Student Government Association President Mary Ponziani ’18 sits down with Gloria.

You’re one of my biggest role models — who are yours?
When I read To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch was so inspiring. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. In the early ’80s, I had adult role models like Pat Bailey of the Federal Trade Commission. As her attorney adviser, I went to work thinking that anything was possible.

Your support for women and gender equality is so inspiring. Where does that motivation come from?
My mother got on a train at age 16, on her own, and went to college in Denver. She later told me that although she had absolutely loved her life as a wife and mother, had she been born a generation later, she would have had a career as well. I’ve drawn on that idea as a source of inspiration, feeling like I’m living the career that my mom might have chosen for herself. In law school, my class was only 20 percent women. It was an inspiring moment where we believed that we were going to change the workplace — for ourselves and for generations to come.

Were there career challenges that shaped who you are today?
The biggest challenge was Boston’s almost-billion-dollar convention center. I said we would be the first major government-sponsored project in all of New England to finish on time and on budget. We hadn’t even hired the architect! My skill set has been to take risks and, fortunately, this one paid off. But I learned a big lesson: Don’t over-promise.

How did you come to be a college president?
My law firm used to send me to recruit students as summer associates; that’s when I fell in love with millennials. When someone mentioned that Bentley College might be interested in a nontraditional candidate, I thought, that would be me! I knew a lot about higher education public policy, but I certainly didn’t understand the world of academia on the ground level. It started a very long conversation and I fell in love with Bentley along the way. I thought, if I could be part of a community like this, what an incredible opportunity. When I was offered the position, I said yes immediately and never looked back.

What is it about Bentley that attracted you?
It’s a magical place that has the best set of real-world connections I’ve ever seen. It’s that combination of highly innovative classroom academics matched with real-world experiences and opportunities that leads to the success story.

Are there skills you’ve gained?
I’ve gained greater patience. In academia, your ideas are everything — and the execution takes time.

You always say you learn so much from us, the students.
I do. Hearing how you’ve gotten more in return from the experience than you put into it … that inspires me more than I can say. And it’s incredible to see how you make a difference right out of the gate.

What are your proudest Bentley moments?
I’ve had many! Watching the Bentley women’s basketball team go from the Final Four to ultimately winning that first national championship for their coach was incredible. Launching the Center for Women and Business. My proudest achievement is our ever-deepening fusion of business and arts and sciences. It is a singular characteristic of this school that continues to put us in good standing with employers everywhere.

What do you do for fun?
The magic in my life is Allen Larson and those dogs. Everything I have done in my career is because my husband is my biggest cheerleader. And you cannot have a stressful day with a Labrador retriever at your feet — and I have three!

What’s next?
There’s no way I could replace 11 years at Bentley, so I certainly have no plans to be a president. Commencement is going to be bittersweet. I feel like I’m graduating with this class. I can’t wait to hug you all.

Read more about Gloria in the Connector in Chief.