Fueling the Future: Professor Emeritus Empowers the Next Generation

When Thom Davis, PhD, professor emeritus, retired from Bentley in 2021, his impact didn’t end there. If fact, it was just beginning — the tenured professor of Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS) set up the Eric A. Oches and David Szymanski Earth, Environment and Global Sustainability Research Fund, an endowed fund named for two professors — turned friends — whom Davis recruited to Bentley. The fund supports research assistants who study real-life issues in NAS.

“The NSF (National Science Foundation) funding that I had during part of my tenure at Bentley made it possible for me to engage undergraduates in meaningful research,” says Davis. “Without a grant, it can be tough to do research like this at the undergraduate level, so I created this fund in honor of Rick and Dave to ensure that future generations of Bentley students have that opportunity as well.”

The same is true for the Anthony E. Kiszewski and Elizabeth W. Stoner Faculty-Led International Course Travel Endowed Fund, a second endowed fund that Davis set up in honor of two other current Bentley faculty members. Throughout his 34-year tenure at Bentley, the geologist and mountain climber led experiential learning trips for students in Iceland and New Zealand. Davis recalls that the trips always reached their max enrollment — and quickly. But he also vividly remembers one year when “the best student in one of my on-campus classes” wanted to go to Iceland but didn’t have the funding.

“It was hard for me to accept that many of my students couldn’t afford to participate in the trips, even if they deserved it,” says Davis. “I established the travel fund so deserving students will have the opportunity to participate in this potentially once-in-a-lifetime, hands-on research experience.”

Some of that hands-on geology work could be emulated in Waltham — measuring the flow of streams, collecting sediments and writing reports. But others — walking across glaciers to study global climate change — couldn’t happen that close to home. Davis saw the impact on his students firsthand as they engaged in real-world problem solving and hypothesis testing in the field.

“I had my students keep daily journals about their experiences abroad,” says Davis. “I could tell from reading their entries that they were picking up on things and learning to think critically about how to solve consequential challenges.”

Thanks to Davis’ generosity, Carolyn LaCroix ’25 became the first recipient of the Kiszewski and Stoner International Travel Fund in spring 2025, and she traveled to the Bahamas with Assistant Professor Betsy Stoner to participate in a 12-day field course.

“The program’s focus on Caribbean ecosystems and sustainability aligns with my passion for understanding how business practices can drive sustainability initiatives within organizations,” says LaCroix. “The hands-on experience and guest lectures will give me a deeper understanding of how economic development and environmental conservation can impact an ecosystem.”

Oches-Szymanski Earth, Environment and Global Sustainability Research Fund recipient Sophia Bell ’27 grew up in rural New Hampshire, which she says shaped her belief in community-driven sustainability and the importance of circular economies. Led by Associate Professor Ryan Bouldin and Associate Professor Zana Cranmer, Bell’s project aims to identify and analyze discrepancies between companies' sustainability claims and their actual actions, focusing on how they address each of the nine planetary boundaries.

Bell says she picked Bentley because of its commitment to sustainability, citing the university’s holistic approach and recognition of the intersectionality between different fields — a decision that ultimately led her to this research opportunity.

“I was drawn to this opportunity after a guest lecture in my Environmental, Social and Governance in Financial Reporting class, which explores the ethical, financial, and environmental implications businesses face,” says Bell. “It was my first real experience seeing the scientific applications form a clear connection between sustainability and finance, and Professor Bouldin was extremely supportive in providing additional learning resources and introducing me to this research position.”

Because Davis’ gifts are endowed, they will support research and international experiential learning in perpetuity. Davis says it was an easy decision.

“I made the gifts through RMDs (required minimum distributions) from my IRA, and it was a simple way to put the funds to good use,” says Davis. “I was able to create a legacy in my colleagues’ names that will live on forever, helping students at Bentley.”