TAKE A WALK around campus and you’ll meet three new Wentworth administrators, all playing different—but equally vital—roles in the lifeblood of the Institute. Deborah Wright, dean of the College of Continuing and Professional Education (CPCE), Kevin Kidd, director of the library, and Robbin Beauchamp, director of cooperative education and career services, all arrived at Wentworth over the past year with major goals in mind.
(L-R) Kevin Kidd, Robbin Beauchamp, and Deborah Wright (Photo by Greg Abazorius)
For Beauchamp, Wentworth represents a chance to expand upon the Institute’s hallmark co-op program while also enhancing the ways Wentworth helps students find career success. “Wentworth
has always put students first,” she said. “One of my goals has been to continue that mission while increasing our employer outreach and development.”
Beauchamp plans to continue the tremendous momentum of the last year, in which surveys accounting for 74 percent of Wentworth’s Class of 2014 showed that more than 98 percent of respondents were either employed or attending graduate school within six months of graduating. She is also overseeing a rebranding of her department and working to remind alumni to take advantage of Wentworth’s career resources, even years after graduation.
Deborah Wright arrived in Boston by way of Charlotte, N.C., where she was vice president for adult studies at Montreat College. Her introduction of new degree programs and satellite locations to better serve the adult population led the school to record growth. At Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass., she introduced new program opportunities and partnerships for adult students. Wright finds herself in familiar territory as dean of CPCE. With new programs debuting in recent months, including several master’s degree programs, and an eye on physical extensions in Springfield, Mass. and other areas, Wright has already rolled up her sleeves and hopes to keep the momentum moving forward in her college.
“What I love about Wentworth is that the educational values of the institution line up perfectly with my own and with industry needs,” said Wright. “And, with a great team, I’m looking forward to
collaborating more on strategies for growth and expansion.”
Kevin Kidd’s busy role as head of the library carries the added weight of a looming library renovation project. But Kidd says that growth and opportunities to improve the library are what initially attracted him to the job.
Photo by Greg Abazorius
“My background is in library technology, and I knew of recent projects like the High-Tech Highway and the addition of online courses,” Kidd said. “I felt like things are really moving forward here. I was very excited at the opportunity to dive into all of that.”
Kidd, who has worked in college and university libraries for more than 20 years, most recently led a team at Boston College that became the school’s first to explore a mobile web strategy. His team at Wentworth is now working to advance the library’s collection by moving physical books to electronic versions, donating outdated books to nonprofit organizations, and trying to reduce the footprint of the physical book collection.
“All of this goes to providing more group, collaboration, and maker space,” he said of upcoming renovations to the newly named Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons, scheduled for completion in 2016. “We also want academic support organizations to be able to work here so that students using technology in the library can get immediate help right here. Wentworth is an institution based upon interdisciplinary collaboration, and we must reflect that in the library space.” —Greg Abazorius
