Babson Magazine Summer 2025

Summer School

At Babson, educating entrepreneurial leaders is a year-round pursuit. PAGE 14

Summers at Babson play an integral role in advancing our mission and strategy. All year, we empower entrepreneurial leaders to impact communities everywhere. But, in the summer months, our scenic Wellesley campus comes alive in new ways as we welcome scores of entrepreneurship students, educators, and professionals from Babson and beyond for an array of innovative and empowering programs.

This summer brought students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country to immerse themselves in Babson’s curriculum through a rst-ofits-kind Babson Build cohort. Educators and thought leaders from around the world gathered for the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators to renew their entrepreneurial mindset, methodology, and pedagogy. And, academics and practitioners convened to explore the latest cuttingedge empirical research in the eld of entrepreneurship for the 45th Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Program & Conference.

These are just a few of the many highlights on our campus that perfectly embody the “everywhere” component of our mission. At Babson, we believe that “everywhere” goes far beyond the geographic scope. “Everywhere” is not solely a global approach, but rather a mindset that removes barriers or limits on where and how we teach, learn, and lead.

Accelerating this mindset is central to our strategy. The global demand for a Babson education is exceptional and growing. Yet the headwinds facing our industry necessitate that higher education institutions remain nimble and unafraid to seek new markets and learner populations—the perfect environment for entrepreneurs to succeed.

New executive education offerings, hybrid and asynchronous programs, stackable certi cates, and non-degree credentials strengthen Babson’s strategic approach to entrepreneurship and business education. Importantly, we have broken ground on our new Executive Lodge and Conference Center to further accelerate our lifelong-learning initiatives.

Spurring entrepreneurial growth everywhere isn’t just strategic—it’s smart business. Summers on campus, as you will see in this issue of Babson Magazine, are anything but typical. They’re an important component of our global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD

FEATURES

10 Who Inspired the Class of 2025?

New graduates share who supported their journeys.

14 An Entrepreneurial Summer

The lessons on campus extend around the world.

22 A Legacy Etched in Stone Founder’s mottos live on with first-year students.

14 22 10

DEPARTMENTS

2 Babson and Beyond

The latest news and updates from campus.

8 Office Hours

Beth Wynstra develops teachers in DBA program.

9 People of Babson

Jessica Chance boosts graduate students’ careers.

BABSON MAGAZINE STAFF / Vol. 92, No. 2

EDITOR Eric Beato

PUBLISHER Kerry Salerno, chief marketing officer

COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY Danielle Perry

CREATIVE MANAGEMENT Cheryl Robock

CREATIVE ART DIRECTION Cathy Cahill

SENIOR JOURNALISTS Hillary Chabot, John Crawford

CONTRIBUTORS Kara Baskin, Scott Dietz, James Kiley, Francis Ma, Erin O’Donnell, Thecla Ree, Mali Reimer, Vannessa Rodriguez, Melissa Savignano, Wendy Schoenfeld

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Nic Czarnecki

MULTIMEDIA TEAM Christopher Brown, Paul DeWolf, Maggie McGinnis, Adam Pearlman

28 Athletics

Tennis teams transform into national powerhouses.

30 Advancement Spotlight

The impact of supporting the student experience.

34 News, Notes, and Nods

Undergraduate, Graduate, Connections, In Memoriam

40 Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action

Remembering the optimism of Howard Brown ’88.

We welcome your feedback on the magazine. Contact Eric Beato at ebeato@babson.edu On the cover: Photo by Nic

Find out more about what’s happening at Babson College at: entrepreneurship.babson.edu

Babson Magazine (USPS 898-140) is published by Babson College, 231 Forest Street, Babson Park, MA 02457-0310, three times a year, in the spring, summer, and winter.

Copyright 2025 by Babson College. Editorial office: Babson Park, MA 02457-0310. Send address corrections to advancement_services@babson.edu, or call +781-239-4044.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Czarnecki

BABSON AND BE Y OND

Babson Expands Commitment to PROFESSIONAL AND EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

As the world of work changes at a relentless speed, Babson is poised to provide organizations and professionals with the skills they need to keep pace and thrive.

Babson recently launched an expanded Professional and Executive Education portfolio, which includes Babson On-Demand™, a collection of online and flexible courses with an emphasis on the entrepreneurial mindset, innovation, and practical, in-demand business skills. “We are excited to launch our first online learning platform—built to empower business leaders at every stage of their careers and lives,” says Kelly Lynch, Babson’s executive vice president.

Targeted at both companies and individuals, these stackable courses can be purchased individually to earn badges or in pre-grouped bundles to earn certificates or advanced certificates. Most notably, a signature addition to the portfolio is the Early

Entrepreneur’s Toolkit, a fully online certificate program for those launching and building ventures, the heart of Babson’s expertise.

The expanded portfolio (formerly branded as Babson Executive Education) comes on the heels of the College’s recently enacted capital plan to build an Executive Lodge and Conference Center. The center, slated to open in 2027, will allow Babson’s campus to better support these increased executive education offerings both in person and virtually.

“Babson’s enhanced approach to executive education represents a continuation of our ability to assess the evolving market needs of professionals around the world,” says Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “Flexible formats and accessible price ranges will broaden our reach and bring our proven approach to entrepreneurship and business education to new audiences.”

The new Executive Lodge and Conference Center will allow Babson’s campus to better support increased professional and executive education offerings both in person and virtually. It’s slated to open in mid-2027.

Learn more about Babson’s Professional and Executive Education portfolio

‘WHAT A JOY’: Inspirational speeches highlight Commencement

In his first Commencement ceremony since joining the Babson community, Ariel Armony, Babson’s provost and executive vice president, noted the expansive reach that Babson alumni have across the globe.

“As we would say in my native country, Argentina, ‘Qué alegria!’ ‘What a joy!’” Armony told the graduates. “You have been waiting for this day your entire academic journey. You are about to begin new adventures in all corners of the world.”

The Class of 2025, including more than 700 undergraduates and 450 graduate students, also heard inspiring addresses from two powerful entrepreneurial leaders.

Linda Henry ’00, H’19 Returning to campus 25 years after her own Babson graduation, Linda Henry ’00, H’19 served as the 2025 Commencement speaker during the morning’s undergraduate ceremony.

The CEO and co-owner of Boston Globe Media, Henry shared reflections on how her Babson experience shaped a successful career and fulfilling life, urging the graduates to focus on the lessons learned from their peers while on campus.

“I find it remarkable that the most powerful lessons I learned at Babson came not from a textbook but from

2025 Commencement speaker Linda Henry ’00, H’19

my classmates—from my community,” Henry said. “Then again, maybe it’s not so remarkable. The real point of Babson is not books and papers. It’s the community of people who pass through here every four years.”

Henry’s address reflected a career that continues to draw upon her lessons learned at Babson. During her first year, Henry’s time in Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (FME), Babson’s flagship yearlong course, instilled in her leadership qualities she continues to draw upon today as the strategic leader and co-owner of a reimagined 153-year-old

legacy media company.

“When I joined The Boston Globe, I had a much wiser understanding of leadership, thanks to my FME classmates,” Henry said.

Henry, an active partner in Fenway Sports Group, sent each member of the undergraduate Class of 2025 on their way with a fitting parting gift—a Babsongreen Boston Red Sox cap marked “Class of 2025.”

Karen Clark Cole H’25

Karen Clark Cole H’25, co-founder and former CEO of Blink UX, addressed the graduate ceremony. The visionary behind the first user experience company in the United States imparted her wisdom gained across a career advising notable clients such as Amazon, Apple, Disney, and Starbucks. She counseled that life would bring obstacles and the unknown, and that finding the strength to persevere would be dependent on graduates identifying passion and meaning in their work.

“Whatever trail you blaze, I can promise you this: It will be hard work,” Clark Cole said. “Twelve-hour days, seven-day weeks, and a to-do list that only grows—with stress levels to match. To keep moving forward, it’s critical that you like what you’re doing. Even better if you love it.”

»Read more about the Class of 2025, Page 10

32 YEARS IN A ROW: No. 1 MBA Entrepreneurship Ranking

For the 32nd consecutive year, F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College has been named the No. 1 MBA program in entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report. The recognition underscores Babson’s commitment to providing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders with cutting-edge education.

“This continued excellence in graduate education is a testament to the global reputation of the F.W.

Olin Graduate School of Business and our committed faculty of thought leaders and practitioners,” said President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD.

“Babson College has proudly served as the flagship institution for entrepreneurship education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels since the early inception of entrepreneurship as an academic discipline.”

The U.S. News & World Report ranking comes amid a blockbuster year of high-profile accolades and prominent, campus-wide advances that further ensure Babson graduates possess the skills to drive meaningful change. In addition, Babson’s emphasis on real-world application and experiential learning continue to solidify its reputation as an entrepreneurship pioneer.

TAKE TWO: Babson Tennis Champs Reflect on Back-to-Back National Titles

They are, quite simply, two of the most dominant athletes ever to play sports at Babson College.

For the second year in a row, Olivia Soffer ’25 and Matia Cristiani ’26 claimed the NCAA Division III national championship in women’s doubles tennis. That championship in May capped a remarkable run for the duo at Babson. Over the last three seasons, they reached three consecutive doubles finals and compiled an overall record of 81-8.

“Olivia and Matia have achieved something that is unprecedented here at Babson and remarkably rare in sports at all levels,” says Mike Lynch, Babson’s Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement. “There may never be another combination like this at the College, and no matter where their futures take them, they will forever be recognized and remembered as the Dynamic Duo of Babson women’s tennis.”

As a graduating senior, Soffer finishes her Babson tennis career as the College’s

all-time leader in singles, doubles, and combined wins, while Cristiani currently ranks second in those categories. Together, they made a formidable pair.

“There’s no secret to their success— just years of hard work, relentless practice, and a deep understanding of each other’s game and personality,” says Emma Hall, head coach of the women’s tennis team at Babson. “They know each other’s playing style like the back of their hand—every shot, every strategy, it’s almost second nature by now. I think that familiarity showed throughout this NCAA championship run and gave them the confidence they needed to take the title home.”

In the days after the championship, Soffer and Cristiani answered questions about their years playing together and all the work that went into their back-toback titles. “Matia and I both knew we’d been in that position before,” Soffer says, “and there was nothing stopping us from winning again.”

Babson Magazine NEEDS YOUR HELP.

We’re looking to alumni and other community members to share opinions about the magazine experience. Please take just a few minutes to provide your feedback and complete our brief survey online. Scan the QR code above or visit bab.sn/reader-survey

Olivia Soffer ’25 (left) and Matia Cristiani ’26 claimed the NCAA Division III national championship in women’s doubles.

»Read more about Babson’s tennis program, Page 28

PHOTO: STOCKTON PHOTO

‘MOOS’ AND AHHS: Babson AI Showcase Draws Rave Reviews

Artificial intelligence—and cows— took center stage this spring at the first Babson College AI Showcase, which transformed stately Knight Auditorium into a cutting-edge space for students and alumni to present their AI-driven innovations. The AI Showcase was hosted by the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship in conjunction with Babson’s Information Technology Services Department.

Ten projects were featured in the showcase, including AI platforms to improve prioritization, group accountability, entrepreneurship, real estate management, and vacation building, as well as an AI-powered prosthetic foot attachment.

Yet the first-place prize was awarded to a venture pursuing a technological solution to one of the oldest problems on the planet: monitoring herds of cows. “Right now, 50% of the fertile windows in cows are being missed,” Bryan Ramirez Galindo MSEL’25 said,

“because farmers depend on not-soreliable hardware, or someone looking at each individual cow, to say that there’s something wrong.”

Ramirez Galindo and Alejandro Torres MSEL’25 collected first prize—$10,000 in Microsoft Azure credits—for their venture, Vacavision, an AI-powered herd monitoring system to provide farmers with round-theclock insights into the health and

productivity of every cow. The duo said the cloud computing credits will help significantly as they build their company with an eye toward scaling to monitor other livestock.

A moljit Dhaliwal ’25 was awarded second place (and $6,000 in Microsoft Azure credits) for his venture, LoomaEdu, which monitors live writing behaviors to identify and prevent AI-assisted content creation in educational settings.

M ichele Palestro ’15, MBA’25 earned third place (and $4,000 in Microsoft Azure credits) for his venture, AriesView, an AI platform designed to help real estate investment managers analyze internal documents and financial data.

The Babson College AI Showcase was the first major event of the Metropoulos Institute, which was launched last year at the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership with a generous gift from C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68.

BABSON’S AI DAM CHAIR: From Text Prompt to Furniture

It’s a chair, functionally the same as any other created over the past 4,700 years. This one, though, is different. It’s an attention-getter, a technological breakthrough, and, it just looks darn cool.

But the story behind this particular chair and what it represents is even cooler.

The Dam Chair—as it’s been dubbed by the two students who spearheaded its creation, Vaness (Reece) Gardner ’26 and Cole Collins ’26, in a nod to Babson’s beaver mascot—is believed to be the first full-scale chair designed with generative artificial intelligence installed on a college campus. The chair is the result of a groundbreaking AI workflow from text prompt to image to 3D prototype to full-scale printing in recycled wood fibers and cellulose.

“The Dam Chair is what we’re calling it, and

it was all about the idea of bringing together community,” Collins said. “It’s a culmination of all these factors coming into one that really makes this a large milestone for not just us, not just for creatives, but for Babson as a whole.”

Fittingly, the chair was on stage at the first Babson College AI Showcase, hosted by the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship. There now are three on campus: at the Herring Family Entrepreneurship Leadership Village, outside the Office of the President, and in the lobby of Weissman Foundry, where the journey of the AI chair began to come to life.

“This is an amazing example of what our students’ entrepreneurial mindset can do with rapidly evolving AI,” said D. R. Widder MBA’99,

vice president of innovation at Babson. “And, you can sit in the chair and contemplate what’s next! Babson has invested heavily in AI resources, and the Weissman Foundry is a great starting point for students with new ideas of all kinds.”

Bryan Ramirez Galindo MSEL’25 (right) celebrates after his venture, Vacavision, won first Babson College AI Showcase.

ALL IN THE NAME: Hero the Dog Brings Safety and Smiles to Babson

Babson’s newest public safety recruit is smart, friendly, and always hungry for the next assignment—especially if there’s food. His name is Hero, and he’s a yellow Labrador retriever trained in explosives detection and community engagement.

Hero officially joined Babson’s Public Safety department this spring after completing a four-month training program with the Massachusetts State Police. Unlike the College’s other canine companions, Hero serves a dual purpose: He’s both a lovable ambassador and a serious safety asset, said Officer Kevin Carrigan, who is Hero’s primary handler.

“He’s not just here to be petted, though he loves that,” Carrigan said. “He’s also trained to detect explosives and keep our campus safe during major events.”

Hero joins Babson’s other public resource dogs, Roger, a golden retriever named in honor of College founder Roger Babson, and a black Goldador named Gracie. All three are trained to support the social and emotional well-being of everyone on campus, but Hero brings a new dimension. He’s the College’s first dog trained to detect explosive materials—a role that places him at the intersection of

security and community connection.

“He really reflects who we are as a department,” Carrigan said. “We’re here to build relationships, but we’re also trained and prepared to handle serious situations.”

Hero’s journey to Babson started through the nonprofit Puppies Behind Bars, which pairs incarcerated individuals with puppies to train them in foundational skills.

From there, the Massachusetts State Police selected Hero for explosives-detection training. Carrigan and Hero graduated in May. “It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” Carrigan said. “Not just for the skills we gained, but for the bond we developed.”

NEW PODCAST: From Problems to Possibilities

Entrepreneurial leaders know no limits. They’re not constrained by the organizations they serve, the titles they hold, or the problems they encounter as they work to find solutions and create new possibilities. Now, Babson has launched its first podcast focused on entrepreneurial leadership—“From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action.” Available on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon, each episode explores how entrepreneurial leaders are solving the world’s biggest challenges—from women’s health care to sustainability in business to mental health—with the unique leadership skills needed today.

NEWMAC Men’s Presidents Cup

Babson earned its third consecutive New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Men’s Presidents Cup, an all-sports award presented to the top overall men’s and women’s programs in the conference. Babson’s men’s teams won three conference tournament championships and two regular-season titles. Babson’s women’s teams placed second in the Presidents Cup standings.

Most Influential Bostonians

Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD has been named among the 150 Most Influential Bostonians in 2025 by Boston magazine. Spinelli, who was ranked 105th, was one of only five college and university leaders to be cited on the list. “Boston’s incubator for entrepreneurial talent, Babson has flourished under Spinelli’s leadership,” the magazine wrote.

B.E.T.A. Challenge Grand Prizes Ily Kynion Coulibaly MSBA’25 of KYN won the graduate track, as well as two special awards at the prestigious B.E.T.A. (Babson Entrepreneurial Thought & Action®) Challenge. Daniel Berlin ’26 of Dirty Gut won the undergraduate track and the Stephen H. Kramer ’92 and Michael London ’92 Award, and Anthony Gatti MBA’24 and Nathan Ruff-Williams MBA’23 of PetPax Co. won the alumni track.

Riberas Family Honored with Camus Award

Babson, along with Maison Camus, presented the 2025 Babson-Camus Global Family Entrepreneurship Award to the Riberas family, founders and leaders of Gestamp. Francisco J. Riberas P’13 ’15 and Patricia Riberas ’13 accepted the award during Babson Connect Worldwide at Castelfalfi in Tuscany, Italy. The award, created in collaboration with Camus and the Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship at Babson, is the first of its kind to honor distinguished entrepreneurial multigenerational business families.

The Art and Science of Teaching

In Babson’s new DBA program, Beth Wynstra focuses on helping to develop potential teachers

s a theater historian and director, Beth Wynstra, associate professor of English, thinks often about the work of world-building. Directors begin with a script and a blank stage and lead a team of actors and crew in bringing the text to life in a way that engages audiences.

She believes that these very same world-building skills can apply to entrepreneurship, which starts with an idea, aims to engage audiences such as investors and customers, and requires a team effort.

Similarly, world-building is key to the work of teaching, she adds. “At the start of a semester, you are creating a world in your classroom,” she says. “You want engaged and electric conversation, and you want everyone invested in what it is that you’re doing together.”

Wynstra, who arrived at Babson in 2010, realized over time that in addition to teaching a range of theater courses and directing plays—including multiple productions for The Empty Space Theater at Babson—she also enjoyed writing about the science of teaching. With Heidi Neck, the Jeffry A. Timmons Professor of Entrepreneurship, she co-led Inspire Studio, a program that allowed Babson faculty to gather off campus to re ect on the practice of teaching.

Today, Wynstra is the faculty director of the Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT), a resource center that helps Babson faculty and staff enhance their teaching skills. “I am a rm believer that teaching is not ever something we perfect,” she says. “It is always something that we need to be evolving

and changing.” This is especially true as educators grapple with the rapidly expanding role of arti cial intelligence in student learning, Wynstra adds.

She will bring such big-picture questions to courses she helped develop for Babson’s new Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, created for professionals who want to pursue advanced research or transition into teaching.

The Babson DBA differs from similar programs because of its emphasis on entrepreneurship and its efforts to help students develop as teachers. When she was a doctoral student in theater studies, Wynstra remembers, she and classmates received no training before teaching their rst classes.

In contrast, the DBA students will

take three pedagogy classes, including one taught by Wynstra called Teaching Across Contexts, which explores the variety of tools teachers use in the classroom, “everything from assessment to assignment building to leading group discussions,” she says.

Some DBA graduates will go on to teach at the college level, but many will not, so Wynstra will prepare them to teach in a range of situations, from heading a nonpro t to sharing research ndings with corporate colleagues.

Asked about her goals for the rst cohort of Babson DBA students, Wynstra reaches again for theater language. “If things go well,” she says, “they will walk away from the program knowing that they are a teacher and that it is a role that they can play successfully.” — Erin O’Donnell

“Teaching is not ever something we perfect,” says Beth Wynstra, associate professor of English and the faculty director of the Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching. “It is always something that we need to be evolving.”

PHOTO: NIC CZARNECKI

Small Talk with JESSICA CHANCE

After earning a bachelor’s degree in writing and performing arts, Jessica Chance faced a familiar crossroads for aspiring actors and writers: Broadway or Hollywood? But she knew she had a deeper calling. “I wanted to help people,” she says. “I wanted to tell stories that serve a purpose for the audience.” Her blossoming stage work, along with her passion to make an impact one on one, led her to pursue a master’s degree in mental health counseling. Now, as the director of the Graduate Center for Career Development (CCD) since 2022, Chance has found a perfect role to combine her skills and help students discover their own professional paths. Plus, she’s still writing and performing.

As a performer, what role has been the most meaningful to you?

“The most meaningful to date is originating the character of Mandy in The Emancipation of Mandy and Miz Ellie (at Company One in 2010). It was the rst full production that I did that really tackled the racial dynamics between Black and white people in the South after Emancipation. It was an incredible experience.”

What attracted you to Babson and graduate career development?

“Babson is not your typical business school. The entrepreneurial aspect of Babson spoke to that. We always say in improv, ‘Yes, and.’ What’s possible? Let’s see what happens. If it falls at, we do it differently. As I learn more about our graduate students’ and alumni’s goals, there’s so much experimenting and reinventing yourself. That spoke to me as a creative and as an educator. I also love our graduate school community and get to lead an incredible team of grad career champions. So, it’s a great t, especially when meeting members of the Babson community who have that ‘yes, and’ quality to them.”

What is the biggest challenge facing graduate students today, and how does CCD help overcome them?

“Savvy use of AI, where students are still using their creativity and using AI as a guide to a better outcome, for whatever work they want to go into. On the job, they must be able to innovate and problemsolve with AI and understand its use across an entire company. Grad CCD helps them through sessions on Gen AI for Career Search, and Alumni Career Talk, where alumni continue with Babson as lifelong learners. Our growing partnership with faculty has been moving the needle supporting students and alumni. We’ve had faculty members at employer advisory board meetings, so they can share what Babson students are learning in the classroom and how employers can learn from Babson about AI and the future of work.” — Eric Beato

By John Crawford and Hillary Chabot

In the final moments before Commencement, just before marching to the ceremony, Babson’s 2025 graduates reflected on their College journeys and the people who supported and inspired them.

During his time at Babson, Gautam Rana MBA’25 often found himself amazed by his classmates. They were an adventurous group, both inside and outside the classroom, always seeming to push themselves, to accept challenges, to take risks.

Rana knew classmates who ran marathons and took bicycle treks of hundreds of miles, who enrolled in classes beyond their prior experiences, who were not content to stay in their so-called lane. They took what he calls a “zig-zag approach” to their studies and their lives.

“Everyone is trying and doing new things,” Rana says. “That is inspiring. The sheer energy in my class is amazing.”

Rana was one of more than 700 undergraduates

and 450 graduate students who took part in Babson’s Commencement on May 17. As they gathered in the Len Green Recreation and Athletics Complex, wearing their caps and gowns and waiting to march to the ceremony, they reflected on the people who supported and inspired them. Their stories tell of the professors, community members, and family who walked beside them on their Babson journeys.

PROFESSORS

Many graduates were remembering professors who raised them up and made them think about subjects in a new way.

Alexandra Nunn ’25 was inspired by Vincent Onyemah, professor of marketing and chair of the Marketing Division. She’s the first to admit she’s quite shy, so when he took a moment to single her out during one of her first classes, it made an impact. “You are going to do great things. I know it,” Nunn recalls Onyemah telling her. The moment stuck with her, providing a boost of confidence and laying the foundation for her undergraduate academic career.

Onyemah continued to inspire Nunn as she became more interested in sales, and they worked together to create Babson’s first sales concentration. She is now one of the first students to graduate with that concentration. “It’s a full-circle moment,” Nunn says. “I’m excited to celebrate it.”

“She really listened to me.”

A self-described introvert, Emily Stouch ’25 has long been passionate about writing. “It’s a great way for me to express who I truly am,” she says. In a fiction writing class taught by Mary O’Donoghue, professor of English, Stouch found someone who takes her work as seriously as she does. O’Donoghue has offered Stouch constructive criticism and advice on where to publish her stories. “She really listened to me,” Stouch says.

COMMUNITY

In addition to remembering Babson’s professors, graduates mentioned how emboldened they felt by the College’s welcoming community and its entrepreneurial spirit.

Julieta Surrentini MBA’25 comes from the world of engineering, an environment that seeks clear-cut answers and isn’t comfortable with ambiguity. “It’s either right or wrong,” she says. “It is very black and white.” Entrepreneurs, by contrast, aren’t afraid of uncertainty, a mentality that Surrentini relished at Babson. “It made me want to do my own thing and go for it,” she says. “I was thinking of ideas and thinking maybe I can do them.”

A first-generation student from Dallas, Karla Pesina ’25 was fighting culture shock and homesickness as she first drove onto Babson’s Wellesley campus.

“Everyone was always encouraging me to pursue my goals.”

“I was so scared when I showed up,” she says. “It felt like I was thousands and thousands of miles from home. I thought, ‘No. Nope. I need to go back.’ ” It didn’t take her long, however, to meet fellow first-generation colleagues, who inspired her to stay at Babson. Their support and drive pushed her outside her comfort zone. “What inspired me the most was being surrounded by a community of really driven people,” Pesina says. “It was easy to get motivated, and everyone was always encouraging me to pursue my goals.”

Read more about the Class of 2025:

FAMILY

Naturally, family was also on the mind of graduates. Ikechukwu Ubah MBA’25 has met many great professors and students at Babson, but as he reflected on this time in his life, waiting for Commencement to begin, his mind drifted to his father and the sacrifices he made to raise Ubah and his two siblings. “I want to give a nod to him,” Ubah says.

A single dad and an immigrant from Nigeria, his father worked long hours as a clinical engineer at a hospital to support his family. Ubah wants to live up to that sacrifice. His Babson degree is an educational milestone for his family. “This is the farthest anyone in my family has gone,” he says. 

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN KNIGHT, NIC CZARNECKI AND MARISSA LANGDON SUMMER

BABSON

think and act entrepreneurially. This summer, Babson Build hosted a group of students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

PHOTO: NIC CZARNECKI

Babson Build, one of Babson’s many summer programs, aims to help college students

14 BABSON MAGAZINE / SUMMER 2025

AN ENTREPRENEURIAL

The school year may be over, but Babson’s work of educating entrepreneurial leaders doesn’t stop. In the summer, many entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders descend on campus. They come from around the globe to connect and learn. What they take away from the College can impact their companies, their classrooms, and their communities.

licia Anderson spends a lot of time at the sewing machine. She makes all sorts of clothing for her fashion venture, Leeikigai, and she particularly likes to take old pieces and upcycle them, turning them into new creations.

For the senior at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, fashion is personal. As someone who felt shy growing up, it helped her to gain con dence. “It really helps you express yourself when you can’t nd the words,” Anderson says. Fashion also has grown into a business that’s always top of mind. “I work on it every single day,” she says.

This summer, Anderson came to Babson to learn more about the entrepreneurial mindset in the weeklong Babson Build program. “It is teaching that I have a lot to learn,” she says. Creating

By John Crawford

a striking dress, she has come to realize, is not enough. She needs to understand marketing, nance, and a host of other things. “I realize I can’t do it on my own,” she says. “I want to make a business. I want to hire people. I need a team.”

Babson doesn’t rest in the summertime. Yes, the school year may be over, and Commencement’s pomp and circumstance may have come and gone, but the work of educating entrepreneurial leaders continues year-round, whether in Wellesley or around the world.

“We don’t take a break from our mission,” says Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “The world needs entrepreneurial leaders, and our job is to educate and empower them wherever they may be.”

Anderson is one of many entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders who descend on Babson Park in the summer. From around the globe, they

come to connect, and they come to learn. What they take away from the College impacts their companies, their classrooms, and their communities.

The Entrepreneurs of Babson Build

On a Wednesday evening in June, a group of nearly 40 college students gathers in Babson’s Herring Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Village (HELV). Participants in the Babson Build program, the group comes from 15 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Tailored to college students, Babson Build aims to help them think and act entrepreneurially. “It launches them on their way with an intense Babson experience,” says D. R. Widder MBA’99, the College’s vice president of innovation who oversees the Babson Academy, which runs a variety of online

and in-person programs that teach entrepreneurship.

As the HBCU students eat their dinner in the HELV’s Global Outreach Studio, the entrepreneurial spirit lls the room. The students talk of startups, their future plans, and what they’ve

I want to nurture my ambition to make the world a better place through entrepreneurship.

Jaden Little a junior at Morehouse College in Atlanta

learned at Babson. Shawn Chisolm, an Allen University senior, intends to use this new knowledge right away as he’s about to launch a nancial consulting rm. “I don’t have to wait,” he says.

With his rm, Chisolm aims to assist clients with retirement plans and college savings. “I like helping people and seeing them happy and taking that stress away from them,” Chisolm says. His father ran his own painting business, so Chisolm had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship while growing up. “I got to see the ups and downs. I got to see everything,” he says. “That motivated me to be my own boss.”

Yasmari Rodriguez’s entrepreneurial inspiration comes from the clouds and sky. A sophomore at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, she’s working on an AI-powered aviation platform, one that teaches skills to professionals and exposes children to the industry through gameplay. She’s also learning to y.

Rodriguez remembers taking a ight as a child. She sat in the window seat as the sun set. “It allowed me to see the view above the clouds,” she says. “This is

Babson’s summer offerings, such as Babson Build (opposite page and top right) and the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators (bottom right), can have an influence far from campus, as participants incorporate the College’s entrepreneurial teaching into their work and lives.

the view I’ve wanted to see every day since. This is my motivation.”

For Siah Hinneh, a senior at Morgan State University in Baltimore, the driving force is justice. More than a decade ago, her uncle Mike was killed in a tragic homicide, which “changed everything for me,” she says. “I didn’t just want justice for my family. I started thinking about all the other families who don’t have access to the same resources.”

Hinneh plans to go to law school and open a law rm to help underrepresented communities have access to affordable legal representation. “I want to start my rm at an earlier age instead of waiting,” she says. “I am already thinking ahead.”

This is the second time that Babson Build has hosted a group of HBCU students. More will follow in the future. “The students bring such energy,” Widder says. “They inspire us with their ambition and ideas.”

Jaden Little, a junior at Morehouse College in Atlanta, has found the experience so transformative that he’s thinking of returning to Babson for graduate school. “I want to nurture my ambition to make the world a better place through entrepreneurship,” he says.

As she re ects on the lessons she learned in the program, Jeramyah Adams, a sophomore at Allen University, thinks of the role that pivoting can play. “A lot of entrepreneurs or business owners get stuck sometimes,” says Adams, who wants to start her own management and marketing consulting rm. “You forget you can go a different way and end up in a better spot.”

That strategy, of trying new things, of rolling with challenges, can serve one beyond the world of business. “It feels like a life lesson,” Adams says. “If things aren’t going the way you want them, you can always pivot.”

The Educators of SEE

The week after Babson Build, another summer College program is in full swing. In the St. Lawrence room in the Babson Executive Conference Center, participants in the ve-day Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE) program are coming together for the afternoon. Easel pads are

TOP PHOTO: NIC CZARNECKI BOTTOM PHOTO: MICHAEL QUIET

stationed around the spacious room, waiting to be lled with ideas.

This is the 53rd cohort of the long-running SEE program, which began in 1986 and aims to teach educators how to better teach entrepreneurship. Educators in this summer’s group hail from the U.S. and all over the world. Some have never taught entrepreneurship, while others are seeking to shake up their approach to a subject they’ve taught for years.

“Knowledge should not be stagnant,” says attendee Stephanie Black, an associate professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, where she is tasked with developing the school’s entrepreneurship program. “You’ve got to keep learning and be relevant for your students. You have to walk the walk. You have to be a lifelong learner.”

SEE is another program of Babson Academy, of which Heidi Neck is the academic director. When professors teach entrepreneurship, she believes, they should never become too comfortable. “The day we get comfortable teaching entrepreneurship is maybe the day we should move on,” says Neck, the Jeffry A. Timmons Professor of Entrepreneurship. “This practice, this discipline, is always in constant motion. There are always new things to try. If

you’re trying to develop the entrepreneurial spirit in your students, you have to have the entrepreneurial spirit in your teaching.”

Babson’s summer programs have an impact far from campus, as participants incorporate the College’s entrepreneurial teaching into their work and lives, and SEE is a stellar example of that. Close to 4,500 educators from more than 750 institutions have attended SEE during its nearly four decades.

SEE alumni can have a far-reaching in uence. A typical SEE cohort has 50 educators, and on average, they each teach 200 students a year. Add it up, and that’s roughly 10,000 students annually who are taught by just one SEE cohort, a cohort whose way of educating was inspired, challenged, and re ned by Babson professors.

John Turner, the director of branding and a designer in residence at the New England Innovation Academy, came to SEE because he needed some assistance. He’s an entrepreneur who has been asked to teach the subject.

“It is one thing to be an entrepreneur. It is a very different thing to be able to teach it,” Turner says. “I wanted to round out my knowledge built organically over time with a process and a structure that Babson offers.”

Professor Heidi Neck serves as the faculty director of the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators, which aims to teach educators how to better teach entrepreneurship.

PHOTO: MICHAEL QUIET

Calling SEE an “energizing and inspiring experience,” Muhammad Muhammad teaches several entrepreneurship courses at Texas Tech University. The assistant professor of practice says that the program reminded him how entrepreneurship education should be “dynamic, human-centered, and deeply transformational.”

That transformational aspect is crucial. What is different about teaching entrepreneurship compared with other subjects, Muhammad says, is that it’s not just about transferring knowledge. It’s about shifting mindsets. “It’s deeply rewarding to watch students evolve—not just into entrepreneurs, but into more empowered, creative versions of themselves,” Muhammad says.

Knowledge should not be stagnant. You’ve got to keep learning and be relevant for your students. You have to walk the walk. You have to be a lifelong learner.

Stephanie Black associate professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio

He believes the teaching of entrepreneurship is essential in this era of arti cial intelligence, which already is altering the workforce of the future. “For some of our graduating students, entrepreneurship may not be a rst choice, but it may be the only viable path to economic self-suf ciency,” he says. “That’s why teaching them how to identify opportunities, navigate uncertainty, and create value is more important than ever.”

The Leaders of LEAP

The same week as the SEE sessions, another Babson summer program, with an entirely different focus, is taking place. On a Thursday afternoon, just after attending a session on value creation, the participants in the Leadership Education in America Program (LEAP) are taking time for lunch in the Global Outreach Studio. The group of 16 comes from Bulgaria, and Babson staff members have made sure to have an espresso machine

Professor Andrew Zacharakis (bottom left) teaches a session in the PriceBabson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators, which has instructed close to 4,500 educators in its nearly four-decade history.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL QUIET

NO SUMMER VACATION

Babson’s campuses heat up in the summer with entrepreneurship education for everyone from high school students to undergraduate and graduate students to faculty researchers. Here are some other cornerstone programs offered over the summer:

SUMMER SESSION

WHAT: Babson’s summer session allows undergraduate students to earn up to 12 credits from an offering of 75 summer courses (in person and online).

WHEN: 10 weeks from May through July

WHO: More than 634 undergraduate students, including 31 who are living on campus, are taking summer courses.

MBA PROGRAMS

WHAT: The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College is a hub of activity, with the One-Year MBA program beginning in May with core courses, and part-time MBA students enrolled in courses. WHEN: May through August

WHO: 56 One-Year MBA students and 196 part-time MBA students

BABSON SUMMER STUDY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

WHAT: Summer Study is an experiential program to help high school students develop an entrepreneurial mindset, earn college credits, and gain practical skills on real-world business challenges. This year, the program was available either fully online or in person at the New England Innovation Academy.

WHEN: Three weeks in July

WHO: 251 rising high school juniors and seniors from 24 countries

BABSON BUILD

WHAT: An experiential learning program for university students, Babson Build is designed to help entrepreneurs think and act through the Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® methodology, as well as test their insights in business simulations and pitch competitions.

WHEN: One- or two-week sessions in June and July

WHO: More than 280 program participants from 33 institutions and 19 countries

SUMMER VENTURE PROGRAM

WHAT: A signature program presented by the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, SVP is an intensive experience at Babson Boston for participants to build their entrepreneurial skills and accelerate their ventures. WHEN: 10 weeks from May through July

WHO: 20 undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni, representing 14 businesses

BABSON COLLEGE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

RESEARCH PROGRAM & CONFERENCE

WHAT: Founded by Babson in 1981, BCERC, the premier entrepreneurship research conference in the world, returned to the Wellesley campus for the 45th annual event.

WHEN: Three days in June

WHO: 291 entrepreneurial scholars from 24 countries gathered together as more than 249 research papers were presented.

BABSON FINANCIAL LITERACY EXPERIENCE

WHAT: In partnership with the Babson Financial Literacy Project, this program on the Babson Miami campus teaches high school students how to manage their finances through interactive workshops and real-world case studies.

WHEN: Two days in June

WHO: 38 high school students, primarily rising juniors and seniors from more than 20 high schools, representing Miami-area, out-of-state, and international schools.

on hand for lunch, so the Bulgarians can partake of their preferred caffeinated beverage.

Funded by the America for Bulgaria Foundation, the 17-day program seeks to hone the leadership and entrepreneurship skills of Bulgarian professionals aspiring to make a difference in their communities. To do that, LEAP participants are encouraged to break down the societal barriers that exist in a country where one’s professional networks are often small and isolated. The group is split between those from nongovernmental organizations and the public and private sectors.

Having this opportunity to have all of us here, we nd how we can help each other to make our communities better.

Ahmed Mehmedov municipal official from Sevlievo, Bulgaria

“They learn to collaborate among the sectors and among each other,” says Kim Sawyer, special advisor for international corporate strategic engagement at Babson and co-faculty director of LEAP. “To have the biggest impact, you need to have everybody collaborating together.”

Ahmed Mehmedov understands how interconnected Bulgaria’s different sectors are and how collaboration is needed between them. A municipal of cial, he hopes to build public–private partnerships in rural Bulgaria to foster economic development. “Babson has the know-how to bring sectors together,” he says. “Having this opportunity to have all of us here, we nd how we can help each other to make our communities better.”

Kalina Boyadzhieva works for the World Wildlife Fund Bulgaria. “The cause is very important to me,” she says. Like Mehmedov, she knows that complicated societal initiatives,

PHOTO: MICHAEL QUIET

such as the protection of wildlife, require cooperation between people and organizations. “The issue is huge,” she says. “You need allies in that.”

Close to 700 people applied for LEAP, making it a highly competitive program. A director of impact assessment at the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Ivo Bossev is excited about what this group will accomplish in the country. “It is hard to predict what will come of it, this brilliant mix of people,” Bossev says. “What will happen if we leverage all these connections, if you make people collaborate?”

The LEAP participants all have their own goals and dreams for the future, which they hope to achieve through the program’s help. Inna Tsaneva serves as a mayor and wants to be a better communicator, while Petar Dyaksov is a serial entrepreneur who wants to be a better mentor. “I want other people, especially young people, to be a better version of themselves,” Dyaksov says. Petko Ivanov’s focus is on children. He works for Teach for Bulgaria, which aims to provide a quality education for

all students. “For me, it is important to have the most impact on children as possible,” Ivanov says.

Dilyana Deneva wants to improve accessibility in Bulgaria. A partner in a marketing agency and its COO, Deneva uses a wheelchair after a car accident left her disabled at 18 years old. “I want to be given the opportunity to make value,” she says. “I hate being seen with pity.”

As a whole, LEAP participants envision a thriving Bulgaria, one that is more connected and innovative, more encouraging and empowering. Deneva is inspired by them. “I always dreamed of belonging to a group with the same values and aspirations,” she says. “Here, I see many people wanting to give back to their communities.”

That desire—to give back, to in uence, to make change—is ultimately a de ning feature of a summer at Babson. “This is what motivates me and drives me,” says Nayden Rashkov, director of Amnesty International in Bulgaria. “It’s how I see my purpose in life.” 

The Leadership Education in America Program (above and opposite page) seeks to hone the leadership and entrepreneurship skills of Bulgarian professionals aspiring to make a difference in their communities.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL QUIET

A LEGACY ETCHED IN

In a ghost town within Gloucester, Mass., College founder Roger Babson’s life lessons endure on boulders engraved with mottos adopted by every incoming undergraduate class.

NEVER TRY NEVER WIN. BE ON TIME. IF WORK STOPS, VALUES DECAY. Deep in a forest on the outskirts of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in an abandoned area known as Dogtown, these mottos—26 in all—are inscribed in stone.

The display draws travelers, historians, and first-year Babson students, who use the carvings to pick a motto for their class every year.

That’s because the mottos on this maze of boulders were created by Babson College founder Roger Babson, who grew up near Dogtown and went on to forge his fortune in the stock market. During the Great Depression, the eccentric, selfmade millionaire enlisted unemployed Finnish stonecutters to carve his own favorite personal and business proverbs into rock on his property.

It was an entrepreneurial idea that encapsulated his originality. But, like many entrepreneurial ideas, it was considered audacious at the time. Locals, many of whose families had settled in Gloucester alongside Babson’s ancestors in the 1600s, were aghast. Babson was known as unconventional, but this took the cake.

One longtime resident, Leila Webster Adams, complained to the press about Babson’s unseemly enterprise encroaching upon her property.

“Why, the idea of a man like Roger Babson, so well-known and popular, going about carving such things … whoever heard of such foolish notions?” she huffed.

But it was on-brand for Babson, who was known for unusual but prescient ideas. He forecasted economic disaster in a 1929 speech on Babson’s campus; the market tumbled and sparked the Great Depression later that week, a cascade later known as the Babson Break.

Babson also didn’t mind defying norms. He ran for president on the Prohibition Ticket long after Prohibition was abolished, says his cousin, Trustee Emerita Katherine “Gig” Babson Jr. MBA’77, H’99.

“When I was growing up, he also funded a program once a year that would provide $1 per Bible verse that a kid memorized, up to $100,” recalls Gig Babson, now a family historian, genealogist, and author.

“You look at the themes that are illustrated by the mottos on the rocks and get a good sense of what was important to him,” Gig Babson adds. “Initiative was a big deal. Ideals, studying, staying out of debt. They’re all things that I think reflect his personal sense of morality and what he hoped to find in people.”

Story by Kara Baskin / Photos by Nic Czarnecki

A cousin of College founder Roger Babson, Trustee Emerita Katherine “Gig” Babson Jr. MBA’77, H’99, who also is a family historian, genealogist, and author, visits the Babson Boulders in Gloucester with her dog Flossy.

GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

DOGTOWNROAD

TRAINTRACKS

MOTIVATING MOTTOS

Today, the boulders signal to Babson students that they’re to begin a singularly unconventional adventure. There is a treasure hunt quality to finding each one that parallels business discovery: Lessons are only learned when you hunt and seek.

Conor O’Brien, Babson’s associate director of student engagement, oversees the first-year boulder experience during undergraduate orientation every August, when the chosen quote is announced to the class and their families at the Len Green Recreation and Athletics Complex.

Incoming students vote on their choice over the summer, before arriving on campus. Over the years, “Never Try Never Win” is a popular choice, as are “Be True” and “Initiative.”

Some are quirkily antiquated—“Be Clean,” for instance, is something that every first-year student might hope for a roommate—but others, such as “Keep

Out of Debt,” still resonate strongly in the business world, O’Brien says.

“Many speak to the industriousness that we see on campus, as students compete with themselves for the best business ideas. They speak to the Babson student mentality,” O’Brien says. “I’d love to see a class take on one of the more unique ones.”

Once voting is complete, students also are given stress balls adorned with their class motto. Miniature versions of

the boulder, with the winning saying, are distributed after the winner is announced.

During orientation, upperclassmen also speak to first-year students about the significance of their choice. Peer mentor Tarynea Aggarwal ’27 recently presented to an incoming class about her class’s directive: “Be True.”

“We were 15 years old when COVID hit the world. With the changes that high school already brings, having to see the world shut down and then open back up was a change no teenager should have to go through,” Aggarwal explains. “Yet, despite these challenges, we made our way to Babson, by being true to who we were, and that was what we sought our North Star to be. Throughout my time at Babson, I’ve faced countless personal, professional, and academic challenges. But the best opportunities have come to me when I stayed true to who I am, and who I want to be proud of.”

Katherine “Gig” Babson Jr. MBA’77, H’99 hikes the trail of boulders, which were inscribed with mottos created by her cousin, Roger Babson, during the Great Depression.

LIVING HISTORY

The motto process helped to connect Aggarwal to her peers before even starting classes, she says. Aggarwal is pursuing a business analytics and technology entrepreneurship concentration, and she chose Babson to be true to herself and her goals.

“The College’s emphasis on innovation, hands-on learning, and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset really resonated with me,” she says. “Babson is all about giving you realworld experiences, and that’s exactly what I was looking for.”

With the motto, she felt plugged in with like-minded peers.

“By giving us the opportunity to vote on a boulder that will represent our class, they not only promote a sense of belonging and community but also made us feel valued. By voting on a boulder as a class, we were also taught that power lies in numbers, and I truly believe that my class picked well. This process made me realize that learning at Babson started way before any FME class,” Aggarwal says, referencing the

College’s signature Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship course for first-year students.

Meanwhile, Gig Babson honored her ancestor’s legacy with Pippi Rocks, a 2023 children’s book about the boulders’ lessons interpreted through the eyes of her mischievous black Labrador retriever, Pippi. Her book, a popular keepsake at local book shops, adds some modern touches, with updated mottos referencing kindness and love.

She acknowledges that her quirky cousin’s endeavor was peculiar at the time. But, like many ambitious ideas, it has aged well.

“I think everybody can learn from those mottos. Isn’t it great that you can go way out in the woods and see that somebody was inspired enough to say: ‘This is the Depression. People are out of work. Let’s get them working, and let’s find a place where we can put these mottos so people can come and visit?’” she says. “I think they’re quite remarkable myself—and, as I grow older, I appreciate them more.” 

An enduring inspiration for incoming first-year students, the Babson Boulders also served as inspiration for Katherine “Gig” Babson Jr. MBA’77, H’99 (above and opposite page), who wrote Pippi Rocks, a 2023 children’s book about the lessons of the boulders through the eyes of her previous dog.

COURTING SUCCESS

With championships and top-tier recruiting classes, Babson Director of Tennis Michael Kopelman has overseen the transformation of the men’s and women’s programs into national powerhouses.

The ultimate goal is for us to win a team national championship.

— Michael Kopelman, director of tennis

With a pair of women’s doubles national championships, a first NCAA Elite Eight appearance for the men, and top-tier recruiting classes, the Babson tennis programs have undergone a transformation since Michael Kopelman was hired as coach of both teams in 2018.

Now the director of tennis and head men’s coach, Kopelman oversees two of the best tennis programs in the country.

“When you have confidence in yourself, the school, and the athletics department, you set a goal of what you want to accomplish,” Kopelman says. “Getting to that point and accomplishing it are a little bit different, but I’m appreciative of the support we’ve received. We want to continue to grow and push forward.”

After a successful playing career at Boston University, Kopelman was an assistant coach at Bentley and Brandeis before coming to Babson as a oneperson coaching staff for both the men’s and women’s teams. Alan Dubrovsky joined the men’s program as associate head coach three years ago, and Emma Hall began as the head women’s coach two years ago, when Kopelman became

the director of tennis and head men’s coach.

“For our student-athletes, having three full-time coaches is incredible,” Kopelman says. “The coaches both work extremely hard and are passionate about our teams and student-athletes. We continue to recruit at a high level and bring in individuals who can succeed academically and also want to improve as tennis players.”

Top recruits now are taking Babson more seriously. Previously, Kopelman needed to persuade potential recruits that good things could happen, but now the staff can point to an impressive track record. Prospective players want to be a part of the program success while contributing to the Babson tennis legacy.

That legacy took a major leap this past year. Olivia Soffer ’25 and Matia Cristiani ’26 repeated as women’s doubles national champions (see more, Page 5), and the men’s team defeated MIT for the conference championship for the first time en route to a 22-3 record and its first national quarterfinal appearance in the NCAA tournament.

In the national rankings, the men rose as high as 10th (a program best)

this year, and the women reached ninth two years ago and 14th this year. The women’s recruiting class for this fall was ranked fourth in the country and the men’s eighth.

In addition to noting their on-court success, Kopelman singles out the importance of their players being motivated to do well academically, as evidenced by the teams’ strong

GPAs and Brady Anderson ’25 earning either program’s first College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honor this spring.

Despite all the achievements by both programs, there remains one box unchecked.

“The ultimate goal is for us to win a team national championship,” Kopelman says. “The men beat two

top-10 teams this year and made it to the final eight, and the women reached the NCAA Sweet 16 two years ago, so we’ve been rapidly improving. We’ve had individual success for the women, and the next big-picture goal is to win a team national title. We have the right people in place who are willing to work hard and put the time in to make that happen.”

— Scott Dietz

Director of Tennis Michael Kopelman (top left), also the head men’s coach, has overseen a tennis renaissance at Babson. Matia Cristiani ’26 and Olivia Soffer ’25 (bottom left) have won two consecutive doubles national titles, and the men’s team—led by Academic All-American Brady Anderson ’25, advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament for the first time this spring.

ADV ANCEMENT SPOTLIGHT

Helping Hands

By Eric Beato

Babson College provides more than just a world-class education and career opportunities. Through the generosity of its alumni and other donors, the College supports every facet of the student experience, including competitions, professional and personal needs, and anything else that comes up.

Babson College alumni graduate with much more than a degree from one of the very best colleges in the country. They graduate with a collection of experiences—ups and downs, classes and camaraderie, memories and moments—that prepare and embolden them for the future as entrepreneurial leaders.

Those experiences are fueled by more than just their tuition and room and board or even their scholarships. In many cases, they are possible only because of the helping hands of those who went before them.

“Without philanthropy, Babson wouldn’t be Babson, period. End of conversation,” says Gerri Randlett, the assistant vice president for alumni engagement and annual giving. “Babson does a lot with its tuition money. We have incredible faculty, we have an incredible (campus), lots of resources for our students, but those extra things really make Babson.

“The things that make Babson so unique, and why Babson is constantly excelling, and why Babson is No. 2 (in The Wall Street Journal rankings), it’s because of all these extras that we can do, because of our incredibly generous community.”

Here are just three examples of the experiences that enrich students’ professional and personal development that are supported by the generosity of alumni and friends of the College.

Sandler Family Professional Attire Program

Sheikha Al-Otaibi ’25 needed a blazer.

The co-founder of Interlix Staffing was preparing for a conference in New York City, as well as internship interviews, and she needed another professional look.

“I was constantly working to be able to sustain myself and not let a lack of means hold me back from taking an opportunity,” AlOtaibi said. “Your first impression is your most important, and having a good presentation of yourself is so important. You need to look the part to secure the role.”

She turned to the Sandler Family Professional Attire Program, which provides support for students who need clothing for professional purposes such as job interviews, presentations, and networking events. The program began in late 2023 and already has benefited about 150 students.

The financial stipend alone is impactful, but recipients also are directed to the program’s attire partner, My Career Closet, which pairs them with a stylist and helps them pick out the right clothing.

“Students have shared with us that they have entered rooms and spaces where they don’t feel like they belong because of what they’re wearing,” says Ann McAdam Griffin, director of the

Hoffman Family Undergraduate Center for Career Development. “Having appropriate professional attire really helps students feel confident about their skills and abilities and that they belong in whatever space it is that they are entering.”

With a background in fashion, AlOtaibi knew exactly what she wanted and found a navy blue blazer with gold buttons and a pair of black leather ballet flats on sale at Zara. The classic pieces would be versatile and useful

for different types of professional settings.

“It was super impactful, especially as I was heading to New York City.

When you’re going into offices and meeting with potential clients, it is so important to put your best foot forward,” says Al-Otaibi, who still wears the blazer. “It made me feel so much more confident at the event. Going to the store and buying it, and then going to the conference and feeling my sharpest was a great experience.

“The Professional Attire Program is such an amazing opportunity that I don’t think a lot of other colleges even think about—down to what you’re going to wear,” she adds. “We focus so much on just getting the opportunity, but we don’t realize how important it is to be able to dress well without having to drop a couple hundred dollars.

Babson doesn’t want you to worry about that extra little stuff that just means so much to the other person on the other side.”

Sheikha Al-Otaibi ’25 delivered the undergraduate Commencement address in May. Read more about her:

The Gerri Randlett Got Your Back Fund

Andres Posada ’09 needed a hand.

As a sophomore, Posada and his girlfriend found out they were expecting a baby. Priorities quickly changed, and he found himself trying to graduate as soon as possible while juggling the responsibilities of being a young father. He reached out to Randlett, his class dean at the time, and she went beyond his expectations, helping him get the most of his Babson

support for unexpected needs that students may encounter.

Randlett says the fund is unique because it is available for students and alumni, noting one alumnus had reached out on behalf of an alumna whose house was destroyed in a fire. Insurance would cover the damage, but the family needed immediate help with food, clothing, and other necessities.

experience while taking care of his new family.

One of his best friends, Phil Coleman ’09, needed a different kind of support to succeed at Babson. “Gerri went above and beyond in her role as dean,” Coleman says of Randlett, who became a lifelong friend of theirs. “She didn’t just help us with course selection, study abroad, or accessibility services—she was a true thought partner who helped us navigate and get the most out of our Babson experience.”

Those experiences inspired them to create the Gerri Randlett Got Your Back Fund, which provides

“We want to make sure we have people’s backs,” Randlett says. For example, the Got Your Back Fund also has provided money for temporary housing, emergency room co-pays, winter clothing, transportation back to campus, and a plane ticket home to visit a sick father. The fund also has allowed students to participate in the Youth Entrepreneurship Program to teach entrepreneurship in Tanzania.

One of the most special Got Your Back moments occurred this past year. A student and his girlfriend were expecting a child, and they had figured out how to cover all of their expected expenses except for one: They needed a safe car to transport their baby. So, they applied to the fund and received money for a down payment.

It was a similar situation to the one Posada encountered years ago when he reached out to Randlett, inspiring the creation of the fund. Last October, Posada was on campus and arranged to meet the student. “He’s gotten really involved in this young man’s life to make sure that he continues to have a job that he needs, and the things that his family needs,” Randlett says. “It is such a full-circle moment.”

Gerri Randlett, Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving

B.E.T.A. Challenge

Ily Kynion Coulibaly MSBA’25 needed an opportunity.

A native of Cote d’Ivoire, the largest cocoa producer in the world, Coulibaly founded KYN, a sustainable skincare startup that uses upcycled cocoa byproducts to manufacture cosmetics intended to cure skin conditions such as acne, hyperpigmentation, eczema, and dark spots.

Like many Babson entrepreneurs looking to grow their venture, she entered the B.E.T.A. (Babson Entrepreneurial Thought & Action®) Challenge—the signature pitch competition of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship that is funded through generous support from the community, including alumni donations.

Coulibaly was hoping to gain valuable feedback on her company and, hopefully, some prize winnings to fuel her growth. She earned way more than she expected, winning the $25,000 grand prize in the graduate track and two special awards, collecting a total of $42,500.

“The B.E.T.A. Challenge was definitely a game-changer for both me and my company,” she says. “This allows us to do a lot of revolutionary things, sourcing new ingredients and materials, acquiring manpower, and promoting the company to a bigger scale.”

Coulibaly has big aspirations for KYN, hoping to redefine what sustainability and inclusivity are in the beauty industry, producing healthy natural cosmetics, and helping people with skin conditions, especially for women of color. “I want my business to be known worldwide three to five years from now,” she says. “I want people to know KYN the same way they know the big beauty brands like L’Oréal. That’s what I want.

“Without the generosity of the B.E.T.A. Challenge donors, I would not be here today,” Coulibaly says. “The B.E.T.A Challenge was probably my best experience here at Babson.”

CALLING ALL BABSON ALUMNI

Ily Kynion Coulibaly MSBA’25

NEWS NOTES AND NODS

UNDERGRADUATE

1978

Susan Hutchinson ’78 co-presented a dynamic, interdisciplinary wellness retreat in May at the campus of Middlesex Community College in Bedford, Massachusetts. The event included activities such as a nature trail exploration, yoga-based relaxation, introduction to Japanese floral design, and a creative writing session.

1980

Jon F Weber ’80, MBA’81, who opened a boutique firm advising those who have lent money to companies that are restructuring, recently co-wrote “Journey from Creditor to Private Equity Investor.” The article, published in the March issue of the Journal of Corporate Renewal, describes the challenges creditors face when they inherit companies, and offers advice to lenders in similar circumstances.

1983

Bill Knittle ’83 retired at the end of June after 22 years in the newspaper business and 20 years in education. He spent the past 14 years as the principal of Rowe Elementary School in Rowe, Massachusetts. Knittle plans to continue working in education in some form, while also enjoying time to kayak, read, and learn to play the mandolin.

Enrique Turégano ’83, MBA’85 writes, “When I left California in 2017 after 31 years in the advertising industry, I thought I was retiring. But come to think of it what I have done, and NEEDED to do (thus my early retirement), was change jobs from ad executive to caretaker. I moved to Spain to take care of my 94-year-old mother who suffers from dementia. Not one regret. And she’s doing fine. Regards to my Babson (#2!) friends.”

Charlie Nulsen ’79, Dave Sherry ’77, and Bob Charney ’78 (from left to right) got together April 30 at Little Moir’s Food Shack in Jupiter Beach, Florida, for a four-hour lunch, where the friends relived great Babson memories. Particularly beloved were their experiences playing Babson lacrosse, and their time spent at Coleman Hall and the Theta Chi fraternity.

Several Babson alumni—(from left) Christian Iantosca ’00, Paul Iantosca ’74, P’00, Paul Natalizio ’84, Chuck Hajjar ’86, P’25, Peter Roberti ’86, and Richard Hajjar ’25—attended the Tomorrow Nite Gala, a fundraising event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital held March 1 in Boston. The event, which raised more than $1 million, was chaired by Chuck Hajjar’s wife, Anne, who has served as the chair of the event for more than 25 years. Chuck Hajjar has served on the board of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for more than 20 years.

1986

Peter Roberti ’86 joined the Bally’s Corporation as regional vice president of finance responsible for the Rhode Island properties.

1992

Bill Chisholm ’92 wanted to clarify for his fellow Beavers that he is not the new owner of the Boston Celtics. However, he wrote, “I’m enjoying life as an executive recruiter with Hewlett Packard Enterprise.” A different Bill Chisholm, who co-founded the Symphony Technology Group, purchased the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion in March.

1995

David Cohen ’95, as CEO of the nonprofit therapy provider Doc Wayne Youth Services in Boston, is partnering with the Boston Red Sox and four local nonprofits in a program to “Changeup the Conversation” about mental health. Doc Wayne services use sports and play to support mental health and offers group and individual therapy sessions for kids and adults. The new Changeup the Conversation program, which will last one season, was officially announced May 7 at Fenway Park. Doc Wayne also was granted $100,000 in May as part of Morgan Stanley’s Children’s Mental Health Innovation

Chantal Polsonetti ’84 hosted several of her fellow Babson alumni to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in March while wearing some Babson green. From left to right: Carolyn Brzezinski ’81, Lori Sullivan ’82, Roberta (Mullen) Murphy ’83, Marti (Crompton) Johnson ’82, MBA’91, Vivian (Markoulakis) Kreig ’82, Linda MacDonald ’82, Polsonetti, Wendy (Shepherd) O’Brien ’82, Maura Walker ’80, Tina (Uhtenwoldt) Oppici ’83, Amy Cohen, Susan (Chambault) Baker ’82, and Veronica (Grant) Alger ’82. Other alumni attendees included Paul Baker ’80, Bill Downing ’80, and Jeff Johnson ’83, MBA’92

Awards. The program aims to seed fund transformative mental healthcare solutions for children across the nation. In addition to receiving the funding, each winning organization receives training from industry professionals and builds connections with other nonprofits and potential funders in the space.

2000

Ben Montano ’00 was hired last year by The Loyal Subjects toy company to be its senior vice president and general manager. The company won the prestigious Toy of the Year Award in March for a 12-inch Rainbow Brite Doll celebrating the character’s 40th anniversary in 2024. The brand seeks to tap into nostalgia and create new fans of beloved toys such as Rainbow Brite and other classic characters.

2002

Greg Berard ’02 and Dan Rashba MBA’12 were recently tapped to lead a newly formed tech investment company created by H.I.G. Capital, a leading global alternative investment firm with $69 billion of capital under management. Mainline Information Systems LLC, an existing H.I.G. portfolio company where Rashba served as CFO, acquired Converge Technology Solutions Corp. Berard, who formerly served as CEO of Converge, now serves as CEO of

Sheilagh Hamill McNeil ’86 celebrated an annual trip to Cancun, Mexico, with several of her fellow Babson classmates in April. McNeil said the trip furthered “our bond of 43 years of friendship with great conversation, good food, and pickleball.” From left: McNeil, Carolyn Fox Mula ’86, Lisa Haskins ’86, Gerri Nathan Russo ’86, Kaylee Dodge Murphy ’86, Maryellen Papelian ’86, Marianne Citro Flayhan ’86, and Linda Lackey ’86

the new company, Pellera Technologies, and Rashba serves as its CFO. Also, on the merger, Josh Weinman ’11 served as the principal from H.I.G.

2011

Josh Weinman ’11: See 2002, above.

2016

Harry Gray ’16 and Brett Ender ’17 recently launched Noble Origins, a digestion-friendly protein powder with additional essential nutrients. The pair connected while they were both training for the Ironman contest and started

Theresa Conroy ’05 was named senior vice president, commercial banking relationship manager at Boston-based Eastern Bank. Conroy, who brings 20 years of commercial and industrial lending experience to regional and middle market companies, most recently served as senior relationship manager at the Middle Market Division at Needham Bank. “It is a pleasure to welcome Theresa Conroy to Eastern Bank’s Commercial Banking team,” said Greg Buscone, executive vice president and chief commercial banking officer of Eastern Bank. “She takes the time to understand the needs of her clients, is strongly committed to excellent customer relationships and analytical skills, and brings a strong commitment to our local community, and we look forward to her contributions.”

talking about the issues surrounding the food industry. The duo left their corporate jobs and launched a podcast, Meat Mafia, meant to address the biggest problems in our food system and have since recorded 400 episodes.

2017

Brett Ender ’17: See 2016, above.

2023

Skylar Jackenthal ’23 launched a new podcast, Good Grief: Life After Loss, created to support young people navigating grief and mental health challenges. The show is inspired by the loss of her older brother, Sam, and her work with a nonprofit Jackenthal co-founded in her brother’s honor, Live Like Sam. According to Jackenthal, the show explores the realities of grief, resilience, and healing, especially among youth. The first episode launched May 15. More information about the podcast can be found at the Good Grief Instagram account.

Colleen E. Heidinger ’06, president of the startup accelerator 43North, recently was selected as a 2025 Kauffman Fellow. The respected two-year leadership development program aims to accelerate the development and success of venture investors by providing them with education, networking opportunities, and mentorship. Originally from Buffalo, Heidinger is the first Kauffman Fellow selected from Western New York, and she hopes the opportunity will help further revitalize regional and economic growth in the area.

Ho ’21 (center), co-founder of Gateway, a company that accelerates onboarding and training, said the company recently won a competitive pitch event at Georgetown University. “The recognition reinforces the impact of our work in transforming onboarding and training efficiency—helping companies accelerate workforce productivity and drive real business results,” Ho said.

Max Petre ’17 and Deena Mele ’15 married on August 30 in Ravello, Italy, surrounded by several Babson alumni, some of whom served in the wedding party. The wedding date was almost 10 years to the day that the couple first met in Babson’s Campus Mail Center on the second floor of Reynolds Campus Center. Nikolai Markin ’17 officiated the wedding, and Ana Sofia Nolfo ’15 and Matthew Batista ’17 were in the bridal party. Also in attendance was Mele’s mentor, Babson Arts and Humanities Professor Elizabeth Swanson P’19, the Joyce H’22 and Andy Mandell ’61 Endowed Professor. Back row, left to right: Batista, Christian Fleming ’15, Rupam Gupta ’17, Markin, Petre, William Bermant ’17, Joao Marcelo Leao, Brenna Mulhern ’15, and Swanson. Front row, left to right: Marcelle Goldberg ’19, Tanushree Gupta ’16, Carmen Gall (Ho) ’15, Cheyenne Dean-Fleming ’17, Mele, Nolfo, and Cheska Mauban ’15

Joey Flannery ’17, Babson men’s basketball associate head coach, was selected for induction into the Small College Basketball (SCB) Hall of Fame in May. Flannery was among 12 players, coaches, and contributors chosen by the SCB Hall of Fame Committee for this year’s induction. The SCB Hall of Fame ceremony will be held October 31 in Lakeland, Florida. Flannery, the most decorated player in program history, was a two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches Division III Player of the Year and capped his career by earning D3hoops.com Player of the Year honors after helping lead Babson to the NCAA Division III national championship in 2017. He also was inducted into the Babson Athletics Hall of Fame last year.

Matilda Kocaj ’21, who was an All-American rugby player for Babson Women’s Rugby Football Club, is starring for the New York Exiles in the first women’s professional rugby league in the United States. In her second year at Babson, Kocaj helped the Beavers emerge from the New England Wide 7s Conference as champions, which led to a national title bid for a team that began playing 7s only a year prior. In that same season, Kocaj was named an allconference selection. Kocaj was inducted into Babson Women’s Rugby Hall of Fame in 2024.

MaiLinh

Synchronized ice skater Elissa Kempisty ’23, who worked at Babson’s Office of Experiential Learning after graduation, joined Les Suprêmes synchronized national skating team of Canada in May. Les Suprêmes, a renowned synchronized skating organization, is based at CPA Saint-Léonard in Montreal. The new job reunites Kempisty, who learned to skate at the age of 6 and formerly served as a member of the U.S.-based team the Haydenettes, with synchronized skating, which is a lifelong passion. She moved to Montreal in May.

GRADUATE

1981

Jon F Weber ’80, MBA’81: See Undergraduate, 1980.

1993

Ruthie Davis MBA’93 launched a new collection of luxury footwear using innovative, sustainable apple leather. The Bio by Ruthie Davis collection features two exclusive high heel designs, crafted with bio leather, a cutting-edge material made from repurposed apple waste. The collection uses Uppeal™ bio leather by Mabel Industries, a revolutionary material made from discarded apple peels, seeds, and skins—the byproducts of the apple juice and jam industries. Rather than letting the organic material go to waste, Uppeal transforms it into a durable, high-quality leather to create a sleek, high-performance alternative that aligns with the needs of conscious yet style-driven consumers.

2001

Aldo Di Rienzo MSF’01, chief financial officer of Rothschild & Co.’s alternative investing company Five Arrows, met with a group of Babson students studying abroad in London. Di Rienzo and others with Five Arrows detailed the variety of private equity funds the company focuses on and discussed internship opportunities.

2012

Dan Rashba MBA’12: See Undergraduate, 2002.

2016

Rich Palmer MBA’16 recently launched Adaptation Ventures, an angel investor group focused on disability and accessible technology. Palmer, who served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Babson from 2022 to 2024, has personal experience with disability after narrowly surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm, an experience he spoke about during TedxBabson College in 2023. Palmer, who had co-founded an AI-enabled fundraising software company, said he’s looking forward to using his lived experience to help the next generations of founders.

2024

Daniel Danes MBA’24 launched his own olive oil brand, TITIN, in April. Inspired by his great-grandmother Titin’s passion, Danes seeks to deliver high-quality olive oil made from his family’s olive groves in Spain. “We offer real, authentic extra virgin olive oil, single origin, single variety, and, most importantly, full traceability with our tracking code. We control every step of the olive oil process to ensure the best quality,” Danes wrote. TITIN is available online, and Danes plans to open a few stores in Boston and Madrid.

Jane K. Cleland MBA’78 recently wrote Beat the Bots: A Writer’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI

The book offers sciencebased creativity techniques meant to be a guide through the writing process to unlock imaginations and create compelling stories that resonate with emotional truth in ways that artificial intelligence can’t match. Cleland has written 14 novels and several books on the craft of writing, such as Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot, and Mastering Plot Twists.

John G. Peters Jr. MBA’78 recently co-wrote an article in Municipal Lawyer magazine, the journal for the International Municipal Lawyers Association. The article is titled “Understanding and Using Artificial Intelligence for Municipal Attorneys.”

CONNECTIONS

SUMMER RECEPTIONS:

Rishav Bansal ’15, Anjali Wali ’09, Neha Dharamsey, and Shikhar Dharamsey ’05

Babson alumni, students, parents, and friends of the College meet up at receptions around the world from May to August. Here are a few of the gatherings this year.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: Gautam Gupta ’07, Kunal Patel, Ashit Ghevaria MBA’13, Siddharth Nair ’09, Mayuresh Rajwadkar MBA’18, and Neoshi Chhadva ’10

SPAIN: Alfonso Pedro Fernández del Hoyo MBA’89, Romain Guilbert ’02, Adri Navarro ’24, Miguel Alcaraz Motte ’25, Alfredo Fernández Pina ’29, Francisco Diego ’84, P’24, GAB

COLOMBIA: Three generations of a Babson family—Juan Diego Martinez ’29, Mariana Palacios ’96, P’26 ’29, Carlos Palacios ’70, P’96, G’26 ’29, Camila Martinez ’26, and Diego Martinez P’26 ’29

DUBAI:

ISTANBUL: Babson Alumni Club of Turkey

GOT NEWS?

ALUMNI NEWS is in demand!

To accommodate news and photos from as many alumni as possible, please limit entries and photo captions to 50 words or less.

IN MEMORIAM

Babson Magazine has two requirements for Alumni News photos: The submitting alum must be in the picture, and the image must be at least 4 x 6 inches at 300 dpi—no digital alterations, please. We can’t promise that all submitted photos will run, but we’ll include as many as possible. Submit your latest news to the Alumni News Editor at babson.edu/nods

John “Jack” M. Daigle ’54, H’84, P’82, trustee emeritus, of Gray, Maine, died May 14. After one year at Ricker College in Houlton, Maine, he transferred to Babson, where he was president of the Student Council and salutatorian of his class, and he received the prestigious Roger W. Babson Award. He enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in banking, advancing to serve as president of Casco Bank & Trust, then managing a merger with Northern National Bank and becoming CEO of Casco Northern Corp in 1972. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in commercial science from Babson and served on the Board of Trustees.

Paul A. Frank Jr. ’49, of Akron, Ohio, April 6

John Joseph Fritz ’51, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 27

Richard Gustafson ’51, of Mystic, Connecticut, Oct. 23

John Sexeny ’53, of Winchester, Massachusetts, March 9

Nicholas Noyes Wentworth ’56, MBA’58, of Waelder, Texas, April 30

William Timothy Cashman II ’57, of Wilmington, Delaware, Feb. 20

Robert R. Severson ’57, of Houston, Texas, Jan. 28, 2024

John Michael Xifaras ’58, of Tallahassee, Florida, March 18

Rev. Ira Winsor Chace ’59, of Melbourne, Florida, May 8

Frederick Ellinger Marks ’61, of Eagle, Idaho, Feb. 20, 2024

Zera David Patterson ’61, MBA’68, of Carlsbad, California, April 3

David Samuel Rabb Sr. ’61, of San Rafael, California, Jan. 31

Lawrence “Renny” Barton Damon Jr. ’62, of Centerville, Massachusetts, April 25

John Kress Bachman ’63, of Greenwich Township, Pennsylvania, April 1

Kevin O’Neil ’63, of Jupiter, Florida, March 2

Richard D. Fritz MBA’63, of Newton, Massachusetts, March 8

Vincent Curtiss Grasso ’64, of Titusville, Florida, Feb. 12

Mark A. Mayzer ’64, of Holliston, Massachusetts, Feb. 17

David “Dave” Pope ’64, of Tampa, Florida, April 23

George Sylvester Hennessy MBA’64, of Dennis, Massachusetts, March 3

Marshall P. Farley ’65, of Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, Feb. 18

Lee Douglas Thomson ’65, of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Sept. 19

Michael Holland ’67, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Jan. 5

Charles James Kotsaftis MBA’67, of North Port, Florida, May 4

Phillip R. Delphos Jr. MBA’68, of Hopedale, Massachusetts, March 23

Perry G. Shelman ’71, of Westfield, New Jersey, on April 25

Thomas Hugh Bradford ’72, of Laconia, New Hampshire, Feb. 25

Dennis J. Brooks ’72, of Salem, Oregon, May 16

Hugh M. Beckett III MBA’72, of Boca Raton, Florida, April 25

DON’ T MISS OUT on the latest news from Babson’s community of entrepreneurial leaders. Subscribe today to our weekly newsletter!

Charlotte Ripley Sorenson, wife of Babson College President Emeritus Ralph Z. “Bud” Sorenson H’85, of Boulder, Colorado, died June 26. During her time on Babson’s campus, she was a constant and warm presence, and her generosity and hospitality fostered a welcoming community for all. In 2022, Babson recognized their contributions to the College by dedicating the Ralph Z. and Charlotte R. Sorenson Atrium in the Babson Commons at Horn Library, a space that embodies their legacy of openness and community-building.

John Thomas Regan MBA’72, of Marshfield, Massachusetts, April 23

Arthur Gordon Bishop Jr. ’73, of Bedford, Massachusetts, Jan. 21

Donald Sorrenti ’73, of Salisbury, Maryland, April 10

John J. “Jack” Dugan Jr. MBA’73, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, May 16

Richard J. McNeil MBA’74, of Rochester, Massachusetts, May 7

Alan T. Sachtleben MBA’74, of Chatham, Massachusetts, March 30

Gordon Stewart Dalrymple ’75, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, March 4

David James Kennedy ’75, of Bellingham, Massachusetts, March 22

John H. “Jack” Parker Jr. MBA’76, of Waltham, Massachusetts, March 6

James (Jim) Edward Whalen MBA’77, of Burlington, Massachusetts, March 8

Craig Edward Brodie MBA’78, of Hudsonville, Michigan, March 29

Leighton Michael O’Connor ’80, MBA’82, of Manchester, New Hampshire, May 14

Brian Lanigan MBA’82, of Freeport, Maine, Feb. 26

Richard V. McDermott Jr. MBA’82, of Norwood, Massachusetts, March 1

Susan Robin Bader ’84, of Boston, Massachusetts, May 16

John Peter Viliesis ’84, of Nashua, New Hampshire, April 11

Suzanne McWilliams McLaughlin MBA’87, of Medfield, Massachusetts, April 26

Howard S. Brown ’88, of Framingham, Massachusetts, May 31. (Read more, Page 40.)

Daniel Charles Rose ’89, of Sandpoint, Idaho, May 12

Spencer Ewart McNeil MBA’92, of Port Isabel, Texas, March 15

Scott G. Lavoie ’93, of West Boylston, Massachusetts, March 29

Grad Rosenbaum MBA’93, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Feb. 18

Mark D. Capuano ’96, of Cranston, Rhode Island, April 25

Jon B. Cevario ’96, of West Kittanning, Pennsylvania, April 18

Robert Stuart Wittmann MBA’05, of Hingham, Massachusetts, April 27

Daniel Edward Warn MBA’09, of Needham, Massachusetts, April 1

César Colón ’13, of Dallas, Texas, Feb. 3

Always Shining Brightly and Always Giving Back

HowardBrown ’88, the former Babson trustee and president of the Babson Alumni Association— now Babson Alumni Advisory Board (BAAB)—passed away in May after a hard-fought battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Previously a two-time cancer survivor, Brown published his memoir, Shining Brightly, in 2022, re ecting on his journey and his Babson experiences with his unique optimism. This Q&A with Brown is excerpted from an article published in September 2022 on Babson Thought & Action:

What do you hope readers take away from your memoir?

“The major takeaway from the book is that we can all shine our light brightly to make the world a better place. We do this by lifting up ourselves via self care, then lifting up others in their time of need, and then we share our light together to be a force multiplier for healing, kindness, positivity, with action and sharing hope.”

Your experience as a two-time cancer survivor is moving and inspiring. What advice do you share with others facing similar circumstances?

“We all get knocked down in business, relationships, health, and in life. I have been knocked down hard by two Stage IV cancer diagnoses, treatment, and survivorship 26 years apart. The lesson I learned is: It is not how much more I can get out of life, but how much more I can give! I

A look at entrepreneurial leaders shaped by their Babson College experience.

REMEMBERING THE UNIQUE OPTIMISM AND IMPACT OF FORMER TRUSTEE HOWARD BROWN ’88

worked hard on my mental toughness, physical shape, and tried to limit negativity as I was focused to ‘get busy living again.’ We cannot go through life or any malaise alone. We must reach out to others to help lift you up in your time of need. Once you get back on your feet, it’s time to lift up others. I call that sharing your light.”

What impact did Babson have on you, and why is it important for you to give back?

“Babson College changed the entire trajectory of my life. … I tried to maximize my time at Babson. I played basketball; I did internships and made lifelong friendships that are as close as ever today. Then, I decided to give back to Babson. … The book title is from my introduction of then-President Kerry Murphy Healey as the rst woman president of Babson College. She was about to

give the annual State of the College Address to the alumni association, and I had everyone put on Babsonmonogrammed sunglasses and said, ‘The Babson Alumni Association is “shining brightly” here today.’ Lastly, I have given back to Babson, but I have received so much more in return. When I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic colon cancer in 2017, Babson came to support me and my family in innumerable ways. I highly recommend getting involved and volunteering at Babson. There is so much to learn and share, and so many opportunities to make new friends and business relationships.”

— Eric Beato

Howard Brown ’88, who served as a Babson trustee and as board president of the Babson Alumni Association, passed away in May.

Discover new ways to learn, with the same world-class expertise you already know

Whether you’re looking to upskill or want to engage your entire team, leverage your Babson community in innovative ways with our Professional and Executive Education’s new suite of flexible, practical programs.

Dive into the most in-demand capabilities, from big data and AI to resilience, leadership, and creative thinking.

Offerings include:

NEW! Self-paced online courses through Babson On-Demand™

Live online and in-person offerings

Custom professional development programs for teams

Start earning credentials today!

babson.edu/Summer2025

QUESTIONS?

Tammy Gage, Business Development 781-239-4443 courses@babson.edu