Meet the President

Brent Chrite is the ninth president of Bentley University, a premier business and arts and science university located just outside Boston. Since becoming president in 2021, he has led the creation and implementation of Falcons Forward 2030, Bentley’s strategic plan, which sets a clear path to becoming the business university for the Innovation Age.  

Chrite believes strongly that good business can impact more than the bottom line— it can change the world for the better.  

Under his leadership, Bentley has become a recognized educational leader in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. The university established the Entrepreneurship Hub (E-Hub), which fosters an entrepreneurial mindset across the campus, as well as the Center for Health and Business, which tackles challenges in the fast-growing health industry. Recently launched majors in Artificial Intelligence for Innovation and Financial Technology, and a new STEM MBA program, equip Bentley graduates to thrive in future workplaces dominated by AI, blockchain and other technologies. U.S. News & World Report ranks Bentley the #2 Most Innovative University in the North.

Chrite is currently leading a visionary project on the university’s campus: the renovation and reimagining of the Adamian Academic Center. This hub of knowledge creation and collaboration will provide students, faculty and staff with modern, flexible spaces and advanced tools that support experiential and technology-driven education while attracting corporate partners to campus.  

With Chrite’s direction, Bentley’s focus on return on investment, career outcomes and student success continues to earn national recognition. Bentley is ranked #1 in the nation for Best Career Services by the Princeton Review, reflecting its sustained emphasis on career preparation and professional readiness. U.S. News & World Report ranked Bentley #8 in the country for return on investment for its students, and The Wall Street Journal ranked Bentley the 12th best college in the United States based on how well it sets graduates up for financial success.

Chrite uses his extensive business experience and acumen to strengthen industry partnerships, maintaining the close ties with the marketplace that have been a Bentley hallmark since its founding in 1917. During his tenure, Bentley forged a new collaboration with the Boston Celtics, giving students access to team executives and visibility into business operations as well as learning experiences throughout the season. Bentley’s partnership with Gallup to annually measure Americans’ views on where businesses are making a positive impact – and where they are falling short – reinforces Bentley’s position as an authority on business in society.

Chrite serves on the boards of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Massachusetts High Technology Council, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts. He is also an independent director at Gordon Food Service, where he serves as chair of the board’s enterprise risk management committee.  

Before joining Bentley, Chrite served as the seventh president of Bethune-Cookman University. He previously served as dean of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University and he spent two decades in academic and senior roles at the University of Arizona and University of Michigan.

A passionate educator and thought leader, Chrite has taught strategic management, leadership and international business to graduate students and executives around the world. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, his Master of Science from the University of Missouri–Columbia and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.