From the Desk of Pamela (Giasson) Lynch ’05
Dear Alumni
As I begin my leadership of the WPI Alumni Association, I’d like to thank my predecessor, Paula Delaney ’75, for her term at the proverbial helm. Paula’s level of dedication and commitment to the university is a true inspiration. I’d also like to thank you for affording me this opportunity to represent you for the next two years; I’m looking forward to serving you in this role.
It’s always great to be back on campus, but the beginning of my tenure feels like an especially exciting time on the Hill.
In early April, the university welcomed its 17th president, as Grace Wang officially joined the WPI community. She said of the university, “I am excited about the work and the opportunities ahead and wholeheartedly believe that WPI has everything it takes to further excel.” Alumni had the opportunity to hear from President Wang during Alumni Weekend in May, and it was inspiring. There will be more opportunities to hear from her in the coming year.
Also during Alumni Weekend, WPI recognized alumni for outstanding professional achievements and service to the university with the 2023 Alumni Association Awards.
The WPI community also celebrated the 100th anniversary of Higgins House. Still one of the university’s most iconic buildings, Higgins House currently houses the WPI Alumni Center. Be sure to visit it the next time you’re on campus.
Everything great at WPI happens with the support of WPI’s generous alumni donors. With that in mind, I hope you’ll support Giving Day (in September) and Beyond These Towers: A Campaign for WPI.
In October, WPI hosts two prestigious conferences. The Nature Conference, beginning Oct. 17, will be held on the East Coast for the first time. It will discuss the development of nucleic acid medicines—both the recent clinical successes and the current and upcoming challenges. By bringing together academics in basic and translational research and their peers from thriving biotechnology companies and promising start-ups, the conference aims to foster dialog and to spearhead collaborations in the field.
The second, beginning Oct. 19 and hosted by The Business School, is the inaugural conference on FinTech for Inclusivity, Growth, and the Future at WPI, and it marks the first time the Future Finance and Economics Association will offer a conference event in the United States. Digital financial scholars will present new ideas and discuss the future direction of FinTech research.
Securing these highly coveted and esteemed conferences for the university validates, yet again, WPI’s position as a premier polytechnic university and brings pride to our worldwide alumni community.
Thank you again for letting me serve you during my tenure as Alumni Association president. I look forward to seeing you on campus.