ON CAMPUS

Commencement

Bentley’s 2021 commencement on May 1 was the first college graduation ever held at Boston’s iconic Fenway Park. See more photos of the historic celebration on pages 36 and 37.

First Week of School

E. LaBrent Chrite took office as the university’s ninth president on June 1 and quickly got to work, meeting and talking with people across campus. Pictured clockwise, from top: Brent Chrite with his wife, Phyllis, at the President’s House as he begins his first day; in a lighthearted moment with mascot Flex; introducing himself to men’s basketball coach Jay Lawson and other members of the Athletics staff at the Dana Center; talking with students outside the Student Center; learning about campus operations from Facilities Management staff; and on a tour of the library. Learn more at bentley.edu/president-chrite.

Three Join Board of Trustees

Meet Dan Farley, MBA ’95, Melanie Foley, MBA ’02 and Bill Pappas ’94, MBA ’95, P ’25

INTERVIEWS BY KRISTEN WALSH

Dan, you’ve been with State Street Global Advisors for more than 25 years. What keeps you passionate about your work? I always try to keep in mind the end purpose of what we do. We’re managing money for people, but what is that money for? It’s about how people save for retirement or college, for example. All of this money has a use or a purpose, and it’s interesting to be able to influence those things to make sure we’re putting together good investment outcomes for people to do all the things they’ve been planning for. It gives the industry a lot of responsibility and trust.

You’ve been a member of Bentley’s Business Advisory Council and, now, the Board of Trustees. Why have you stayed so involved? Earning an MBA at Bentley was a good springboard for my career development, and giving back is important. I have also enjoyed being a part of the big-picture conversation about Bentley’s mission. Education is very important to me, and higher education is at a crossroads, particularly with COVID. I want to be a part of helping ensure that, going forward, people have access to the same high-quality Bentley education that I had — and more.

Melanie, your work at Liberty Mutual centers on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. What’s it been like seeing DEI gain momentum during the past year? While it is painful to witness the events that have served as a catalyst to this gain in momentum, I am encouraged by the level of investment, transparency and commitment to making things better for all people. Making real progress in this space will require everyone to be open to exploring and trying on new perspectives, sharpening their DEI skills and challenging the status quo — especially when it is uncomfortable. I believe that it’s only when the work gets hard that real progress is being made; if it were easy, we would not still be living in a world with systemic injustice.

You have served on the university’s Business Advisory Council and as Liberty Mutual liaison to the Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business. Why stay connected? Bentley’s commitment to learning and making the world a better place resonates with me. I want to give back to the institution and support the students who, like me, share the same values and aspire to excellence.

Bill, in 2020 MetLife hosted a major conference on women in tech. Has the industry become more diverse? The needle really hasn’t moved on diversifying the industry. We have so much more to do to attract, develop and retain women in technology. In fact, data show that we’ve lost ground during the pandemic, so we must identify practical solutions to reverse the trend. I’m personally committed to diversity and inclusion, and pleased that Bentley is as well.

Why did you say “yes” to joining the board? Bentley takes amazing kids and turns them into business leaders. It really was my ticket to the life that I love today. In fact, not only did I meet my wife there, but her sister and my brothers went to Bentley. We’re truly a Bentley family. At the end of the day, the school gave me a lot, and I need to give back.

Racial Justice Task Force RELEASES DOCUMENT

The university’s Racial Justice Task Force released a discovery document after an eight-month process in which the group’s 114 members identified practices at Bentley that sustain systemic racism. The 32-page document, “Framing for the Future: Committing to Racial Equity at Bentley,” describes four patterns of behavior that have prevented Bentley from achieving racial equity and justice.

STATUS QUO OVER AWARENESS CONTENT OVER PROCESS

Bentley is a historically and predominantly white institution. The lack of representation creates blind spots that prevent people from questioning assumptions or cultural norms. Consequently, there is little value placed on learning about race and racism because there is little awareness that these phenomena exist in the community.

APPEARANCE OVER SUBSTANCE

The culture at Bentley rewards those who preserve the appearance of perfection, not those who reveal concerns. Difficult conversations are avoided, especially when race is involved. People who raise a concern are often blamed rather than encouraged. This results in a lack of transparency and accountability because issues are not identified. A sense of urgency drives the culture, allowing little room for discovery and long-term thinking. Priority is placed on achieving more, faster; only outcomes that can be measured are valued. Short-term impact takes precedence, limiting the ability to understand the true, long-term cost of decisions. There is a false confidence in objectivity and meritocracy, with little regard for systemic inequality, resulting in policies that favor those in the majority.

ISOLATION OVER COLLABORATION

Power and decision-making are concentrated in silos. Access to information is controlled, limiting the potential for inclusive and informed decisions. There is no effort made to solicit different perspectives, as those in power assume they can make the best decision for everyone. Decisions are made for, not with, those most impacted, resulting in unintended consequences.

INVESTING IN ACTION

The task force identified three areas where students, faculty, staff and alumni can take action, including investing in: Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities; intentional anti-racist knowledge and skill development; and the institutionalization of systems and practices that ensure racial justice and equity. In April, Board Chair and then-Interim President Paul Condrin ’83, P ’19 ’22 created an Inclusive Excellence Council to implement the task force’s recommendations, including launching a campus-wide climate survey and developing a racial equity plan — the first two recommendations from the task force. Task force co-chair Katie Lampley ’96 encourages members of the community to explore the task force’s document and identify actions that they can take.

To view the full document and learn more about the task force, visit bentley.edu/racialjustice.

114

TASK FORCE MEMBERS

30+

MEETINGS HELD

350

ATTENDEES AT TASK FORCE EVENTS

17

CORE TEAM MEMBERS

50+

HOURS OF MEETINGS PER TASK FORCE MEMBER

270+

BENTLEY COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE EIGHT-WEEK RACIAL HEALING PRACTICE CHALLENGE

Achieving racial equity and justice is not a destination but a practice. We all have a role to play, and we believe that the discoveries and priorities identified here, as well as the accompanying resources, will encourage and equip everyone to do their part.

Katie Lampley ’96, Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

WELCOME TO THE CIS SANDBOX

Hands-on lab logs 10 years of teaching tech

BY MARY K. PRATT

Bentley students are digital natives, but Mark Frydenberg knows that as technology changes, there’s always something new to learn.

“Students today don’t worry about breaking their computer, but they might not know where to start in working through a problem, so they need someone who can guide them,” says Frydenberg, a senior lecturer in Computer Information Systems (CIS). “They’re also looking for a place where there’s freedom to experiment, whether it’s developing an app, exploring virtual reality, or leveraging digital tools to their full potential.”

He founded the CIS Sandbox to be that place.

Since 2011, it has served nearly every undergraduate, with peer-led tutoring services and online resources as well as through events such as the Topics in Tech alumni speaker series. Moreover, students gain a space to collaborate on pet projects and test out tech tools.

Some, like Felicia Dodge ’17, discover a passion. She came to Bentley to study marketing, but was drawn to technology after taking courses and visiting the CIS Sandbox.

“They solidified my interest in the tech space,” says Dodge, an audience insights lead at Twitter who gave a Topics in Tech presentation in April.

Tyler Miguel, MSBA ’17 credits the CIS Sandbox for “democratizing technology education.”

Miguel, a senior data scientist at Devoted Health, worked as a peer tutor during his student days, but says he learned a lot from his Sandbox colleagues. “They were really good at explaining what I needed to know.”

Ming (Maggie) Qian ’18, MSHFID ’21 values the CIS Sandbox for the connections it enables and the extra dimensions it added to her Bentley education. Tutoring other students during her graduate study even helped her hone skills for a new job: user experience researcher with Dell.

“I need to interview people to understand their frustration using systems,” she says. “Working in the Sandbox, I saw firsthand where people struggled and was able to help them move ahead.”

That preparation for the work world is critical, says Chad Wright, MSCIS ’01.

Wright is the first-ever CIO at robotics firm Boston Dynamics and an adjunct instructor in Bentley’s CIS program. He sees the Sandbox as an invaluable resource that shows students the role of technology in business.

“Knowing technology,” he says, “makes you a more prepared professional.”

Visit bentley.edu/sandbox to learn more and see recent Topics in Tech presentations by Bentley alumni.