Nurturing Leaders

Summer is here. Our iconic beech tree, a gift from the Class of 1943, stands beautifully in front of Alden Memorial, a witness to the many activities underway. In addition to the nearby renovations of the Bartlett Center and Stratton Hall—which will wrap up in time for faculty, staff, and students to move back in for the fall—summer programs have kept the campus busy. We’ve been welcoming hundreds of incoming first-year, transfer, and graduate students, as well as prospective students and their families as they visit campus, get to know their way around, and learn about the exciting WPI journey ahead.  

In May we celebrated WPI’s 155th Commencement. The DCU Center in downtown Worcester transformed into a hub of pride and joy as more than 2,000 Class of 2024 graduates were charged to dream boldly and enjoy their journey. As they set off to change the world, our hearts are filled with confidence and optimism. (Read undergraduate speaker Sam Levitan’s remarks on page 64.) 

On the heels of Commencement, we welcomed our alumni back to The Hill for Reunion Weekend. This year’s event was heartwarming, fun, and inspirational, and it was a personal pleasure for me to meet so many of our amazing alumni. Although much has changed and decades have gone, WPI’s distinctive, empowering, and impactful STEM education continues to stand the test of time and position our alumni for success, no matter their fields.   

Today, technologies are penetrating almost all business sectors—from manufacturing, financial services, transportation, utilities, and retail to education and healthcare, changing the nature of work and the workplace, creating new types of jobs, and even enabling completely new business models.  

We must equip our students with leading-edge knowledge and skills and empower them to learn how to learn and think. This year, we launched programs in artificial intelligence, financial technology, global health, and explosion protection engineering, all with a goal of broadening horizons and preparing students for the careers of the future in fields that matter to society. Through our project-based learning, WPI students learn to inquire, work in teams, think critically, understand cultures, communicate well, solve problems, act ethically, and lead.   

An education is a journey. It is an opportunity not only to acquire knowledge and skills, but also to explore, to grow, and to learn how to learn and think.  

The impact of WPI education is profound—here, we inspire dreamers, empower doers, and nurture leaders.   

Sincerely, 

Grace