span>

WPI Plays Prominent Role in Robotics Discussion

jcain — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute鈥檚 expertise, innovation, research, and educational opportunities in robotics were highlighted during the latest installment of The New England Council鈥檚鈥淣ew England Innovates鈥?series. The event, 鈥?lt;a>Leading the Way in Robotics,鈥?sponsored by WPI and New Balance, was held at the University of Massachusetts Club in Boston. The event featured discussion of the innovations happening in the sector in New England, the ways robots could assist in our daily lives, and the importance of further investments in the field.

Bogdan Vernescu (Photo: The New England Council)

鈥淭he potential of robotics to transform how we live and work is only beginning to unfold,鈥?said Bogdan Vernescu, Vice President and Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at WPI. 鈥淲orcester Polytechnic Institute is proud to be at the forefront of robotics education and research. We have been researching, developing, and implementing this technology and its impact on society for decades.鈥?Vernescu delivered remarks introducing the keynote speaker, U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, of Worcester.

McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, praised WPI鈥檚 commitment to innovation. 鈥淓very time I walk onto that campus, I learn something new,鈥?he said. 鈥淭hey're on the cutting edge of everything.鈥?He told the business, academic, and government leaders in attendance that he believes there should be a national and regional strategy to further advance the responsible development of robotics.

鈥淚t is crucial to foster an environment where innovation thrives, but where safeguards for workers and communities are firmly in place,鈥?said McGovern. He said his vision of a defined strategy would allow small manufacturers to adopt new technologies without displacing workers, provide Americans with the skills they need for an increasingly automated economy, and help the country lead in the sector.

WPI Awards President's Research Catalyst Grants to Three Teams

leckelbecker — Tue, 14 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

WPI has awarded seed funding from the President鈥檚 Research Catalyst Grants Program to three faculty-led groups that will develop proposals for large research centers focused on making advances in bioengineering, new materials, and mental health.

Each group will receive $50,000 from the Catalyst program, which launched in 2024. Recipients will use the 18-month grants to develop center-scale, interdisciplinary research proposals that will attract financial support from external sponsors. The program is designed to catalyze and facilitate the development and preparation of extramural grant applications that require extensive planning, exchange of ideas, collaboration, team building, partnering, and other activities that demand significant investments of faculty members鈥?time and effort.

鈥淧ressing societal challenges call for large-scale, interdisciplinary, long-term research efforts,鈥?says Grace Wang, WPI president. 鈥淭hese seed grants build on WPI鈥檚 research strengths and faculty expertise, supporting our faculty teams to collaboratively pursue high-impact research centers that hold the potential to push boundaries and advance knowledge and solutions to address significant challenges facing the world.鈥?lt;/span>

The Catalyst program is partially funded by gifts from Trustee Emeritus Jim Baum 鈥?6 and Bonnie and Jack Mollen, trustee emeritus and former board chair who was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2023. Their gifts have been designated to support research at WPI, including but not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI).

鈥淒eveloping a center-scale proposal represents a significant investment of time and effort by WPI faculty,鈥?says Bogdan Vernescu, vice president and vice provost for research and innovation. 鈥淭eams must do extensive planning and collaborating. The President鈥檚 Research Catalyst Grants Program provides the financial support that can lead to successful proposals.鈥?lt;/span>

Grants were awarded to the following proposals and teams:

WPI receives $18.6 million from alumni and friends as President Wang is Inaugurated

cbwamback — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has received $18.6 million in philanthropic commitments that will be announced and celebrated during the installation of Grace J. Wang, PhD, as the 17th president of WPI, on Friday, March 22.

The gifts, from seven generous WPI alumni and friends in the last two months, include the university's fourth largest to date and are in support of Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

鈥淓ver since joining WPI a little over a year ago, I have been inspired by our community鈥檚 passion for our student-centric mission and commitment to our innovative culture,鈥?says Grace J. Wang, President of WPI. 鈥淎s we come together to propel our university to an even higher level of excellence, I am deeply grateful to these alumni and friends whose generous support will help our innovative community meet this moment with creativity and agility.鈥?amp;nbsp;

鈥淲PI鈥檚 global community of alumni, parents, friends, and partners has always cared deeply about this university and the important research, teaching, and hands-on project-based learning that happens here and beyond our campus,鈥?says George Oliver 鈥?2, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls, WPI trustee, and National Campaign Chair. 鈥淲e are grateful to these generous alumni and friends for their remarkable support of WPI and of President Wang. The magnitude of their contributions speaks volumes about their confidence in her leadership of our university as we celebrate her inauguration.鈥?lt;/span>

The $18.6 million in total commitments support facilities, WPI鈥檚 distinctive global projects program, an endowed professorship and faculty research, and undergraduate scholarships:

Mike Abrams 鈥?7 and his wife, Nancy, have made a seven-figure commitment, and the fourth largest gift to the university to date, which will support future capital projects. Mike was an electrical engineer in the oil and gas instrumentation industry and before retiring had become an independent consultant. He is a model of alumni involvement and has served in numerous volunteer capacities over decades, including on the Alumni Association board, the Presidential Search Committee that brought President Wang to WPI, reunion committees, and many other committees and boards. He frequently attends WPI events, on campus and around the country; he has received the Herbert F. Taylor Award for Service to WPI from the WPI Alumni Association. A consistent and generous annual and major donor to WPI, Mike he has supported a plethora of funds and initiatives at the university from academic departments and scholarships to varsity athletics and intramural teams and a wide range of student organizations. Creating space for living and learning has remained a priority for Mike throughout his philanthropic history with his alma mater. The Abramses鈥?recent capital gifts to the university include renovations that created the Alumni Center at Higgins House, which resulted in the naming of the Nancy and Mike Abrams 鈥?7 Library in Higgins House; leadership support of Unity Hall (WPI鈥檚 newest academic building), which includes the Nancy and Mike Abrams 鈥?7 Multi-use Lounge and Creative Zone; and a recent gift to support renovations to Stratton Hall, home of the Mathematical Sciences Department, Mike's major at WPI.
Diran Apelian and his wife, Seta, have established the Apelian Family Armenian Project Center Endowment with a seven-figure gift. Endowing the Armenian Project Center fulfills a personal passion for the Apelians while providing support for WPI鈥檚 distinctive hands-on project-based learning. For several years, Diran Apelian served as co-director of WPI鈥檚 Armenian Project Center, engaging students in solving real-world problems that impact communities and organizations. He is WPI Provost Emeritus (1990-1996), the founding director of the Metals Processing Institute at WPI; he founded the largest industrial consortium in North America, the Advanced Casting Research Center. He also founded the Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling (CR3), all initiatives that established WPI鈥檚 national and industry prominence in Materials Science and Engineering. In 2018, he was named the WPI Innovator of the Year in recognition of successful start-ups such as Solvus Global and Ascend Elements with colleagues and former students, as well as his contributions to scholarship that bridges academia and industry while also identifying fundamental scientific issues.
Steve Vassallo 鈥?3 and his wife, Trae, have made a seven-figure commitment that lays the foundation for the Helen G. Vassallo Distinguished Presidential Professorship, named in memory of Steve鈥檚 mother and longtime WPI faculty member. In her time at WPI, spanning some 36 years, Dr. Vassallo became known for her impact on thousands of students and hundreds of faculty and staff through her work in the classroom, as an advisor, as a mentor, and as a colleague. She joined WPI with a joint appointment in the Management Department, for which she was the first woman named department head, and in the Biology and Biotechnology Department. She was also the first woman to be elected Secretary of the Faculty, the highest faculty post. She was devoted to student development through her work advising the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, her time serving as chair of the Campus Hearing Board, and her teaching for which she received the 2003 Trustees' Award for Outstanding Teaching. In recognition of her dedication to the WPI community, she received the Goat鈥檚 Head Lifetime Commitment Award from the WPI Alumni Association in 2013, among other honors.

The remainder will support undergraduate scholarships.

鈥淭hrough their transformational philanthropy, these alumni and friends are helping to secure the future of WPI, and we are so grateful,鈥?says Donna Stock, WPI鈥檚 Vice President of University Advancement. 鈥淭hey are ensuring that students from all walks of life have the means to access a WPI education and all it has to offer, that our world-class faculty, dedicated staff, and remarkable students can continue making a significant positive difference in the world. They have put their trust in the skilled and knowledgeable hands of President Wang to advance WPI鈥檚 distinctive STEM education, our leading-edge, purpose-driven research, and the innovative ideas that are changing our world for the better.鈥?lt;/span>

Beyond These Towers, launched publicly in October 2021 at a global virtual event, positions WPI to continue to transform lives, to turn knowledge into action to confront global challenges, and to revolutionize STEM through its distinctive and inclusive education, projects, and research. The campaign鈥檚 theme is a nod to the towers of WPI鈥檚 first two buildings, enduring symbols of its guiding philosophy of theory and practice. The campaign provides opportunities for alumni and friends to fund strategic initiatives that support undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and world-changing research, global programs, facilities, and a thriving campus community.

To support Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for Worcester Polytechnic Institute, visit wpi.edu/+give.

Staff Council Gets to Work, Part 3

mlumsden — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Staff Council is an elected body created to 鈥渆xpand the voice of the staff in steering the university.鈥?amp;nbsp;As noted in the first segment of a three-part series, the Council has been hard at work writing the body鈥檚 governing documents. Members of WPI鈥檚 staff community have until February 28 to review and comment on the Council's draft constitution and bylaws, which will then be ratified by a simple majority of eligible staff.

This is the final segment of a series about the inaugural Staff Council members, elected in 2022. Two weeks ago we introduced you to William Battelle, Jennifer Cluett, and Amy Curran, and last week we introduced you to Diane Dubois, Roxanne Gardener, and Kim Hollan. Now Caitlin Keller, Sarah Miles, and Theona Scola share in their own words why they got involved and what they hope to accomplish.

Caitlin Keller, Senior Instructional Designer (Academic Technology Center)

Why did you want to run for Staff Council?

I鈥檝e been part of the WPI community for over six years and have seen the benefits of governance for other groups on campus. Staff Council is an opportunity to invoke change in our community, where staff have been historically underrepresented in decision-making. I hope to amplify the voices of our staff and advocate for changes that lead to a more inclusive and supportive community.鈥?amp;nbsp;

What are the top three things you hope the council will be able to accomplish?

I hope Staff Council can establish a system in which staff are able to voice their concerns in a safe environment without fear of retaliation.

I hope we can serve as an intermediary between staff and the broader WPI community to help inform decision-making inclusive of staff needs.
I hope Staff Council can work toward an inclusive campus culture that considers staff as an integral part of WPI鈥檚 continued success.

How do you think WPI as a whole will benefit from having a Staff Council?

Much of the crucial work done by staff is invisible to the broader campus community. Staff Council will provide transparency into staff contributions and needs. It will also give staff a voice in areas where we were previously excluded despite being impacted by the decisions. Breaking down the barriers between groups on campus and becoming aware of the needs and contributions of all members of our community is a critical first step in moving toward a more inclusive campus culture.

Sarah Miles, University Registrar (Registrar鈥?lt;span>s Office)

Why did you want to run for Staff Council?

I believe staff are an integral part of our community and deserve to have a voice in the governance of our institution.

What are the top three things you hope the Council will be able to accomplish?

In this first year, creating a constitution and bylaws, creating a space to hear thoughts, ideas, and concerns, and engaging with staff are my top priorities. From that base, we can go far!

How do you think WPI as a whole will benefit from having a Staff Council?

All communities are strongest when all members feel engaged, feel part of a whole. This official channel between staff and upper management will give a voice to a large contingent of our community that has previously felt left out of the decision-making process. We look forward to bringing that voice to the table.

Theona Scola, Director of Donor Strategy and Stewardship (Division of University Advancement)

Why did you want to run for Staff Council?

It is important for the staff to have a representing voice and a formal avenue for communication related to the policies and issues that impact our staff. Additionally, I love the dynamics of working cross-divisionally. I enjoy team-based work with colleagues from different areas with different skill sets, expertise, and insight. I鈥檓 excited to impact positive change for our staff community!

What are the top three things you hope the Council will be able to accomplish?

So far the team鈥檚 focus has been on developing the framework for operation, including the constitution and by-laws to support our efforts. Establishing internal roles, responsibilities, and expectations for the team and determining how to best collaborate with university constituents is another top priority. This initial work is critical to ensuring a sustainable Staff Council model aimed to support our staff community.

How do you think WPI as a whole will benefit from having a Staff Council?

Staff Council members represent a broad perspective of our staff community, serve as resources and advocates for staff, and foster a more inclusive sense of community for our staff. The Council will improve the campus working climate by sharing information and supporting staff-aimed initiatives.

The Year in Review: 2022

amracicot — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Last year the WPI community came together for an out-of-this-world presidential sendoff, with the opening of Unity Hall and the Center for Well-Being, and with snow day sledding sessions on Boynton Hill.

We celebrated athletics championships, continued groundbreaking research, made memories with old and new friends, and welcomed a new president.

There鈥檚 no way everything our students, faculty, and staff did in 2022 can fit into one video.

But that doesn鈥檛 mean we won't try.

As we pursue resolutions and new starts, take a minute to check out this retrospective put together by Cortina Barbieri '24, University Advancement student intern. Bring on 2023鈥攚e鈥檝e go(a)t this!

In Geneva, Inspiration, Curiosity, and Equity Reigned at the FIRST Global Challenge and the XPRIZE ESG Leadership Summit

cbwamback — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It turns out that revolutions do happen in Switzerland, albeit peaceful ones that have the potential to change the world for the better. In this hub where international organizations, global leaders, and diplomats regularly create and deploy missions to benefit humanity, it became increasingly clear that making STEM education more accessible and equitable is critically important for the health and well-being of the planet and all its people.

But this clarity did not come to pass in a noble assembly hall or political office; it happened amid the happy chaos of a global robotics competition in what looked like an Olympic village for nearly 2,000 high school roboticists鈥攁s well as their mentors, educators, family members and even dignitaries.

On Thursday, October 13, in Geneva鈥檚 Palexpo, 185 teams representing 180 nations gathered to compete at the 2022 FIRST Global Challenge, but hours before the opening ceremony took place, a deceptively diminutive new robot made its global debut. Although the game-changing XRP (Experiential Robotics Platform) robots, developed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute and DEKA Research and Development Corp., are still in beta form, their powerful potential was clear, as was the international demand for them.

鈥淲e gave XRP beta kits to every competing team and asked them to share with other schools or organizations in their home country who are looking to implement or expand robotics programs, and within three days we discovered that the need for these kits already surpasses a million robots,鈥?said Joseph Doiron, director of WPI鈥檚 new global STEM education initiative, assistant teaching professor in The Global School, and co-director of the Global Lab. 鈥淲e left Switzerland with a long list of global partners鈥攅veryone from grassroots organizers to top officials of various nations and even an ambassador鈥攁ll of whom see the tremendous potential of the XRPs and the great benefit of having WPI鈥檚 guidance and support. Not only that, but we鈥檝e attracted interest from musician and philanthropist Will.I.Am, whose foundation helps transform lives through education.鈥?lt;/p>