Kristen Walsh

Jonathan White calls hunger in the United States an invisible epidemic. His research on the subject includes interviews with 54 Americans who battle under-nutrition as a result of poverty; a survey of over 200 college students to assess their awareness of the issue and their beliefs about those who are hungry; and an intensive literature review of national and regional data. White tackles the issue in his forthcoming book, Hungry to Be Heard: Voices From a Malnourished America. 

Students in a Bentley course offered last spring faced the typical array of required readings, class discussions, papers and exams. Oh, and they had to run a 5K.

“Run” as in plan and orchestrate an event to raise money for a cause. The inaugural “5 for the Fight” race, held on campus last April, collected nearly $900 for the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life at Bentley.

Most colleges reserve the term “market demand” for business courses. Here the phrase takes a different turn, informing two new majors — Professional Sales and Creative Industries — that answer employers’ call for skilled professionals.

The move marks Bentley as the only major university in the northeastern U.S. with an undergraduate major in Professional Sales. An unusual collaboration gives both programs a distinctive edge. In developing the majors, which launched this fall, faculty had significant input from Career Services and corporate partners.

As Bentley’s PreparedU research revealed, a majority of managers report that most college grads aren’t ready for the workplace. That’s yet another reason why showing up for that interview or first day on the job with new ideas could help impress. This list of “how-to” books — including new reads and old standbys — goes beyond what you (and your boss) might expect.

Managers and millennials continue to misunderstand each other on the job, raising concerns for employers who want to retain this talented generation, according to Bentley University’s PreparedU research. As we grapple with the “hows” and “whys” of these issues, it’s time to put aside RSS feeds and 140-character limits and pick up a good book. Firsthand accounts from high achievers on what works and doesn’t work will prove worthy reads for business students and managers alike.

Women are leveraging their knack for collaboration and team-building to successfully tackle public policy and government issues — a sector in which they are grossly underrepresented. But is what they bring to the table really different from men? In true political fashion, the question is up for debate.

Knowledge is power — particularly for women navigating the business world. In the following five books, influential women reflect on their quest for success, and the stumbling blocks they overcame along the way.

The Path Redefined: Getting to the Top on Your Own Terms by Lauren Maillian Bias

What’s in your backpack? There may be more than you think. Just a laptop and a smartphone open up the door to seemingly endless technology, says Bentley CIO Phillip Knutel. And the implications are big: Many employers expect millennials to be adept at everything from social media to electronic collaboration and communication to content management.

During the biotech IPO boom in 2000, a lot of people made money; but very few products ever made it into the hands of consumers. Bentley’s Laura McNamee, PhD, and Fred Ledley, MD, trace the problem to business models with a glaring gap between science and commerce.

Scientists and investors, they point out, have very different value systems.

When faculty, students and corporate partners come together, great things can happen on campus — and off. A case in point is a $250,000 grant to the Honors Program from United Technologies Corporation. Through a UTC-supported honors fellowship, research is underway to help local communities save the environment and developing countries create economic stability.

The funding takes Honors Program capstone projects to a new level, according to inaugural UTC Fellows Olivia Locke ’14 and Gerard Fischetti ’14 (above).