The Bentley Buzz

Over the course of the past few years, millions of employees across the country have decided to explore new jobs or consider career changes. In New England’s competitive higher education market, many have left for new jobs at different universities or entered new fields altogether.

As the Buzz shared last semester in a feature by career coach Mike Fitzgerald, some have found success in new roles, while others decided that the grass wasn’t always greener. Following up on Mike's article, the Buzz caught up with a few members of our community who took jobs elsewhere and then returned to Bentley. These “boomerang employees” shared their experience and what brought them back to Bentley: 

What brought you back to Bentley after joining a new organization?

Lisa Dinsmore – Associate Director, Undergraduate Career Development: A few things drew me back to Bentley after being away. First, I missed being in a mission-driven organization. I hadn’t realized the great sense of personal satisfaction that I get from knowing my job is helping others. Additionally, I missed the congenial/collaborative culture at Bentley and the work-life balance I am able to achieve here. 

Palani Muthusamy – Senior Data Architect, Data Management and Application Services: All team members are collaborative and help each other here. That’s what me brought me back. 

Kevin Michaud – Sergeant, University Police: I was unhappy with the switch that I made. I wanted to explore other options and try out a different style of my career and was unhappy in my decision. The culture I went into wasn’t beneficial to my career.

Courtney Hough – Executive Director, University Events: After leaving Bentley to explore another organization, I was quick to notice that the department’s culture was not as vibrant and positive as Bentley’s. The department struggled to find ways to engage and motivate the different teams. It didn’t take me too long to realize how lucky I was to work with great teams at Bentley.

What did you miss most about Bentley in your time away? 

Lisa: What I missed most was the people. In my time at Bentley, I had the opportunity to meet and work with so many great people in both faculty and staff. Upon returning, I looked forward to re-connecting

Palani: Team meetings, the care given to team members, and the value and recognition for the work done.

Kevin: I missed my co-workers the most in my time away. I genuinely enjoy working with the other members of our team here at Bentley. I also feel that Bentley is a great place to work in general. The culture and values are incredible here, and it's a great work-home life balance.

Courtney: The unflappable events team and campus partners! Planning and executing events takes the right attitude as events can go in all different directions. At Bentley, some projects, requests and tasks can be considered crazy, but if you are with the right team members, you can get through anything together.

What was the reception like upon your return? 

Lisa: I’ve very much enjoyed my return to Bentley. While I am in a new role, it was nice to come into a familiar organization and work with people I’ve known and respected for years. It’s been great re-connecting with former colleagues and friends and re-engaging with the Bentley campus.

Palani: It was an awesome reception, no words can express it. It felt like I came back home.

Kevin: The reception when I returned was great. I had a very warm welcome from my coworkers, manager and boss. I could tell that I made the right decision in coming back to Bentley. While working, you spend a lot of time with people who are not family, and the team that I belong to at Bentley is something I cherish. I have been told by others not employed by Bentley that it sounds like a great place to work, and I fully agree with them.

Courtney: It was like coming back to your college reunion. It was great to see everyone and work with them again. I came back with more appreciation and respect for my colleagues and the university.

The President’s Speaker Series kicked off this week, bringing President and CEO of Lordstown Motors Corporation Edward Hightower to campus for a conversation on the future of sustainability in the automotive industry. Lordstown Motors, a commercial electric vehicle company based in Ohio, is launching a commercial fleet of electric pickup trucks called the Endurance, seeking to fill the market need for electric trucks in the workforce.

During the conversation, Edward discussed the role that his decades-long experience in the automotive industry has played in his first year at Lordstown Motors and the importance of being adaptable as the needs of the business world evolve. With nearly 150 students, faculty, staff and alumni in attendance in the Executive Dining Room in LaCava, the conversation concluded with a Q&A session where community members learned more about the future of sustainability in business.

In addition to covering how he and Lordstown Motors seek to find their place in the emerging market of electric vehicles, Edward discussed how sustainability in the auto industry can provide economic stability to countries across Africa, as he details in his book “Motoring Africa: Sustainable Automotive Industrialization,” which was given to the first 25 attendees.

Keep an eye out for the next event in the President’s Speaker Series next semester! 

Whether you meet with them daily in or out of the classroom or are in a less student-facing role, it's always great to connect with students here at Bentley. This semester, Breakfast by Moonlight is back! The Residence Hall Association is excited to again host this Bentley tradition on Monday, Dec. 12 from 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. in the 921 and is seeking volunteers to serve breakfast to students the night before Reading Day as they prepare to entire the finals period.

This year's "Winter Classic"-themed Breakfast by Moonlight looks to build on the success of last year’s event, which brought more than 1,000 students together after the tradition was paused during the pandemic. Sign up using the link below before the Dec. 2 deadline! 

Volunteer for Breakfast by Moonlight

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Favorite spot on campus: I don't think I have a favorite spot yet. BUT outside of my office in Morison, there have been turkeys roaming around and I like to watch them. TURKEYS!!! I'm still digesting that turkeys roam freely here. I'm just a boy who grew up in the 'hood ... turkeys, wow. 

Hobbies: I love TV — I study media so that's my excuse, but I can watch TV all day. I like the gym, reading is cool, my family is fun...BUT my love language is a night of binge-watching Gossip Girl. 

Favorite television show: This one is tough. See my last answer. Right now, I love Netflix's Heartstopper. It's adorable and I am rooting for each character. 

Favorite book: Anything and everything written by Toni Morrison.

Best place to grab a bite on campus: I love breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day, so it would have to be Einstein Bagels in the library. 

Favorite course to teach at Bentley: I only have a few courses under my belt, but I enjoy my Digital Public Relations course because the content is constantly changing. Digital media is constantly shifting, and new outlets and platforms are sprouting up every second. A course that has new content, new projects and enticing up-to-date conversations will always be #1 for me. 

Hidden talent: My talent isn't necessarily hidden. I just don't bring it out at Bentley. I was a professional dancer years ago and I teach Hip-Hop at a few Lifetime athletic clubs throughout Boston. Students have asked me to dance in class, but I cannot because I'm a very serious professor (that's not true...). 

President Chrite recently announced that the Multicultural Center lounge will be renovated over winter break. The expansion was made possible by a generous donation from trustee Rob Alan ’91, and the project was co-created with students of color to ensure the lounge supports community, deepens cultural knowledge, and facilitates activities that forge connections. The project is being undertaken following discoveries from the Racial Justice Task Force. The lounge will be named in honor of longtime, beloved staff member Claudette Blot.

For more than 30 years, Claudette has had a deep impact on students at Bentley, and particularly students of color, as an advisor and mentor. The renovated lounge will be the first space on campus named after a person of color.

Keep an eye out for more updates and the official opening of the Claudette Blot Multicultural Center Lounge at the start of the spring semester!

Read President Chrite’s Announcement

Six Placed on CSC Academic All-District Women’s Soccer Team
Six student-athletes from the Bentley women's soccer team were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Soccer Team for Division II.

Cedie Dashiell II Named NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year; 13 Falcons Garner All-Conference Recognition
Senior defensive end Cedie Dashiell II was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year in the NE-10 Conference and was one of five Falcons voted to the All NE-10 football first team.