Recently, I have been traveling across the country meeting with many of you, our alumni, to present an update on the state of the Institute and hear about your experiences and memories of Wentworth. Many of you recall Wentworth as being primarily a commuter school before the construction of two new residence halls in 2001, which marked our transition to a residential campus.

Prior to 1970, students received two-year associate degrees. We now offer our first graduate level program, a Master of Architecture (MArch). With 20 percent of our students being female, the culture is much different from, say, back in the ’60s, when Wentworth was an all-male school. And the student experience has expanded over the years to include many new activities and clubs, such as Soar in Four, a program that helps students develop leadership skills. Our students have also gained access to additional learning and cultural experiences through our affiliation with the Colleges of the Fenway.

What has become apparent in my conversations, be it with a graduate from the class of 1939, 2007, or anywhere in between, is your pride in the Institute’s achievements, appreciation for your Wentworth education, and excitement about our vision and strategic plan.

Since the very beginning of my tenure, I have been a strong advocate of Wentworth’s mission, which is to provide an excellent education that combines theory with practice, knowledge with skills, classroom work with lab experience, and co-op practice.

Our shared vision is that Wentworth will continue to be a best-in-its-class, student-focused institution that is committed to academic excellence through great programs, community service through service learning, and economic impact through workforce and executive training. The strategic plan that will move this vision forward is academic-centered. It includes developing strong project-based undergraduate and graduate programs, strengthening the lifelong learning programs, expanding and modernizing infrastructure to support academics, and enriching the student experience.

I invite you to join me at upcoming alumni events to reconnect with your alma mater, establish strong social and business ties with your fellow alumni, and celebrate our shared successes and vision. I also ask for your ongoing support. Only with your help can we build upon our past accomplishments and move forward into our future.

–Zorica Pantic, EE, Ph.D.