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Pumpkins and gourds at Bentley University

The Bentley Buzz

Connecting faculty and staff, one story at a time

Welcome to the latest issue of the Bentley Buzz, where we share news and stories about the faculty and staff who make Bentley special. It is compiled by Joan Yenawine, associate director of internal communications. To share your news or an idea for a story, please email buzz@bentley.edu.
 

October 21, 2025

2025 Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report Launches with D.C. Event

 

Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite on stage at a 2025 Bentley-Gallup event in DC with Guardian Bikes Founder and CEO Brian Riley and Dennis Rodenbaugh, president and CEO of Dairy Farmers of America..
Bentley University President E. LaBrent Chrite (right) moderates a conversation with Guardian Bikes Founder and CEO Brian Riley (center) and Dennis Rodenbaugh, president and CEO of Dairy Farmers of America, at Gallup's national headquarters. (Photo by Maddie Schroeder)

 

Inspired by findings from the 2025 Business in Society Report, a panel led by President Chrite explored themes of patriotism vs. profits along with other timely topics at Gallup’s headquarters in D.C. The launch event also included a one-on-one conversation with Jonathan Rothwell, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and principal economist at Gallup.  

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Latest News

Photo illustration featuring Bentley Library clock tower with blue overlay and white Bentley shield.

Faculty Awards Announced 

Six faculty were recently honored for their original research. Awardees include Linda Edelman, Laure Astourian, Casey Hayward, Fred Ledley and Edward Zhou, Arielle Scoglio and Rob DeLeo. 

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Adamian: Imagining the Future

While Adamian remains behind construction fencing, our architect partners have created a new rendering of how the space will look and be used when it is completed in fall of 2027.
Watch the video

Dana Center Unveils Brand New Look 

The Dana Center is literally squeaky clean, with gorgeous new gym flooring, scoreboards and videoboards, and reimagined bold branding throughout. This summer’s renovation also divided the former single fieldhouse into two separate gyms to better serve both varsity teams and recreational sports for the broader campus community. The completion of this project represents progress toward the Falcons Forward 2030 strategic plan, which emphasizes student wellbeing. Get pumped up by watching the new hype video, or better yet, grab your pickleball partner and go experience it in person. The Dana Center offers recreational opportunities for the entire Bentley community! 

Watch the video

Bentley's mascot, Flex the Falcon joins fans in the bleachers.

Fun-filled and Record-breaking Falcon Weekend!

With perfect weather and unbeatable Falcon spirit, campus came alive with festive energy, great eats and plenty of fun for all. Nearly 2,800 Bentley community members came out for reunion, homecoming and Family Weekend between Sept. 19 and 21, making it one for the record books. 

Thank you to our amazing faculty and staff volunteers and department booth hosts for helping make this fall tradition such a success! 

See the photos

Our Community

Welcome, New Falcons

Stacey AgretelisAdjunct Lecturer, Finance
John AshburneAdjunct Lecturer, Finance
Stephanie AznoianAdjunct Lecturer, Accounting 
Mark BlecherAdjunct Lecturer, Management 
Nihal Celik-LynchAdjunct Assistant Professor, Sociology
Kyle CiqueraAssistant Club Coach, Men's Rugby
Kelly CraigAdjunct Lecturer, Finance 
Olena DanilchenkoAdjunct Lecturer, Management
Michael DeRienzoHead Club Coach, Women's Ice Hockey
Tori ExelAssistant Coach, Softball
John FarrellPolice Officer
Katie GillisAdjunct Lecturer, Marketing
Rosemary HamiltonWriter, Advancement Communications
Pedro HipolitoSenior Associate Director, Regional Recruitment - NYC/Long Island
Sophia KarampekiosMedical Administrative Assistant
Ashley KaminskiAssistant Director, BentleyPlus

Andrew MarchandAdjunct Lecturer, Accounting 
Emma MarkhamChaplain For Belonging And Dialogue
Rahat SabyrbekovData Scientist
George RaftopoulosAdjunct Lecturer, Finance
Jasmyne RaneriAdjunct Lecturer, Modern Languages 
Orishtha RayAssociate Director, Undergraduate Admission, Middle East & Africa
Brandon OliverAdjunct Lecturer, Finance 
Jen PagánStaff Clinician
Alexis Pena-PenaBuilding Services Worker
Ellie PooreAssistant Club Coach, Women's Rugby
Linc MurphyAssistant Club Coach, Men's Ice Hockey
Jordan Mello-KleinAssistant Coach, Men's Basketball
Susan MercerAdjunct Lecturer, Experience Design 
James WaddellAdjunct Lecturer, Finance 
Julia WalshManager Of Athletic Administration
Ryan TolfreeAdjunct Lecturer, Mathematical Sciences
Lauren ZaniboniStaff Clinician

Decorative image of a gem

And the GEM Awards Go To...

See who was recognized by their colleagues with a Go The Extra Mile (GEM) Award over the summer and in September! 

See the winners...

Bentley Service Awards Annual Luncheon Banner

Congratulate Your Colleagues Who are Celebrating Service Anniversaries

This year, our annual Service Award celebration will have a new format. All honorees will be invited to a luncheon to celebrate together as a group. If you would like to submit a congratulatory note for the honorees, please post here by Monday, November 3.

Please note that the Founder’s Day Award recipient will be announced at the February 2026 Town Hall. More details to be shared closer to the event.

Decorative woven nest filled with colorful strips of paper with handrwritten messages.

Add Your Words to The Nest Project

As part of the Dialogue Through Art initiative, Danielle Krcmar, director of visual arts, has created a striking 6-foot woven nest, now on display in Smith Hall. This immersive installation includes handwritten notes from first-year students expressing their hopes and fears about college.

The project was developed in collaboration with Neelangi Gunasekera, program manager for student success in the Office of Student Success. Together, they envisioned the nest as a space for reflection and connection—where faculty, staff and other students are encouraged to respond with messages of encouragement, placing them in the nest to foster a sense of community and support.

You can still stop by Smith and contribute to this impressive work of art by adding your own words of encouragement and advice.

Faculty and Staff: Save the Date and Participate at CWB's Gearing Up

Save the Date Flyer for Gearing Up March 26, 2026

The Center for Women and Business (CWB) has revamped its annual Gearing Up Conference, transforming it from a one-day event into a multi-session experience that provides leadership development opportunities year-round. Gearing Up: A Career Catalyst leverages Bentley’s world-class business education to advance early- to mid-career women+ through interactive workshops, asynchronous courses, exclusive content, and other professional development opportunities.

While this expanded approach offers more growth opportunities, the CWB will continue to bring the community together by creating a new tradition: hosting the Gearing Up Leadership Awards and Celebration of Women+ luncheon in March as the culminating event for Women’s History Month. This shift enables greater participation from faculty, students and staff to join our external network in celebrating the collective impact of women+ and allies advancing gender equity in the workplace.

Learn more about Gearing Up

Nominate a changemaker
 

Upcoming Campuswide Events

FROM THE NEWSROOM

Bentley University Named #2 Most Innovative School in the North by U.S. News & World Report

Bentley University shines in the latest round of annual U.S. News & World Report college rankings

by Jeff Yee

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Wall Street Journal Ranks Bentley University #12 College in the U.S.

Bentley University now ranks as the 12th best college in the United States, according to The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best U.S. Colleges rankings

by Jeff Yee

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