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Pulsifer Family Names Career Development Center with $2 Million Gift

Gordon ’80 and Annellen Pulsifer, P ’08, ’19 have generously donated $2 million to support Career Services at Bentley. In recognition of this significant investment in the university, the office will now be known as the Pulsifer Career Development Center.

Schadee Scholarship Springboards Futures

Two new members have joined the Great Benefactors of Bentley: Robert ’66 and Muriel, MST ’99 Schadee. To honor Bob, who supported Bentley throughout his life and passed away in March 2018, Muriel has given $1 million to the university to support both expendable and endowed scholarships, including the newly created Robert J. ’66 and Muriel D., MST ’99 Schadee Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Ball in the Family

Ryan Berardino ’20 knew the 2019 Major League Baseball draft was coming up, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up. The Bentley first baseman didn’t think this was his year, but the Boston Red Sox had different ideas.

“I wasn’t really paying attention to the draft,” Berardino recalls. “I was at the barber shop when my phone started blowing up with texts, calls and screen shots that I was drafted. It was surreal.”

Bentley University graduate Mark Hodgdon with his parents

‘It’s Never Too Late to Achieve Your Dream’

When Mark Hodgdon ’19 came back to Bentley to finish his bachelor’s degree 26 years after he first enrolled, the father of three had something to prove—to himself and his family.

“I had two goals,” Mark says. “To finally finish what I started and to show my sons Zack, Daniel and Luke that it is never too late to fulfill a dream if it means that much to you.”

Bentley University graduates Gregg Grenier and Brian Shea

Granting Opportunity

Research shows that afterschool programs inspire youth not only to learn and do better in school but also to reach their full potential in life. The study by the Afterschool Alliance goes on to note that for every child enrolled in such a program, there are two others waiting to enter.

Brian Shea ’14 does what he can to help open doors. Most recently, he and Gregg Grenier ’12 secured a Cummings Foundation “$100k for 100” grant that will support Bentley’s longtime partnership with two public housing communities in Waltham.

Smoke(less) and Mirrors: The World of Vaping

In September, Massachusetts became the first state to ban the sale of all electronic cigarettes and vaping devices, as Governor Charlie Baker declared that e-cigarette use had become a public health emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that vaping has injured nearly 1,500 Americans and resulted in 33 deaths.

Law Professor Liz Brown organized an on-campus discussion to bring together faculty and staff from multiple departments to explore the legal, social and health implications of vaping.

Is the Class of 2020 Up to the Challenge?

Each year, graduating seniors come together to give back to Bentley in recognition of all that the university has done for them, and makes a collective Senior Class Gift.

On October 19, the Senior Class Gift Committee hosted a kickoff event for their classmates. Committee member Tim Fay ’19 announced that the Global Alumni Board (GAB), the overseeing body of the Alumni Association, has challenged the Class of 2020 to have the most successful Senior Class Gift to date. When 60% of the class participates, the GAB will give $35,000 to Bentley.