The Bridge - July 2005

Greetings to All WPI Alumni

Thank you for the honor of serving as your association president for the next two years. You and I owe many thanks to past president Fred Costello '59, to an outstanding group of alumni volunteers, and to the Alumni Office staff for leaving the organization in such excellent shape.

In addition to our commitment to assist WPI in achieving the objectives of the Board of Trustees and President Berkey, other objectives under consideration for the cabinet for the next year include further advancing the career development program, strengthening the regional alumni club program, and providing more defined roles for the Class Boards of Directors and the Alumni Leadership Council.

I would certainly appreciate input and participation from each of you on achieving these objectives and other initiatives you might suggest. Please contact me or Pam DiScipio in the Alumni Office with your thoughts; just send an e-mail to alumni-office@wpi.edu.

Morgan (Mo) Rees '61

Question Of The Month

There is controversy over whether the Earth is getting warmer, what role human activity (such as the burning of fossil fuels) plays in climate change, and what steps the United States should take and how much it should spend to address global warming. To register your opinion on this important issue, visit the alumni home page.

Results of the June Question

Eighty years ago, the famous Scopes "monkey trial" put the teaching of evolution before the courts. Today some states are requiring or considering requiring the teaching of alternatives to evolution in the public schools. What is your opinion on this issue?

216 readers responded. Here's what they said:

WPI News Alerts

Volunteers Needed for Career Mentoring Program

Launched in October 2004, the Alumni Association's Career Mentoring Program has helped WPI alumni in their quest for new employment or new careers. Our report in the June issue on a recent success story prompted a number of readers to contact the program seeking assistance with their careers. To meet the demand, we need volunteers to serve as mentors. All that's required is an interest in helping other alumni; WPI will supply the materials and structure you need. Learn more about how the mentoring program works: alumni-office@wpi.edu or 508-831-5600.

London Bombings Highlight Focus on Global Safety

Like many other world events, the recent bombings in London shone a spotlight on WPI's commitment to assuring the safety and security of the hundreds of WPI students who travel overseas each year with their faculty advisors to complete projects at 20 sites on five continents.

The students and faculty member who had been in London this summer were back home at the time of the bombings, as were all other students who had taken part in summer projects. Their whereabouts were quickly determined by staff in WPI's Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division, who shared the news with the campus community and concerned parents and friends. The IGSD's risk management and global safety programs were the subject of a story in the Spring 2005 issue of "Transformations." Read the story to learn more about how the university works to keep its students safe and secure when they go out into the world to do their required project work.

Donald Peterson Elected Chair of Board of Trustees

Donald K. Peterson '71, chairman and CEO of Avaya Inc., has been elected the 20th chairman of the WPI Board of Trustees. He succeeds F. William Marshall, who had served as chairman since 2003. In 2002, Peterson was recognized as CEO of the Year by Frost & Sullivan, a strategic marketing consulting and training firm. "Don Peterson's impressive career of achievement and entrepreneurial leadership, in roles of global reach and profound importance to the communications industry, makes him extremely well suited both to lead this distinguished university and to provide a standard against which our students can model their own career aspirations," WPI President Dennis Berkey said. Read the full news release.

President Berkey Honored by His Alma Mater

President Dennis Berkey recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1974 with a Ph.D. in mathematics. The award recognized Berkey for his career as a leader in higher education; he was among five alumni who were feted last month at the 16th annual McMicken College Awards Dinner. Read the news release.

WPI Names New Teaching Technology Fellows

WPI's Academic Affairs and Information Technology divisions recently announced the recipients of the 2005-07 Teaching Technology Fellowships. During the two-year program, fellows learn to make effective use of information technology in their teaching to enhance student learning. In the first year they discuss learning strategies, share teaching experiences, test course materials, and develop projects. In their second year they implement and evaluate their projects and present their results to the WPI community. Read more about Teaching Technology Fellows.

Turgeon Appointed to NERCOMP Board

Penny Turgeon, director of WPI's Academic Technology Center and the Advanced Distance Learning Network, was recently appointed to a two-year term on the board of trustees of NERCOMP (North East Regional Computing Program), the EDUCAUSE affiliate in northeast. She was also asked to co-chair NERCOMP's 2006 annual conference. You can learn more about NERCOMP on their Web site.

Alumni Events

View the complete listing of alumni events online.

Sept. 7: GOLD Committee Meeting, Campus Center, Mid-Century Room, 6:30 p.m. For more information, e-mail gold@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.

Sept. 30 to Oct. 1: Homecoming. Festivities include cookouts, the Homecoming parade, varsity football vs. Hobart College, soccer vs. Babson College, and Reunions for the Classes of 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005. For help in planning your Reunion, contact Pam DiScipio in the Alumni Office, discipio@wpi.edu.

Dec. 3: "The Lion King" at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Limited number of seats available for $62.50 each; tickets must be purchased by July 26. Visit our Web site to purchase tickets. For more information, contact the Alumni Office at 508-831-5600 or regional-events@wpi.edu.

Dec. 17: "Wicked," at the Bushnell Theatre in Hartford. Limited number of seats available for $57.50 each. Tickets must be purchased by October 14. Purchase them on our Web site. For more information, contact the Alumni Office at 508-831-5600 or regional-events@wpi.edu.

University Events

View the complete listing of campus events online.

Through Aug. 19: The Portrait: Index of the Heart, an exhibit of works by Nilgun Yilmazipek Sarioglu, Gordon Library 3rd Floor Gallery. Learn more online.

July 25 to July 29: Co-ed Soccer Camp and Girls Elite Soccer Camp: summercamps@wpi.edu, 508-831-5243, or visit their Web site.

Aug. 1 to Aug. 5: Co-ed Basketball Camp. Contact summercamps@wpi.edu or 508-831-5243, or visit their Web site.

Aug. 1 to Aug. 5: GEMS Jr., a residential science and technology program for middle school girls. For more information, contact Diversity and Women's Programs at diversity@wpi.edu or 508-831-5819, or visit their Web site.

Aug. 25: First day of classes, A Term.

Bookmarks

We'd love to hear your suggestions or comments. Please send them to us at thebridge@wpi.edu.

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Last modified: Aug 11, 2006, 10:05 EDT