Making History, Looking Ahead

Past, present and future met in the Bentley Arena on April 6, 2022. E. LaBrent Chrite, poised to share his vision as the university’s newly installed ninth president, found inspiration in the words of its first leader.

“To quote Harry C. Bentley: ‘The long-range success of the Bentley School must depend upon far-sighted planning, in which recognition of a changing world in education should not be obscured by traditional prejudices or by lack of progressive thinking.’” Here are highlights of this history-making and forward-looking occasion.

By Susan Simpson and Kristen Walsh

ore than 1,400 students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, friends of the university and representatives of other colleges gathered in person and online to celebrate the inauguration of E. LaBrent “Brent” Chrite. Speakers praised his leadership skills and conviction that business can be a force for good in the world.

“President Chrite personifies our strong belief in the power of business to create solutions to human problems,” said J. Paul Condrin III ’83, P ’19 ’22, chair of the board of trustees. “For much of his career, he has dedicated himself to improving business education, developing market-based economies, and expanding economic opportunities for organizations and people around the world. President Chrite is a shining example of the type of leader we hope all our students aspire to be — using knowledge, wisdom, compassion and a strong business mindset to change the world.”

Keynote speakers included Debora Spar, the Jaime and Josefina Chua Tiampo Professor of Business Administration and senior associate dean of business and global society at Harvard Business School, and B. Joseph White, president emeritus at the University of Illinois.

Spar, a Bentley trustee, said Chrite is the type of leader who is “perpetually willing to seek and revel in the magic that education can, and should, bring. He has seen the transformative power of education in his own life and has dedicated his life to bringing that same transformation to others.”

White spoke to five qualities he has seen the president demonstrate time and again during their 30 years as colleagues and friends: integrity, courage, compassion, commitment and change.

“Not frivolous change, but rather, good change, needed change, wise change,” he said. “Brent knows that if an institution is sitting

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still, it is stagnating. … Rest assured, such change will benefit current and future generations of Bentley students, faculty, staff and alumni.”

Twelve speakers offered greetings on behalf of faculty, staff, students and alumni.

“I am honored to stand here today and welcome Bentley’s first Black president,” said Kiana Pierre-Louis ’99, senior lecturer in Law and Taxation. “You are willing to walk around campus and talk to everyone in the community to make holistic decisions, always keeping in the forefront of your mind that we must do what is best for Bentley and the students we are charged to serve.”

Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion Matt Banks recalled meeting Chrite on his first day as president, at the annual LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Raising. “After the event, President Chrite remained at the flagpole talking with the students, faculty and staff. I saw him come alive as he built community, striving to understand and see the beauty of the people on this campus.”

Hiral Mehta, MSBA ’22, MBA ’22 called Chrite “the president of the masses. Through my interactions with him, formally or informally, at graduate events or at the gym, what stuck with me is his rigor and passion to make a difference and create a strong, diverse and engaging community.”

Alumni greeters included Dominique Balzora-Rivert ’20, who co-chairs the group Falcons of the Last Decade. “President Chrite has made alumni engagement and philanthropy one of his top priorities. He stresses the importance of coming together as a community and giving back to the institution that has done so much for us.”

Taking the stage himself, the president said that Bentley’s greatest strength is the ability to empower the next generation of students and business leaders to reach their full potential. He shared his vision for three “bold bets” that will distinguish the university. n Close the distance between rungs of the economic ladder by increasing students’ access to a Bentley education. n Become the institution that solves difficult societal problems through and for business. n Keep improving the quality and rigor of our academic foundation while building the skills needed for today’s innovation economy.

“Identifying opportunities in the market that others missed led to Bentley’s founding and success in the early 20th century,” said Chrite. “Disruptions around the corner today require a similar level of prescience, will and courage — and this is where Bentley University will shine. It is a great privilege to lead this university, and its most important stakeholders, on this next phase of its journey.”

“I’m excited by the opportunity of working closely with this incredible community to take Bentley University to the next tier of excellence, in a marketplace that will demand nothing less.”

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All Together Now … Above (1) Brent and Phyllis Chrite with their family at the President’s House. On the preceding day (2), the president and entrepreneur Marcelo Claure ’93 discussed the potential of business to solve societal problems, particularly by using technology. The president with Bentley trustees and other special guests (3).

Watch highlights of the inauguration.