Previous Community Messages

Dear Babson Community:

Over the next two months, we will return to Babson’s campuses for the 2020-2021 academic year. We know it will look and feel different, but I am energized by our plans for fall and look forward to welcoming you back to Babson.

Today, I am writing to share details about the academic experience. We are sharing decisions as they are made and have already communicated some important changes, including a modified academic calendar. That information, and the details shared below, have been incorporated into our comprehensive return to campus plan, which will be released next week.

Learning together will be different this fall. Most classes will include a mix of face-to-face class time and online learning, with a smaller number of 100% online classes. Building on two decades of successful distance learning, and the lessons learned from our virtual campus experience this spring and summer, we have engineered our courses to capture the full potential of technology-enhanced learning while enabling safe physical distance. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, will have two primary choices for fall class formats—hybrid and fully online:

• Hybrid Classes: Hybrid classes blend face-to-face, in-person instruction with technology. These classes are designed to maximize your in-person experience in creative ways that still allow for proper distance at all times. Throughout the semester, faculty may use different delivery strategies at different times—teaching techniques such as split attendance, small groups, and blended learning. The majority of fall courses—any that are not 100% online—will be offered in the hybrid format. Hybrid classes can be attended virtually, which makes them accessible to all students, regardless of whether or not you are on campus.
• 100% Online Classes: Fully online classes provide engaging and dynamic delivery of content completely online. Classes are designed to take full advantage of technology capabilities in order to serve students who need the flexibility online instruction provides. Online courses are scheduled to begin from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET throughout the day, in an effort to provide options for students studying in different time zones. Classes will be scheduled five or six days a week.
  
  

Each of these learning formats is supported by considerable investment in technology and the virtual learning experience. This spring, when COVID-19 necessitated a move to virtual learning, 650 in-person classes quickly shifted online. The lessons learned from that experience have motivated enhancements and investments in hardware and software that will improve the academic experience and facilitate more seamless class discussion. Our faculty are participating in an intensive online teaching program and redesigning courses to be more accessible, creative, and innovative.

Things are changing, but the fundamental elements of the Babson experience remain constant. We are committed to building entrepreneurial leaders who will create scalable solutions to complex global problems, lead with empathy, and generate sustainable value across business and society. And no matter what, we will ensure that all students can make progress on their degrees, and that our campus and community remain as safe and healthy as possible.

Next week, in addition to releasing our full return to campus plan, I will mark my first anniversary as president of Babson College. It has been a tremendous and unexpected journey. I invite you to join me on Facebook Live next Wednesday, July 1 at midnight ET as I reflect on year one and look to the future.

Thank you for your continued support and flexibility as we navigate the next normal. We are moving forward together, as One Babson. I look forward to seeing you soon—online and in-person.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community:

June is Pride Month, and despite our physical distance, this is a time to celebrate, learn, build community, and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance.

I listened with rapt attention to the intense, emotional and enlightening keynote speech from Dave Childers ‘83 on the origins of Babson’s Gay and Lesbian Alliance (BGLA), now known as Pride, at our Lavender Graduation in May. During the 1981-1982 academic year, a student set up a secret mailbox, “Box A,” in the mailroom. Students interested in joining a gay student group could write to the mailbox. Initially, no one responded, but by the fall of 1982, students began writing to Box A, and the BGLA was established. Members remained mostly anonymous, but the two co-presidents made their names public, demonstrating courageous leadership and giving the BGLA a voice. The group went on to lobby President Dill to change the College’s anti-discrimination policy to include “sexual orientation.”

There have been many historic advancements in the movement for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion since the early days of the BGLA. A significant victory came just last week, when the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This is important progress, but there is more to be done. We must continue to be active advocates and champions for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Babson is committed to this work, and our LGBTQ+ and Ally community members are leaders in our efforts. The Office of Multicultural and Identity Programs leads much of our programming and community-building throughout the year, and is a tremendous resource for students, faculty and staff. Tomorrow, our LGBTQ+ Alumni Affinity group and Office of Multicultural and Identity Programs will host a Virtual Babson Pride Party to celebrate the culmination of Pride Month. All members of our community are invited and encouraged to come together as One Babson and join in the celebration.

As June comes to a close, I am honored to announce a President’s holiday on Thursday, July 2, in addition to the scheduled holiday on Friday, July 3. The volume and complexity of the work we have undertaken—first to transition to a virtual campus, and now to prepare for our return—is extraordinary. I am grateful for your continued diligence and collaboration, and I hope that you are able to relax and enjoy this extra time with family and friends.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community:

Today marks Juneteenth, a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It arrives at a critical juncture in the pursuit of equity and inclusion in our country—a moment when our society is collectively grappling with important concerns around institutional racism and violence against the Black community.

At Babson, our work to improve equity and inclusion is ongoing. Earlier today, our community came together for a virtual Juneteenth Celebration, and engaged in a discussion about how we will take action toward a more inclusive society and community. Our friends and colleagues spoke with strength and emotion as they reflected on the meaning of Juneteenth, placed it in the context of the ongoing fight for equality, and shared their vision for a better future. Jaylen Bell ’21, president of the Black Student Union, envisioned a day when tears of pain are transformed into tears of joy, because—through the power of entrepreneurship—we have generated solutions and achieved systemic reform. And Jane Edmonds, Babson’s Vice President of Community Programming and Outreach, inspired us to “continue to struggle for civil and human rights, and commit to active ally-ship. Each and every one of us can take a step toward justice. It is our actions that reveal what’s in our hearts and minds.”

I am proud of the way our Babson community is coming together to learn, engage and lead change. As entrepreneurial leaders, we have been trained to tackle complex issues and create innovative solutions. We have a responsibility to put those skills to use in pursuit of social justice. As Aaron Walton ’83 said during today’s ceremony, this is “a movement for progress, in progress.” I would like to thank Sadie Burton-Goss, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Amanda Strong ‘87, chair of the Board of Trustees Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and the many members of our community who came together to organize a historic Juneteenth Celebration. The collaboration among students, faculty, staff, governance and alumni to create meaningful opportunities for connection and conversation is a testament to the power of One Babson.

To continue to support this work within our community, Dean Matsuno announced last week the official launch of our Dean of Faculty, Faculty Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Development (DoF Inclusive Excellence). Chaired by Professor Tina Opie, DoF Inclusive Excellence is focused on faculty training, development, and support, and the broader learning environment faculty create at Babson. This work complements the efforts of our Diversity and Inclusion Council and the Board of Trustees Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which focus more broadly on Babson’s overall strategy. Steering committee members include: Anjali Bal, Kankana Mukherjee, Tina Opie (Chair), Mark Potter, Jerome Taillard, Sadie Burton-Goss (ex oficio), and Ken Matsuno (ex oficio). I encourage you to read more about DoF Inclusive Excellence.

This week, 650 members of our community also gathered for a virtual Community Forum. It was energizing to connect with so many of you, and I am eager to see you in person this fall. The Forum was an opportunity to discuss organizational updates announced on Monday, share progress on our strategic planning efforts, review financial measures designed to keep us fiscally healthy in FY21, and preview preparations for our return to campus. Planning for fall is a significant and evolving effort and we will share a more complete plan with the community by July 1. In the meantime, if you were unable to join the Forum, please watch the recording and continue to submit questions to healthupdate2020@babson.edu.

Our campus and community continue to grow, evolve, and collaborate in various and important ways. One Babson, moving forward together, aspiring to be better, and leading the change we seek.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community:

One year ago, we launched a strategic planning process with a clear goal: engage the Babson community to rapidly develop a strategic plan for Babson to thrive in a changing environment. At the time, today’s global health circumstances and related economic impact would have seemed unimaginable. Yet the COVID-19 experience has proven to be a real-time market test of our strategy.

Our purpose—which emerged in the strategic planning process—is to empower learners anywhere to create lasting economic and social value for themselves, their communities and the world. We do this through a market-driven, community-developed strategy, “One Babson: Entrepreneurial Leadership Impacting Ecosystems Everywhere.”

I believe COVID-19 has validated the areas of strength identified through strategic planning, and accelerated our strategic initiatives around radically re-creating our organization, owning entrepreneurial leadership, and delivering education where and when learners demand it:

• Working as One Babson—a community of faculty and staff operating as a high performance, adaptive, inclusive and collaborative organization. Delivering an entrepreneurially-inspired business learning experience for undergraduate, graduate, corporate and academic learners through our core values, offerings, experiential programs and deep expertise.
• Expanding our focus to own Entrepreneurial Leadership—a transdisciplinary and collaborative approach for learners globally to embrace accelerated change, solve problems and act on opportunities to impact businesses and communities.
• Reaching learners everywhere—where, when, and how they need it—personally, professionally, geographically and financially—through personalized and technology amplified pathways that lead to a variety of credentials and competencies.
• Scaling our impact through networks and ecosystems built and grown through a “partner first” mentality and learning agility.
• Exploring new models for learning through disciplined experimentation designed to generate rapid innovation to maximize learner success.
  
  

I have narrated a presentation that outlines the next steps in our strategic planning efforts, and highlights how we will chart a bold course forward for continued leadership at the forefront of entrepreneurship education. Agility and adaptability are key elements of our strategy. Those tenets are more important than ever as we navigate uncertainty, and we will continue to accelerate and evolve our strategy as opportunities arise.

The extraordinary engagement of the Babson community around the world has informed and strengthened the strategic planning process. Your collective input is invaluable and demonstrates the strength of our Babson network. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to Babson. I look forward to sharing the final articulation of our strategy, with more concrete plans and details, later this summer.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community:

Earlier this week, I was joined by College leaders in expressing solidarity and concern for everyone impacted by the death of George Floyd and countless others. Our community, nation and world are grappling with important and disturbing concerns about institutional racism, violence against the Black community, and injustice in our society. Like many of you, I am sad and frustrated—feelings that are compounded by the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

As entrepreneurial leaders, we are driven to solve problems, to lead with empathy, and to create solutions to complex systemic challenges. Our mission is to be the leaders of the change we seek. Our work to improve equity and inclusion at Babson is ongoing—there is more to be done. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to facilitate critical discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion. For now, this dialogue will happen virtually. This fall, when we return to campus, those conversations will take place face-to-face. I fully recognize that action must result from these discussions. We will thoughtfully and purposefully advance initiatives that support our community.

We continue to plan and prepare for the Fall semester and our anticipated return, guided by two principles: the health and wellbeing of our community and maintaining academic continuity for our students. A comprehensive plan for our return will be shared by July 1, though we do expect that plan to evolve over the summer, taking into consideration progress made on the Reopening Massachusetts plan and the continued guidance and recommendations from the CDC and other public health authorities. In the meantime, I want to share several key decisions that are central to our planning efforts:

Undergraduate Academic Calendar:

An important strategy for maintaining our community’s health is minimizing interactions outside of our campus community throughout the semester. Risk increases for everyone when large numbers of students leave our contained campus environment, return and interact with one another, and again return to their home communities. Therefore, we are modifying the undergraduate academic calendar in a way that will limit our collective exposure while providing a full semester of instruction. Changes include:

• Early start: classes will begin on Monday, August 24. We will communicate new information about move-in dates as details are solidified.
• Early end: classes will end on Thursday, November 19, prior to Thanksgiving break.
• Students will not return to campus between Thanksgiving break and the end of the semester.
• Final exams will take place virtually between Monday, November 30 and Saturday, December 5.
• Classes will be held on Labor Day (September 7) and Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day (October 12).
  
  

We continue to plan for a variety of circumstances and teaching modalities this fall. In addition to on-campus classes, all courses will also be delivered virtually. This WebFlex model will allow students the flexibility to move between face-to-face and online learning as needed throughout the semester. Additionally, class times may change slightly to allow more time between classes and less congestion during transitions. Students will begin to receive follow up communications from Student Life with additional information in the weeks ahead.

Education Abroad:

We made the difficult decision to suspend fall 2020 education abroad programs. We know that this is deeply disappointing for many of our students, but safety is our top priority. We have reached out directly to students impacted by this change, and encourage anyone with questions about study abroad, or re-registering for fall classes, to contact the Glavin Office or your Class Dean.

Graduate Academic Calendar and Registration:

All graduate classes will start on Monday, August 31 as scheduled. The Graduate School’s course registration will open the second week of July—an email regarding registration will be going out early next week. We continue to plan for a variety of delivery methods, and course formats may shift based on evolving public health requirements, with the expectation that all courses will be delivered face-to-face.

Ongoing Planning and Opportunities to Connect:

We are committed to sharing important decisions as they are made. We will share a full return to campus plan by July 1, but in the meantime, we invite you to join us at upcoming Community Forums where we will preview the fall semester, and give an update on decisions that have been made and what is still to come.

• Undergraduate Students and Families: Thursday, June 11 at 11 a.m. ET
• Faculty and Staff: Wednesday, June 17 at 9:45 a.m. ET
• New Undergraduate Students and Families: Thursday, June 18 at 11 a.m ET
• Graduate Students: To be scheduled for mid-July
  
  

We continue to thoughtfully and diligently prepare for our return to campus, and I am energized both by our developing plan and by the prospect of being together again as a community. We have many details to plan and prepare, and our teams are working to ensure progress continues as information evolves over the weeks and months ahead. I look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming Forums. Thank you for your continued flexibility and support.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community:

Since late last year, we have been engaged in an organizational assessment and design process to ensure Babson is positioned to successfully advance our strategy. This assessment was informed by our strategic planning task forces and a subsequent process led by outside partner, Excalibur. Most recently, more than 200 faculty and staff members shared important inputs about evolving Babson organizationally.

Together with a cross-functional advisory group, I am synthesizing these inputs to determine ways to evolve our organization and advance our strategy with the following priorities: 1) optimizing the institution to promote learner success; 2) taking a “One Babson” approach to becoming a high performance, collaborative, inclusive and agile organization, and; 3) becoming flatter, nimbler, and more cost-effective to positively impact the business model.

In addition to task force recommendations and input provided by Excalibur, our design decisions are guided and informed by learnings from our response to COVID-19, including:

• The importance of academic and business continuity to optimize learner success, especially as we contend with unprecedented challenges as a result of the pandemic;
• Reducing hierarchy to empower and bring decision-making authority closer to the ground level, where the actions are taken;
• Increasing agility to enable organizational units to quickly act on opportunities and quickly pivot as needed;
• Eliminating redundancies and inefficiencies; and
• Reducing cost to be economically responsible for resource allocations.
  
  

As we work to conclude our efforts and align our organization for optimal success and efficiency, I want to share important transitions taking place over the weeks and months ahead.

We have previously announced that Dean Rollag and Dean Lapp will transition to new roles at and beyond Babson. I want to convey my gratitude to both Keith and Ian for their leadership, their many contributions to our Graduate and Undergraduate schools, and their steadfast commitment to the Babson community. Please join me in wishing them great success in their next endeavors—Keith as he returns to teaching as Professor of Management, and Ian as the next Provost of Wentworth Institute of Technology.

I also want to share that Mark Rice will be stepping out of the Provost role effective July 1. Mark has decided to return to teaching as part of the Entrepreneurship Division in the fall. I will continue to rely on Mark as a Special Advisor and as the leader of our academic continuity planning effort for the fall. Mark has been a trusted partner, advisor and friend to Babson—and to me, personally—for many years. His return to Babson was the ultimate opportunity to bring together his passion for the classroom with his commitment to academic innovation.

Under Mark’s leadership, we successfully completed curriculum transitions in both the Undergraduate and Graduate schools, in addition to setting the path for reemergence of Executive and Professional education. Mark was instrumental in leading the accreditation review efforts, resulting in a renewal of the College’s AACSB accreditation status. Mark’s steady and strategic guidance has led to many important changes in our academic enterprise, and I know we have benefitted from his leadership as Provost. We will share a formal farewell to Mark later this month. Please join me in thanking Mark for his leadership and friendship.

These transitions provide an important opportunity to further assess our academic leadership structure. That important work is underway and will conclude this month as we complete the organizational design process. We look forward to sharing a comprehensive update on the organizational structure by the end of June.

This is an exciting, albeit increasingly complex, moment for us as a community. I want to thank everyone who has participated in the discussions and analysis. The commitment and continued engagement in the planning efforts will help us thrive going forward.

My best,

Steve

Dear Students:

The 2019–2020 academic year elicits vast and varied emotions. Gratitude for the flexibility and resilience of our community. Concern for our continued wellbeing. Grief for a semester upended by crisis. Motivation to bring Babson back stronger and more impactful than ever. And, most immediately, anticipation about our return to campus. It can feel overwhelming, but I continue to be energized and inspired by your resiliency and support for each other.

I am writing to share our preparations for a safe and measured return to our campuses. Our intent is to welcome the majority of faculty, staff and students back to campus and to begin on-campus classes this fall. We continue to plan for scenarios that may require flexibility to move between online and face-to-face options as the situation unfolds. The planning related to a return to campus operations continues to be grounded in two principles: the safety and health of our community and continuity of the academic experience for all students.

Let me share an update on immediate next steps and ongoing planning:

• Expert Guidance and Partnership: Reopening requires a new way of life for students, staff, faculty and visitors. We have examined and are enhancing our safety protocols and operations. We are working with external experts, Environmental Health & Engineering (EHE), a leading industrial hygiene firm specializing in higher education, to help guide our decisions. EHE is providing solutions based on the most up to date public health, scientific, medical and engineering guidance. Additionally, we will continue to access expertise through our industry associations and state offices.
• Safety Guidelines and Health Monitoring Protocols: Several campus safety and health protocols are in development to ensure compliance with local reopening guidelines:
• Masks: Masks have been secured for all members of our community, and a policy will be issued for face covering as we get closer to the start of Fall semester. We will be fervently educating and reminding our community about proper mask wearing and hand washing.
• De-densification Planning: Working with our partners at EHE, we are examining all options for de-densification of buildings, including changes in classroom and residence hall capacity and altering dining areas and common spaces. This intense planning will continue for several weeks and be communicated well in advance of the semester start.
• Advanced Cleaning Protocols: Our Facilities team has deployed advanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, including use of technology that covers larger spaces with more precise targeting of disinfectant.
• Practicing Physical Distance: Physical distance has been shown to limit virus spread. We are working to determine physical distance policies in and outside the classroom, public areas and residence halls.
• Continuation of Remote Work Environment: We will continue business operations remotely, preserving resources necessary to accommodate the return to campus this fall. Students may continue to connect with staff and faculty remotely as needed throughout the summer.
• Other Strategies to Keep our Community Safe: In collaboration with other area colleges and universities and leading health experts, we are actively investigating a variety of additional tools and resources to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep our community as safe as possible.
  
  

On Thursday, June 11 at 11 a.m. ET, we will host a virtual Community Forum for students to discuss our ongoing planning efforts and timeline for critical decision-making. I invite you to join us for that session and to share questions in advance at healthupdate2020@babson.edu. Details will be shared next week.

I continue to be proud of our community’s exceptional management and response to this ongoing situation. I know the toll it has taken on so many, and I wish I could take away the fear, frustration and exhaustion with simple answers. While we may be growing weary of the constraints placed on our lives, there are positive signs of progress and we are beginning to understand what our new normal will entail. We have much work ahead. In order for us to succeed we must do the hard work together, as one community.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community:

Last week, the world witnessed an appalling act of violence in Minneapolis. The death of George Floyd represents the latest in a long, horrific, unacceptable pattern of unequal treatment and violence against the black community. We are reminded yet again of the toll that hatred and systemic racism can exact on our communities, nation and world—and the disproportionate impact on black communities and lives. Like many of you, we are angry, frustrated and heartbroken.

This incident highlights important and disturbing concerns about institutional racism and violence in our society. As entrepreneurial leaders, we are driven to solve problems, to lead with empathy, and to create solutions to complex systemic challenges. It is our responsibility to discuss and explore these issues, to listen and learn, to confront our own biases, and to speak out and lead change.

Babson is continually working to improve equity and inclusion. We are enriched by a diversity of races, cultures, backgrounds and perspectives, and united by a shared vision to create positive change in the world. This incident is a stark reminder that we must do more. As individuals and as a community, we must hold ourselves accountable to be actively anti-racist.

Pursuing equity and inclusive excellence at Babson continues to be an ongoing and important part of our collective mission. Babson’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, under the leadership of Sadie Burton-Goss, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, leads much of this important work on campus and is a tremendous resource for our community. The Council plans to communicate with our community members the resources and support services we continue to offer to be an ally to colleagues, classmates and society.

We must continuously ask ourselves: What will I do, in my own way, to become more aware of my own biases and the impact of that behavior? Every day, we should model and show respect, be accountable for our actions, and engage each other with compassion. Peaceful protests lead to new ways forward. Our mission is to be the leaders of the change we seek.

We are one community, supporting each other through an unimaginable time. One Babson. Thank you for your leadership, strength and resilience.

Sincerely,

Steve Spinelli, President
Donna Bonaparte, Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
Sadie Burton-Goss, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Andrea Lindner, Student Government Association President
James Pollard, Chief of Police and Director, Public Safety Department
Mark Rice, Provost
Lawrence Ward, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Rachel Zelcer, Graduate Student Council President

Dear Babson Community:

As I reflect on my first year as president of Babson College, I am awed by the enormity and complexity of the converging forces that have shaped the last 365 days.

When I took the helm, I was intensely focused on navigating Babson through the disruption facing higher education. My first action, the launch of a strategic planning process, was designed to prepare us to thrive in a changing environment.

A year later, the change and disruption we face—not only in the higher education industry but as a community, nation, and world—is profound, unplanned, and ongoing. It has called for us to consider what it means to truly thrive in ways we have rarely seen.

Coronavirus forced us to rapidly shift the way we teach, learn, and work. The way we live. For many institutions, the transition was insurmountable. For Babson, it was an opportunity for us to do what we do best—solve problems, create value in experiences, and lead with action.

We were fortunate to meet this moment of crisis from a position of strength, having set in motion a series of strategic initiatives that fortuitously aligned with the steps necessary to survive and re-emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 experience validated and accelerated what our strategic planning process had already identified as areas of strength on which to build.

Now, with our strategic plan moving toward implementation, and the release of Babson Together, our road map for a return to campus operations, we have created a dual pathway to a future state that will look and feel different, but will ultimately enhance the Babson experience and enable us to thrive.

As I enter my second year as president, and as we navigate the next normal together, I am motivated, energized, and confident in our ability—as One Babson—to create lasting economic and social value and have a positive impact on businesses, communities, society, and the world. I shared a reflection on Babson Thought & Action, and I ask you to take a few minutes to read it. I also shared my thoughts on Facebook Live early this morning. If you weren’t able to join, you can view the recording.

Lastly, I am proud to share that in a year marked by unexpected challenges, the Babson community rallied around our students and the College like never before, giving in record-breaking numbers. We reached our highest alumni participation rate in history (32.3%), and had more total donors than ever before (12,280+) who gave a record amount ($91+ million).

Thank you for your partnership, generosity, collaboration, and most importantly, the progress we have made together.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community: 

We are evolving our health and safety protocols to place greater emphasis on personal responsibility and risk assessment, with the health and wellbeing of our community always top of mind. 

As we approach the end of the academic year, we are making several changes to our current policies. These changes are in line with shifts across higher education. As always, our decisions are informed by public health guidance, guided by our own campus experience data, and determined with input from our consultants, Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. Let me share a few updates: 

Testing:

• The Babson Testing Center in Webster will be closed beginning Friday, May 13, and asymptomatic testing (required and voluntary) will be paused.
• Symptomatic students will continue to test via Health Services.
• Faculty and staff experiencing Covid symptoms should remain at home, contact their physician, and get a test off campus. Employees who test positive are asked to confidentially provide that information to our nurse practitioner at employeehealth@babson.edu.
• Newly arriving summer students will self-test upon arrival to campus or be tested as a result of international travel requirements.

Masks:

• Beginning May 16, masks will be welcomed, but not required, across all campus locations, including in classrooms. Masks continue to be required in Health Services. 

Vaccination:

• New students arriving on campus this summer must be fully up-to-date with Covid vaccinations.

Most importantly, anyone who is not feeling well or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 should remain at home and not come to campus.

On May 14, the Babson community, as well as family, friends and special guests, will gather on campus for our Commencement ceremonies. As a reminder, up-to-date Covid vaccination is recommended for all attendees. Individuals who are not up-to-date with Covid-19 vaccination should test in advance of attending Commencement events and must mask when indoors. Commencement volunteers may pick up an at-home Covid test kit at rehearsal or volunteer training sessions. 

Policies will continue to evolve as we plan and prepare for Fall 2022, and additional updates will be shared as decisions are made. 

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep our community healthy. I wish you a successful conclusion to the semester and hope to see many of you at Commencement.

Steve 

Dear Babson Community:

Sunday, June 19 is Juneteenth, a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States and the country’s newest Federal holiday. Babson College’s  academic and administrative operations will be suspended on Monday, June 20 in observance of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth honors the events of June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that they were free and the Civil War was over. The declaration of Juneteenth as a Federal holiday provides an opportunity to celebrate the struggles of African Americans and allies to advance civil and equal rights. This also is an important moment to double down on our commitment to live the ideals of this nation, continuing our work to advance and elevate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
 
While Juneteenth is a day for reflection and connection, it also is a day for inspiration and celebration, for pride and protest, for moving forward, and for taking action. Juneteenth is often celebrated and remembered through educational programs, performances, the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, family gatherings, and religious and secular rituals.
 
For the past two years, Babson College has commemorated Juneteenth with music, readings, and educational experiences. In the coming weeks, information will be shared about this year’s events, which will be held virtually on Friday, June 17, 2022. We look forward to seeing you then and marking this important day as a community.
 
Sincerely,
 
Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD, President
 
Sadie Burton-Goss, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
 

Dear Babson Community: 

On May 14, the Babson community will come together to celebrate the Class of 2022. Today, I am pleased to announce the exceptional entrepreneurial leaders who will share their wisdom and insights with our graduates and inspire our community. Joanna Berwind will speak at our undergraduate ceremony and Marcelo Claure will address our graduate students. Each will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Joanna Berwind occupies many roles at the intersection of business, social work, and youth development. As co-chair of the board and a trustee for the Berwind Corporation, a fifth-generation family-owned investment management company, Joanna has contributed to the company’s growth for more than 20 years through positions in corporate development, marketing, and sales. Berwind Corporation’s operating companies represent several billion dollars in enterprise value, with a significant portion of revenue derived internationally. In 2017, Joanna joined her siblings in establishing Spring Point Partners LLC, a Philadelphia-based social impact organization that invests in the transformative leaders, networks, and solutions that power community change. Through Spring Point, the Berwinds are advancing their family’s entrepreneurial legacy to center equity and achieve justice. Joanna directs and oversees strategy for Spring Point’s strengths-based youth development portfolio, The Hive.

Joanna serves as Disruptor-in-Residence at Babson and often engages in public speaking, counseling others on self-awareness, leadership, and family business dynamics. Those who have had the opportunity to connect with Joanna will tell you that she is a dynamic leader and changemaker.

Marcelo Claure is an entrepreneur and investor who has founded, grown, and transformed some of the world’s most iconic businesses. He is currently the Chairman & CEO of Claure Capital, a newly founded multi-billion-dollar global investment firm focused on public and private companies in technology, media, telecommunications, crypto, sports, real estate and other high growth sectors. From 2018 until January 2022, Claure was the CEO of SoftBank Group International and COO of SoftBank Group, the world’s largest technology investment company. During his tenure, Claure was appointed as Executive Chairman of WeWork, where he is recognized for turning the company around and taking it public in 2021. Claure previously served as Chairman and CEO of Sprint and as Chairman CEO of Brightstar, a company he founded in 1997. He serves on the board of several global organizations and is an avid philanthropist. Claure is also the president of Bolivia’s largest professional soccer team Club Bolívar, and co-owner of the Spanish soccer team Girona FC.

The Babson community was fortunate to hear from Marcelo in 2021 as part of Babson Connect Worldwide. He is a multifaceted entrepreneur with a global mindset and an extraordinary array of leadership experiences.

In addition to our Commencement speakers, the Babson community will bestow two additional honorary degrees.

Joyce Mandell, vice-chairman of Data Mail, Inc., will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws during our undergraduate ceremony. An accomplished business leader, Joyce is also a passionate documentary filmmaker and philanthropist. Joyce and her family are longtime Babson supporters and namesakes of Babson’s Mandell Family Residence Hall. They also created a chair in the English Department.

Ronald Weiner ‘66, chairman and president of Perelson Weiner LLP, Certified Public Accountants, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws during our graduate ceremony. Ron’s firm is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, their families, and their businesses. Ron is active in his communities, which include Babson. He is a graduate of the College, trustee emeritus, and currently serves as Chairman of Babson Global.

We look forward to hearing from and honoring these tremendous entrepreneurial leaders this spring. In the meantime, I invite you to read more about them on Babson Thought & Action.

Commencement is a joyous occasion. This year is particularly special as we once again welcome friends and family to campus to celebrate our graduates in person. Please continue to visit our Commencement webpage for information and updates and we look forward to seeing you—and celebrating the Class of 2022—on May 14.

Steve

Dear Babson Community:

Babson is evolving our Covid protocols with the goal of returning to near normal while continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our community. Robust Covid protocols around spring break, and high community compliance with those protocols, have positioned us to reevaluate required weekly testing.

Beginning Monday, April 4, asymptomatic surveillance testing will become optional for community members who are up-to-date with their Covid-19 vaccination and booster. Individuals who are not up-to-date with vaccination, including those with an approved medical accommodation or religious exemption, must continue to test weekly and compliance will be tracked. All vendors and affiliates, as well as in-season athletes, are also required to continue weekly testing.

Students and employees who are authorized to be on campus and are not experiencing any Covid symptoms may choose to continue testing once a week through the end of the semester, and those who travel internationally are asked to test upon return to campus. The Babson Testing Center in Webster will remain operational and on its regular schedule through the end of the academic term.

Anyone who is sick or experiencing Covid-19 symptoms should stay home and refrain from coming to campus. Students who are symptomatic will continue to test at Health Services (students who test positive off campus should notify Health Services at 781-239-6363). Faculty and staff experiencing Covid symptoms should remain at home, complete an at-home rapid test, and contact their Primary Care Physician. If you test positive off campus, please provide that information to employeehealth@babson.edu.

Employees and students who are authorized to be on campus can pick up one at-home rapid test at the Babson Testing Center for future use, as necessary. Employees who are not required to test weekly are no longer required to submit an on-campus schedule.

As always, our decisions are data-driven, informed by federal, state and local public health guidance, and made in consultation with our external consultants, Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. After this Sunday, April 3, Babson will no longer publish a testing dashboard. The CRT will, however, continue to rigorously monitor testing data, campus trends and other metrics, and will reinstate testing requirements or implement targeted policy shifts as needed.

Please continue to visit the Babson Together website for information and updates. Thank you for your ongoing work to keep yourselves and others healthy and well.

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

It brings me great pride to announce that Babson alumnus C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68 has made a transformational gift to the College in support of our strategic efforts in technology and entrepreneurship. With Dean’s generosity and commitment to his alma mater, Babson will officially launch the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Entrepreneurship and Technology. 

This groundbreaking institute will expand and focus Babson’s leading entrepreneurial education into the leadership ranks of technology and AI. It is clear that these new frontiers are impacting global business and society—deeper and faster than any business or social movement in history. Balancing the incredible potential benefits to industry, medicine, and our environment with the risks of the often-discussed loss of human control and cybersecurity will be a challenge that will confront us in the years to come and will be the cornerstone of the Metropoulos Institute’s contribution through its young leaders.

Dean has long been a passionate supporter of Babson. As a member of the undergraduate Class of 1967 and graduate Class of 1968, he knows firsthand the value of a Babson education. Dean previously served as a trustee to the College and in 2017 was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs®. Dean and his sons, Evan and Daren, have specialized in the revival and reimagination of hundreds of historic, iconic, and global brands and businesses in the food and beverage, consumer products, and other diversified sectors. Throughout their impressive career, Dean and his sons have transformed companies and accelerated revenue and earnings growth by restructuring the businesses and revitalizing and innovating iconic brands around the world.

The C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Entrepreneurship and Technology will have a substantial impact on our community’s reach and influence in the technology sector. It will build on our history of success preparing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders to change the world. The new institute will support and expand curricular and cocurricular programs that amplify the importance of technological innovation in the entrepreneurial process. With support for undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong learning programs; research and thought leadership initiatives; and bootcamps and certificate programs, the institute’s reach will be significant and impactful.

Our ability to embrace new technologies and rapidly integrate them into our academic and experiential endeavors will be critical to our success. It is inspiring to have such an innovative alumnus like Dean support our work with this exciting new venture. 

I look forward to sharing more details on the planning and launch phases for the institute. I am thankful for Dean’s generosity and strategic partnership in helping us continue to validate our place as the global leader in entrepreneurship and business education.   

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I’m proud to share that Babson College has once again been named the No. 1 MBA in entrepreneurship for the 31st consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. This exceptional recognition of the value of a Babson education builds on our successful rankings this year as the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report and the 10th best college in the country by The Wall Street Journal.

This ranking is a continued assertion of Babson’s place as the global leader in business and entrepreneurship education. To maintain such a high standard for more than three decades is commendable and underscores our community’s continued commitment to entrepreneurship.

When these rankings originated, many questioned if entrepreneurship could be taught and instead believed that the entrepreneurial mindset was a characteristic held by some, but not attainable by all. As many debated, Babson College acted. We have long asserted that not only can entrepreneurship be taught, but it must be taught.

Our distinctive entrepreneurial education prepares our learners to become ambitious, action-oriented innovators who create social and economic value for themselves and their communities around the world. The education we provide pushes the traditional classroom boundaries and challenges students to put their knowledge to practice and make impactful change in every community they’re a part of.

Today’s graduate students and recent alumni continue to carry the torch as the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders impacting change around the world. Their success is a testament to the power a Babson degree holds. Babson’s 2023 MBA graduates earned an average salary of $117,627 with average signing bonuses of $35,108. They’re leading in array of sectors ranging from technology, manufacturing, financial services, and consulting. These stellar outcomes support and affirm our place atop U.S. News & World Report’s entrepreneurship MBA rankings.

As the proud holder of a Babson MBA, I know firsthand the rigor and academic excellence rooted in Babson’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. I am encouraged and invigorated to see that longstanding tradition of excellence continue today.

I look forward to seeing how we will build on this important momentum and deepen our global impact. Know that we could not have reached this remarkable milestone without each member of the Babson community.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Commencement represents the culmination of years of hard work, recognizing both accomplishment and preparedness for new challenges. The pomp and circumstance of the day underscores how important an experience Commencement is for our graduates, their families and friends, and all who have supported them from Babson. Such an extraordinary milestone demands the participation of extraordinary entrepreneurial leaders.

I am pleased to share that Arthur M. Blank ’63, H’98 will serve as this year’s undergraduate Commencement speaker. And for the first time in Babson’s history, we will have a joint graduate Commencement address delivered by Eric Johnson ’72, P’08, Chairman of Baldwin Richardson Foods and Babson Trustee, and his daughter, Erin Tolefree, President and CEO of Baldwin Richardson Foods.

Arthur, Eric, and Erin are exemplary entrepreneurial leaders.

As the co-founder of The Home Depot, Arthur now owns and operates a large and diverse portfolio of businesses, including the nation’s largest golf retailer, PGA Tour Superstore, and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United FC. Arthur Blank’s professional and philanthropic endeavors have been substantial since graduating from Babson, and he has been distinguished by Forbes as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds. One of the College’s greatest supporters, Arthur has had a revolutionary impact on entrepreneurship education in our community.

His generosity and belief in the power of a values-driven entrepreneurial mindset helped launch The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this fall. The Blank Center has been a critical resource for Babson students. Since its inception, it has provided emerging entrepreneurs with access to vital resources and an evolving network while promoting entrepreneurial thought leadership around the world. I valued my time as the director of the Blank Center and have long admired Arthur and his commitment to Babson.

Fittingly, this year marks the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Arthur M. Blank Leadership Scholars, a program supported by Arthur’s transformative $50 million gift to establish The Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership—the home of Babson’s six world-class centers and institutes. It will be an honor to hear him address our graduates this year as they begin their next chapters.

Eric Johnson ’72, P’08 and Erin Tolefree will make history as Babson’s first joint Commencement speakers. Eric and the Johnson family have left indelible marks on the Babson community. Eric is the Chairman of Baldwin Richardson Foods Company, a company he founded and the leading manufacturer of custom food and beverage ingredients and one of the largest African American-owned businesses in the food industry.

Eric, a current Babson Trustee, has long been a passionate Babson supporter and believer in the power of entrepreneurship. As a student, he founded Babson’s Black Student Union (BSU). Today, the BSU’s living space, the Johnson House, is aptly named in his honor. Eric and his family company’s generosity has established such vital campus resources as the Baldwin Richardson Foods Term Chair, the Johnson Family Term Chair, and the Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholars Programs.

Erin has spent much of her professional career at Baldwin Richardson Foods, continuing her family’s multi-generational commitment to family entrepreneurship. She first joined the company as a National Accounts Manager after graduating from college before advancing through roles including Vice President of Sales and Executive Vice President. Throughout her career, she has masterfully navigated her family’s company through growth and production expansion.

Her management skills and “people first” leadership approach served Baldwin Richardson Foods well during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she successfully guided the company through substantial challenges in supply chain demand while prioritizing the health and safety of employees. She assumed the role of President during the first year of the pandemic and was named CEO in 2023, continuing her family’s legacy of leading with impact. Erin serves on multiple boards and is a graduate of Spelman College.

In addition to our graduate Commencement speakers, Babson will bestow two additional honorary degrees during our undergraduate ceremony:

Kerry Murphy Healey, Babson’s 13th president and former Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. During her presidency, Kerry led efforts to increase Babson’s international profile, championed women entrepreneurs, and oversaw a substantial $200 million renewal of our Wellesley campus. It will be an honor to welcome Kerry back to campus.

Harry Susilo P’96, G’24 ’26, founder and chairman of the Sekar Group, also will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Harry founded the Sekar Group, an Indonesian-based international conglomerate focusing on food production, property, and mining, in 1966. The company began as a small fishing operation in rural East Java and today employs approximately 20,000 people and exports products worldwide. I look forward to welcoming Harry to campus, though he is no stranger to Babson as the parent of an alumna, grandparent of members of the Class of 2024 and 2026, and a member of the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs®.

Commencement is the ultimate celebration of a successful academic career. I look forward to congratulating our graduates as they cross the stage on May 11 and to hearing the wisdom that Arthur, Eric, and Erin will share with our community.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

The beginning of a new semester brings with it a fresh start, a new opportunity to take stock of where we are on our entrepreneurial leadership journeys. Our momentum is historic. We accomplished a great deal together last semester. Each moment of success, challenge met, and new idea brought to life was a continued reminder of why I am proud of this special community. Thank you for contributing to a remarkable fall semester.

I reflected over the winter break on our success and what this new semester might hold for Babson. While some institutions of higher education have faced declining enrollment numbers, broad questioning of the value of their degrees, and donors reassessing philanthropic support, Babson has thrived. We’ve countered these national trends across the board.

As entrepreneurial leaders, we know that in the wake of success we must ask ourselves, “what’s next?” Entrepreneurs are perpetually aspirational. I challenge you to consider what your next big step will be this semester. No matter your role on our campus, know that you are a part of a community that is ready to support you in all your personal, professional, and academic endeavors.

All of us—students, faculty, staff, and administration—have the entrepreneurial spirit. Remember that as we collectively and individually look ahead and ask ourselves, “what’s next?”

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Each year, this day provides us with the opportunity to remember and honor the life, legacy, and impact of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King’s call for justice and equality is an enduring clarion call for fundamental human rights.

Dr. King taught us that the power to change lives is within us. I am reminded of his call to action, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” I believe that this question is central to entrepreneurship. As entrepreneurial leaders, we know that it’s our responsibility to add value to society and to consider how different approaches and perspectives can impact communities around the world.

We see that each day on our campus in the ways that we support one another on our academic and professional journeys. At Babson, we recognize and celebrate the notion that we are stronger because of our diversity of backgrounds, races, cultures, beliefs, and lived experiences. While I’m proud of that progress, I am especially mindful today of the opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting inclusive excellence and belonging at Babson.

In recognition of Dr. King’s continued influence and legacy, I invite you to gather at our 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Day on February 15, 2024, in Sorenson Center for the Arts. You can sign up for the event using the registration link below.

Register Here

This special event celebrates Dr. King and other Black leaders who continue to advocate for justice, equality, and peace today. This year, we welcome Babson alumnus and former president of the Black Student Union Wes Woodson ’20 as our keynote speaker. Since graduating from Babson, Wes has advanced as a renowned public speaker and mental health advocate. He is the author of the book I Have Anxiety (So What?) and is the founder of Wes Woodson Enterprises, a mental health education company on a mission to elevate the world’s self-esteem. Wes is a prime example of how Babson alumni can use their approach to entrepreneurial leadership to impact lives and create lasting change in society.

I encourage you to take a moment today to consider how you can use the lessons and values of Dr. King to ensure that Babson remains a community that celebrates our differences, respects one another always, and advocates for what is right.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I write with a heavy heart to share the sad news of the passing of Babson alumnus and longtime friend of the College Gustavo A. Cisneros ’68 H’19. Since graduating from Babson in 1968, Gustavo and the Cisneros family have been warm, compassionate, and generous members of our community, serving as stellar examples of the power that entrepreneurial leadership and family entrepreneurship can harness on a global stage.

A businessman from Venezuela, Gustavo led his family’s company CISNEROS for 45 years. In that time, he played a crucial role in strengthening the company’s media and telecommunications reach and successfully expanded their operations into real estate ventures while broadening the company’s philanthropic endeavors. Gustavo was the epitome of an entrepreneurial leader who sought to impact communities around the world.

He served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CISNEROS until his passing, with his daughter Adriana serving as CEO. His dedication to Babson ran deep, and he was frequently engaged with our community—a sign of his commitment to inspiring future generations of entrepreneurs to make a difference in the world. Gustavo and Adriana graciously shared their expertise often, speaking at the Centennial celebration and 2021 Babson Connect Worldwide about their family’s business and special approach to family entrepreneurship.

Gustavo and his wife Patricia Phelps played an integral role in the founding of Fundación Cisneros, a private nonprofit institution committed to improving education in Latin America and increasing international awareness of the region’s contributions in the global cultural arena.

Gustavo’s commitment to Babson was longstanding, and his impact will be felt by generations of students to come. He served on Babson’s Board of Overseers for nearly a decade beginning in 2001 and was awarded the Babson-Camus Global Family Entrepreneurship Award in 2022. This award was well deserved—Gustavo’s family counts among them 12 graduates of the College, including his late cousin and member of the Weissman Circle of Distinction Oswaldo who tragically passed away two years ago. Gustavo and Oswaldo both used their Babson educations to significantly strengthen the economy of their home country of Venezuela. Their legacies in Venezuela—and at Babson—will not soon be forgotten.

I am glad that Babson has long recognized and appreciated the impact that Gustavo had on our community. In recognition of his leadership and service to the College, he was the first Babson graduate to be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs in 1981. In 2019, we were proud to bestow upon him an honorary degree.

Gustavo and his family have impacted communities around the world by creating social and economic value through their business and associated philanthropic endeavors. This tragic loss will be felt by many beyond our Babson community. Please join me in extending our deepest sympathies to the entire Cisneros family during this difficult time.

With sympathy,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

We are nearing the end of another invigorating semester at Babson. With undergraduate exams underway and graduate courses approaching their conclusion, I wanted to extend my warm wishes to our entire community before we join family and friends for the holidays.

In the spirit of the holiday season, I’m reminded of Babson alumnus Tim Ryan’s (’88) inspiring 2023 commencement address. Tim’s message to the graduating class was to remember that the communities they enter will look to them for love and continuous support.

After a semester full of meaningful interactions, new relationships, and strengthened bonds, I see how Tim’s message comes to life within our own community. Here’s just a glimpse of the ways Babson comes together:

Supporting one another with love is a core belief of the Babson community. From my family to yours, I wish you a happy and safe holiday season and a healthy new year. I look forward to seeing what we’ll accomplish in the new year.

With love,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this semester as we prepare to go our separate ways and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with families and friends. It’s been busy on campus, and I’m proud of what we have accomplished so far. The energy across our community has been invigorating and has reminded me what makes Babson special.

Our historic Wall Street Journal top-10 ranking and continued placement atop U.S. News & World Report’s entrepreneurship rankings are evidence of Babson’s leadership position across higher education.

Thought-provoking events enriched our co-curricular experience and brought unique context and perspective on the entrepreneurial process and mindset. The conversation with Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary and Professor Jack McCarthy taught us that embracing failure is a critical component along the path to success. The keynote address during Global Entrepreneurship Week by Life is Good Co-Founder John Jacobs reminded us of the power of approaching challenges with optimism and opportunity. And the deep scholarly engagement of our faculty instills entrepreneurial leadership skills in our students each day.

Major milestone celebrations like the launch of Babson ELevates—the next phase of our campaign following unprecedented success in eclipsing previous goals of $300, $400, and $500 million—brought friends and supporters from around the world to campus to see how their generosity leaves lasting impacts.

While I’m grateful for these moments of celebration, I know that there is so much more to be thankful for that may go unnoticed. I’m particularly thankful for the many ways that we support one another as we learn, teach, and work together.

I’m also aware that current events and conflicts around the world may leave us feeling uncertain during a time that should be filled with rest, rejuvenation, and thanks. I encourage you to continue to support one another during this break and for the remainder of the semester. Togetherness is something that our world so deeply needs.

Know that I am thankful for each member of our special community. I hope that you have a relaxing and fulfilling Thanksgiving break.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I’m reminded each year that Veterans Day is a day for gratitude. I know that many in our community have family members and friends who have served. Like you, I’m grateful for their service, commitment, and sacrifice.

My family has experienced that commitment firsthand. My sister served in the Air Force, my father-in-law in the Marines, and my father in the Army. My father spent years in the South Pacific and fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal during the Second World War. I appreciated his service when I was growing up, and I appreciate it even more today.
 
Veterans have long played a vital role in the life of Babson. Throughout the early 1940s, the College closed and was turned over to the Navy Supply Corps School to provide important spaces and resources to train more than 2,000 reserve officers on campus. After the war, many veterans looked to Babson to begin the next chapters of their lives and pursue fulfilling careers. That cohort brought with them a lifetime of experiences and skillsets that enriched the college experience for our entire community.

I am glad that the spirit of this cohort remains with us to this day, with veterans continuing to contribute to our campus. To all those who have served, I offer a sincere thank you on behalf of the entire Babson community.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community, 

During a long weekend meant for rest and rejuvenation—and continued reflection on the importance of inclusive excellence and belonging on Indigenous Peoples’ Day—a number of tragic events from around the world leave many in our community shaken. More than a thousand people were senselessly killed and thousands more injured following new conflicts in Israel and Palestine. A disastrous earthquake killed more than 2,000 in Afghanistan. Continued fighting in Ukraine brought fresh waves of violence to innocent civilians in the region. 

I know, too, that unrest elsewhere in the world may impact members of our community in different ways each day. The list of concerning events undoubtedly goes on.

Current events and tragedies, whether inflicted by human conflict or natural disasters, can leave us feeling shaken or uncertain. I know that focusing on learning, teaching, and working in light of these events can be challenging. 

It’s important that we remember that the Babson community is here for one another always, but especially during uncertain times. While upsetting events outside of our campus walls remain out of our control, we do possess the agency to make a positive difference for our peers and colleagues. We at all times value, care for, and support one another. 

Ours is a community of great diversity. We are made better because of our differences in background and belief. Regardless of our position on complex issues, it is critical that we recognize that we are one community, and we respectfully consider opinions that are not our own. We support each other during difficult times. We recognize that we may not always agree, but we will treat one another with compassion and respect. 

Do not hesitate to reach out to a friend or seek campus resources if you are feeling shaken at any given time. Students seeking support are encouraged to reach out to our Counseling and Psychological Services team at 781-239-6200, and faculty and staff can access the Employee Assistance Plan through LYRA Health. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is also available for support and can be reached at 781-239-5969. 

Let’s remember to be mindful of the different ways that world events can impact our community, and let’s take care of one another as we look ahead to the remainder of the semester.   

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I’m pleased to share that Babson has once again been named the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report for the 27th consecutive time. This astounding achievement is a testament to our position as the flagship institution in the country for educating entrepreneurial leaders.

We compete in an increasingly competitive market, as others have begun to see the power that entrepreneurship can harness as a catalyst for positive change. The continued growth in entrepreneurship education only validates what we have known from the beginning: The future is fueled by entrepreneurial leaders, and Babson will continue to proudly serve at the forefront in educating, connecting, and mentoring these leaders on their mission to change the world.

This No. 1 ranking adds to our incredible momentum, fueled by the stellar placement by The Wall Street Journal as a top-10 best college in the country. I have heard from numerous members of the Babson community that this ranking truly puts the College in an unprecedented tier, and I could not agree more. This ranking is even more impressive considering the Journal’s shift in how rankings are calculated, taking into consideration student outcomes and focusing on graduation rates and graduate salaries. Our students’ success has played an important role in this accomplishment, and faculty and staff play a crucial part in helping our students achieve at such a high level. This ranking is made possible by your hard work and dedication to Babson’s mission and strategy. Thank you for playing a role in our success.

We’ve long known that we are pioneers in entrepreneurship and business education—a status that’s been reaffirmed by this No. 1 ranking—but today, the world is validating Babson’s place as a leader across our entire industry. While our longstanding positions as No. 1 in entrepreneurship at both the undergraduate and MBA levels are accolades that we proudly embrace, the Journal’s ranking represents a broader affirmation of the role that each member of our community plays in setting Babson apart from our peers.

This is only the beginning. We look forward to accelerating our leadership position. By thinking innovatively and not seeing any challenge as too large, we can ensure that Babson remains a top destination for students and professionals who seek to change the world.

I look forward to the many ways we will build on this momentum and expand our reach and impact. Know that we could not have reached this remarkable milestone without each member of the Babson community.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I’m proud to share that Babson was ranked as the 10th best college in the country by The Wall Street Journal. This top-10 ranking is clear validation of Babson’s strength in the market, not just in entrepreneurship and business education, but across all of higher education.

This ranking represents a significant rise in the Journal’s standings, with Babson ranking in previous years just outside of the top 100 colleges in the country. An article accompanying these rankings lauded the measures we take to ensure our students’ success in their careers through our core curriculum and key focus on entrepreneurship. Our unique first-year programming created through Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship played a significant role in our achievement, with a current student noting that the FME experience set Babson apart from other schools she considered.

Importantly, the Journal also recognized Babson for our commitment and achievement related to career preparation, clear proof of the impact of our Center for Career Development and the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership and its Centers and Institutes. This achievement is recognition of the important and intense curriculum that our world-class faculty deliver. Babson alumni ranked 4th in earnings above a high-school graduate’s annual salary, just behind MIT, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania.

This stellar ranking comes at a time when many colleges and universities are facing steep enrollment challenges and broader questioning of the value of a college degree. It is validating to see that the strategic vision that we created together as a community is yielding clear and definitive results for Babson.

As we well know, the Babson community is perpetually aspirational, never resting on our achievements. Validation of our strength in the market reminds us that we will need to continue to think innovatively and ambitiously. I am grateful for your partnership in these endeavors, and I look forward to continuing to assert our position as leaders in entrepreneurship and business education.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

It is an exciting time to be at Babson. We’ve been busy this summer planning for the year ahead. While markets and society in general prove to be fraught and dynamic, Babson remains poised to continue our ascension as a positive force.

This community is an empowered one, made special by the many different backgrounds and ideas that coexist on campus. We’re stronger at Babson because of our diversity of experiences, opinions, and beliefs, which bring with them an opportunity to embrace our differences and learn creative approaches. Babson values you and all that you contribute to this community, our community.

Creativity will serve us well in the year ahead. From the classroom to the conference room and the boardroom, we’re continuously thinking of innovative ways to approach tomorrow’s biggest challenges. Embrace the opportunity to have an impact on how we learn and work together throughout the year. Step out of your comfort zone. That is when entrepreneurial leaders work best.

As always, there will be roadblocks along the path to success. Remember to be there for your peers and colleagues along the way. We are most successful when we work alongside one another.

I’m excited for the year ahead, and I hope that you are, too.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Babson College has long recognized the importance of embracing cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives to power ideas that can improve the world. We believe entrepreneurial leaders thrive in an environment that reflects the diverse, interconnected world in which they live and lead.

For the past several years, we have strategically evolved our approach to diversity initiatives at Babson. We as a community have evolved this approach as Inclusive Excellence, the understanding that each member of our community respects the backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of one another—and the recognition that we are a better community because of those differences.

We are proud to share that the Board of Trustees has officially endorsed Babson’s definition of Inclusive Excellence as created by a Sprint Team composed of administrators, staff, and faculty. Going forward, Babson defines Inclusive Excellence as:

Inclusive Excellence is a dynamic, ongoing commitment to fostering a community defined by respect, dignity, and shared accountability.

Inclusive Excellence affirms the value of every member of the Babson community, and respects different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. It embraces a global and open-minded cultural outlook as essential to entrepreneurial leadership and both academic and institutional excellence.

It calls for thinking beyond preconceived labels and advancing practices that promote belonging, and the flourishing of all members.

It is measured through purposeful assessment and evaluation of mission-aligned impact—including the value of a Babson education—and upheld through a collective responsibility to align actions with values.

Adopting the framework of Inclusive Excellence advances our values and underscores the belief that inclusion and excellence go hand in hand.

Newly defined by our community, our journey to Inclusive Excellence has been a long time in the making. Faculty-led conferences on Inclusive Excellence in 2018, the creation of an Inclusive Excellence Committee in 2020, and the commitment to embedding Inclusive Excellence as a Critical Few Objective in 2024 have all played important roles in fostering a welcoming and respectful community.

The globe at the center of our campus and our alumni from 128 countries around the world provide clear and definitive proof of our embrace of these values.

We look forward to sharing more about our journey to Inclusive Excellence as the fall semester approaches.

With appreciation,

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD
President

Sadie Burton-Goss, PhD
Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Commencement ceremonies are pinnacle moments in the life of all colleges. That was resoundingly true for Babson on Saturday as we welcomed thousands of guests to campus to celebrate the Class of 2025. Making this community event personal for each graduate and their families is important.

Planning and delivering two Commencement ceremonies requires a year-long effort from so many within our community. Because of your commitment to excellence, this year’s ceremonies were an exceptional success.

You skillfully supported our speakers and honorees and ensured the safety and comfort of thousands of guests. Our beautifully manicured and branded campus is the perfect setting for a memorable graduation. I know that our new alumni and their loved ones left the ceremonies with immense pride and gratitude for this culminating event in their Babson careers.

Thank you to our planning staff, faculty, event volunteers, and external vendors for making this day memorable. You created memories that the Class of 2025 will carry with them for a lifetime.

I look forward to celebrating another successful academic year with you at the Employee Appreciation Reception this Thursday in Trim.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I’m proud to share that Babson’s MBA in Entrepreneurship remains the No. 1 ranked in the country by U.S. News & World Report for a historic 32nd consecutive year. 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.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges and universities throughout the country across an array of academic disciplines and areas of focus. 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.

Babson’s first graduate course in entrepreneurship was introduced in 1967. In just over 25 years, Babson proudly earned U.S. News & World Report’s highest recognition for graduate entrepreneurship education—and we have never looked back.

Today’s graduate students continue to show the world what is possible with the power of a Babson education. MBA graduates on average earn more than $147,000 annually three years after graduation. Babson graduate alumni bring unique approaches to entrepreneurial leadership to an array of industries and creative ventures around the world.

I deeply valued my time as a Babson MBA student and continue to draw upon the lessons learned from my faculty and peers in the program. It brings me pride to see today’s students continuing to elevate Babson’s graduate experience to new heights.

The continued recognition from U.S. News & World Report accompanied by our historic Wall Street Journal ranking as the No. 2 best college in the country signals that the world is validating our community’s ability to create social and economic value everywhere.

We will continue to build on this momentum as a community of aspirational entrepreneurial leaders.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Commencement season is a cornerstone of the higher education experience. The joy shared by our newest graduates and their families and friends in recognition of outstanding academic and co-curricular achievement is unforgettable. This jubilant day necessitates the inclusion of inspirational entrepreneurial leaders.

I am honored to share that this year CEO and Co-Owner of Boston Globe Media Linda Henry ’00, H’19 will serve as the 2025 undergraduate Commencement speaker and Co-Founder and former CEO of Blink UX Karen Clark Cole will deliver the graduate Commencement address.

Linda is a proud Babson alumna and sets a stellar example for what is possible when a Babson education is paired with entrepreneurial drive. As the co-owner and CEO of Boston Globe Media, Linda has stewarded the rebuilding and reimagining of a 153-year-old legacy media company into a thriving, modern multimedia organization with a portfolio of media outlets that include The Boston Globe, Boston.com, STAT, and Boston Magazine.

As an active partner in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Linda is front row to the strategic operations of one of the largest global sports platforms, with teams across the Premier League, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, TMRW Golf, and more. Her vast experience at FSG has led Linda to serve as an investor in the WNBA, League One Volleyball, and Unrivaled. Outside of sports, she is a four-time Emmy-award winning television producer, Emmy-nominated documentary producer, and children’s book author.

Linda serves as chair of the Boston Globe Foundation and the John W. Henry Family Foundation; director of the Red Sox Foundation and Penguins Foundation; a trustee of the Liverpool Football Club Foundation; and board member of The Engine at MIT and Shorenstein Center at Harvard—a testament to her commitment to leveraging her business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit for social good.

Babson was proud to bestow an honorary doctorate to Linda at our 2019 Commencement ceremony, and we are now honored to welcome her to the pivotal role of undergraduate Commencement speaker.

Our graduate speaker and honorary degree recipient, Karen Clark Cole, is an accomplished entrepreneur and the former CEO and co-founder of Blink UX, the first user experience company in the United States. Over the course of 24 years, Karen grew Blink into a global leader in user experience research, design, and development with an array of clients including Amazon, Apple, Disney, NASA, Google, Starbucks, and Microsoft.

Karen is a visionary thinker and strategic planner who takes pride in turning ideas into action. As Blink’s CEO, she led and negotiated six strategic acquisitions of smaller firms across the country before leading Blink’s acquisition by the global public company Mphasis Corporation in 2021.

In addition to her success leading at Blink, Karen is the founder and executive director of Girls Can Do and Heaven on Earth Animal Retirement Sanctuary, two non-profit organizations with missions close to her heart. She also serves as the chair of the board of governors for St. Margaret’s School, a K-12 all-girls independent school in Canada, and is a council member on the National Women’s Business Council in Washington, D.C. She frequently advises and invests in women-founded businesses and spends time writing and speaking on user-centered leadership and creating a culture of innovation. Karen’s forthcoming book on her entrepreneurial journey will be published in early 2026.

I know that Linda and Karen’s remarkable careers and entrepreneurial spirits will inspire our new graduates as they begin their own journeys as entrepreneurial leaders seeking to make an impact around the world.

In addition to recognizing Karen with an honorary degree, Babson is honored to bestow three additional honorary degrees this Commencement season.

Leonard “Len” C. Green will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurial Leadership at our undergraduate ceremony. Len has a rich history of advancing entrepreneurial thought leadership at Babson and beyond. An adjunct professor in the entrepreneurship division from 2001-2016 and from 2021 to the present day, Len has inspired generations of aspirational entrepreneurs at Babson. He has served as chairman of The Green Group, an accounting, tax, consulting, and advisory firm since he founded the company in 1973. Len is a former Babson trustee and entrepreneur-in-residence and is a charter member of the Weissman Circle of Distinction and an inductee of the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs®. The Len Green Recreation and Athletics Center (LGRAC) was named in his honor 2022, and in 2023, the garden behind LGRAC was dedicated to the memory of his late wife, Lois S. Green.

Peter H. Lunder P’86 ’90 and Paula C. Lunder P’86 ’90—longtime supporters of Babson College, former trustees, and the parents of two proud alumni—will receive honorary degrees during our graduate ceremony. The Lunders have long been generous donors to the College, supporting financial aid with the Lunder Endowed Scholarship, athletics with the naming of the Lunder Performance Center, and facilities with the naming of the Lunder Admission Center. Outside of Babson, their philanthropic leadership has impacted an array of colleges and universities, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital, along with numerous other organizations through the Lunder Foundation.

Commencement is the ultimate celebration of a successful academic career. I look forward to hearing the wisdom that Linda and Karen will share with our community and congratulating our graduates as they cross the stage on May 17.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Babson alumni add social and economic value around the world in myriad ways. They launch innovative startups, bring new approaches to established industries, and envision creative solutions to society’s biggest obstacles—all while attaining personal and financial success. Each year, we survey our most recent graduating class to assess their progress as they start new careers and begin to define their impact.

The undergraduate Class of 2024 continues this record of success. Of the survey respondents, 97.7% of our newest cohort of Babson alumni are employed, continuing their education, or volunteering. They report the highest starting salary in Babson’s history at $77,681.

The impact of our new graduates is widespread. Their reach extends to 30 states in the U.S. and 30 countries around the world. That wide impact ensures that Babson’s signature approach to entrepreneurial leadership will reach new communities everywhere. For the first time, Babson now tracks career satisfaction. Importantly, the Class of 2024 finds meaning in their work, with 85% reporting that their careers match their professional interests and 81% finding their jobs meaningful.

These noteworthy outcomes affirm that the value of a Babson education continues to rise. Each member of our community plays a role in that ascension. Our highly collaborative community has prepared our most recent graduates to begin fulfilling careers with record starting salaries. We know that both curricular and co-curricular experiences contribute to our students’ success while they are on campus and long after they graduate.

It is inspiring to see our alumni succeed. Their achievements around the world set a stellar example for today’s students. They also show how committed our faculty and staff are in preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs to lead with impact.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Last semester, our community celebrated the historic launch of the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship. This groundbreaking addition to the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership will play a critical role in enhancing the ways we teach, learn, and lead at the intersection of technology, generative AI, and entrepreneurship.

We are proud to announce that Trond Undheim, PhD has been appointed Executive Director of the Metropoulos Institute and Tom Davenport, PhD has been named Faculty Director. These two visionary scholars will advance the institute’s position as a global thought leader that reimagines the vast potential to move society forward through technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

Trond brings to this important role a wealth of expertise and scholarship in technologic innovation, startup facilitation, futurism, and entrepreneurship. He joins Babson from Stanford University, where he most recently served as a Research Scholar in Global Systemic Risk, Innovation, and Policy. While at Stanford, Trond's teaching experience spanned a wide range of learners, from undergraduates to seasoned professionals. He conducted extensive research assessing global risk scenarios linked to AI, climate factors, and geopolitics and developed courses exploring the future of systemic risk and regenerative societies.

Prior to joining Stanford, Trond was the Inaugural Director of the MIT Startup Exchange. His leadership in this role directly supported more than 1,500 MIT startups around the world, where he familiarized himself with an impressive array of innovative businesses leading in disruptive innovations and technologies.

Outside of his achievements in academia, Trond has ample experience as an author, podcaster, entrepreneur, and startup founder. He serves as Venture Partner at Antler, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in technology companies of tomorrow; is the CEO and co-founder of Yegii, an insight network with experts and knowledge assets on disruption; and hosts the Futurized podcast exploring the next 50 years of humanity. In a previous role at MIT Media Lab’s digital manufacturing spinout Tulip Interfaces, Inc, he launched the Augmented podcast on the future of industrial technologies. He is currently finalizing the manuscript for his eighth book, The Platinum Workforce: How to Train and Hire for the 21st Century’s Industrial Transition, which will come out this summer. You can learn more about Trond’s impressive acumen on his website.

Tom Davenport will add crucial academic leadership and institutional perspective to the institute as Faculty Director. As a longtime Babson professor and renowned tech scholar, Tom brings a wide breadth of knowledge and expertise in information technology management, analytics, big data, AI, and their respective impacts on the entrepreneurial process. He currently serves as the President’s Distinguished Professor of Information Technology and Management and is the co-founder of the International Institute for Analytics.

Tom has authored, co-authored, or edited 25 books, including his latest, All Hands on Tech: The AI-Powered Citizen Revolution. He has also published over 200 articles in Harvard Business Review. His expertise at the intersection of business and AI will play an integral role in the institute’s research and applications of emergent and generative technologies.

Babson has long appreciated Tom’s many contributions to campus and his commitment to advancing entrepreneurial leadership. His vision within the institute will be a valuable source of inspiration.

The Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership and its seven innovative centers and institutes empower our community to lead change, solve global problems, and create sustainable value across business and society. We know that the Metropoulos Institute’s thought leadership and academic rigor will enhance the Blank School’s impact and global reach. While the entrepreneurial spirit allows us to ideate continuously and imagine new approaches to society’s greatest challenges, technological innovation will provide the means to bring those approaches to scale.

Trond will be arriving on campus this week. Please join us in welcoming him to our community and congratulating Tom on his new leadership role at Babson.

Sincerely,

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD
President

Donna Levin
Chief Executive Officer
Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Dear Babson Community,

A new year and new semester encourage reflection and aspiration. 2024 was challenging. Global conflicts, consequential elections, continued social angst, and economic concerns were prominent. But at Babson and beyond, there were also important and righteous improvements and new possibilities for a better world.

Our community believes that entrepreneurship is core to humanity. We know that everyone has the ability to make an impact both large and small. Impact is what drives the entrepreneurial process.

As entrepreneurial leaders, we aspire to leave our mark on the world by creating, reimagining, and iterating continuously. We impact others—whether intentionally or not—each day in unexpected ways.

This semester, I challenge each member of our community to define their impact. We can make big differences in small ways locally and abroad by leading with kindness and compassion. Because making an impact does not always require grand visions for tomorrow. Impact can be felt in a simple gesture or thoughtful conversation. It can be as simple as lending a listening ear in times of contemplation.

We have the opportunity each day to make a difference in the lives of our peers, colleagues, and friends. Be mindful of that responsibility as we traverse another exciting semester at Babson. I look forward to what we will accomplish this semester and throughout 2025.

With appreciation,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Today is a day for reflection. The legacy and impact of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continue to remain an important inspiration in our collective pursuit of a more just and equitable society. As entrepreneurial leaders aspiring to make the world a better place, we are well served to learn from Dr. King’s life’s work.

Dr. King reminded the world that everyone has the capacity to make a difference, no matter their career or life path. That inspires me to this day. His challenge to those joining him in the late 1950s in a march for integrated schools to, "Make a career of humanity” and to “Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights” is a call that we must continue to heed in our quest for a better tomorrow. In doing so, Dr. King tells us that not only will we become better people, but we will inspire better communities and a better world.

I have long espoused that entrepreneurship is about the connections we make along the path to success. To be entrepreneurs, we must lead with empathy, humanity, and kindness—all tenets that guided Dr. King throughout his life.

At Babson, we know that we are a stronger community because of our diversity of backgrounds, races, cultures, beliefs, and lived experiences. Remember that always as you continue to define your own brand of entrepreneurial leadership.

In recognition of Dr. King’s life and legacy, I invite you to gather at our 22nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Day on February 12, 2025, in the Sorenson Center for the Arts. You can sign up for the event using the link below.

Register Here

This year, we are honored to welcome Dr. Regine Jean-Charles, the Dean’s Professor of Culture and Social Justice and Director of Africana Studies at Northeastern University, who works at the intersections of race, gender, and justice from a global perspective. I look forward to the ways Dr. Jean-Charles will inspire our community.

I encourage you to take a moment today to consider how you can gain inspiration from the life of Dr. King, so that you may do your part to support Babson’s efforts to create a community that celebrates equity and inclusion.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I wish you and your families a happy, restful holiday season and a healthy new year.

This semester has been full of milestone moments for our community. Each day, you proved that the Babson approach adds value around the world in so many ways. You played a significant role in our ascension as The Wall Street Journal’s No. 2 best college in the United States.

This remarkable ranking is made possible by each member of our aspirational community. Babson’s success is your success, too.

As we recap another successful year together in the video below, allow me to echo that Babson College is No. 2, because of you.

Thank you for all that you do for Babson. From my family to yours, I wish you a happy and safe holiday season and a healthy new year. I look forward to many more accomplishments in the new year.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Since our founding, Babson College has been a global leader in entrepreneurship education inspiring learners across a broad spectrum of business and professional experiences. From budding entrepreneurs seeking to launch a startup to seasoned entrepreneurial leaders bringing innovation to the corporate sector, our reach has been both diverse and intentional.

Today, I am proud to announce that Babson will launch a new strategic program that will bring our proven approach to entrepreneurial leadership to a new audience—those seeking a Doctor of Business Administration.

The creation of Babson’s DBA program underscores our commitment to advancing entrepreneurship education across all levels of professional experience. At Babson, we believe that teaching and learning occurs over a lifetime. The development of our DBA program will provide industry experts and visionary thought leaders with access to our proven entrepreneurial thought and action framework.

Through our inaugural doctoral program, DBA candidates from an array of industries will hone their leadership skills and enhance their entrepreneurial mindsets. This new program, like much of our curricula, will place a central emphasis on experiential learning and will equip candidates with academic insights that will yield meaningful solutions to real-world business challenges.

Additionally, these new cohorts of industry experts will gain access to Babson’s network of more than 46,000 alumni impacting social and economic change around the world. The 33-month DBA program will begin accepting applications next fall, pending final accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

I look forward to the unique experiences that our inaugural cohort of DBA candidates will bring to our community of entrepreneurial leaders. Their executive leadership will greatly contribute to our academic prowess.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

The Thanksgiving season provides us with a moment to reflect. This semester has brought with it a great deal to be thankful for.

We celebrated our historic recognition as the No. 2 best college in the United States by The Wall Street Journal. This milestone for our community signals that Babson, and entrepreneurship as a whole, has ascended to a new leadership position in and beyond business education.

We also maintained our longstanding place atop U.S. News and World Report’s undergraduate entrepreneurship rankings for the 28th consecutive time. The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges awarded Babson the 2024 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership for our community’s ability to turn aspiration into strategic action.

These external recognitions are a remarkable testament to the ways our community advances Babson’s reputation as a global leader for academic excellence and innovation.

On campus, we commemorated the official opening of the Herring Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Village (HELV) and its state-of-the-art classrooms and gathering spaces. We deepened our commitment to advancing AI initiatives and emerging technologies with the launch of the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship. Together, this campus space and new thought-leadership institute enhance our ability to embrace new technologies and rapidly integrate them into our academic and experiential endeavors.

Our new Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Ariel Armony joined us this fall, bringing with him a genuine warmth and passion for making connections that will support all aspects of how our community teaches, learns, and advances thought leadership and academic research.

While moments of instability or uncertainty outside of our campus walls can leave us feeling anxious, this semester has reminded me how special—and how important—community is. I am proud of our ability to engage in difficult conversations and thankful that we do so with great respect for our colleagues and peers.

As we prepare to celebrate the holiday with our families and friends, either at home or abroad, know that I appreciate all that you do for Babson. I wish you a restful and fulfilling break and look forward to regathering for the final stretch of the semester.

With thanks,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

There are historic moments in the life of a community that are cause for pause and reflection.

Today, we have surpassed the $600 million mark in our Babson ELevates comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Babson is an assertively aspirational community. We educate entrepreneurial leaders who impact communities everywhere by creating social and economic value. Our alumni, governance members, students, faculty, staff, and friends continue to endorse our mission in many ways, including their generous philanthropy.

This campaign was first launched with an initial goal of $300 million, which was met and raised to $500 million, and again to $750 million last fall. In a world filled with angst and trepidation, Babson is a beacon of great education, intellectual growth, and remains the birthplace of tomorrow’s entrepreneurial leaders.

I am thankful for each of you, as it takes the fullness of a community to achieve such success. I am particularly grateful for our Advancement team led by Governor Craig R. Benson Endowed Executive Vice President for Advancement Edward Chiu and Vice Chair of the Board and Trustee Craig Benson ’77, H’03. Their leadership plays an extraordinary role in our success.

With sincere thanks,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

This week, Babson is honored to welcome entrepreneurs from around the world to campus for the 2024 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference.

Each year the GCEC Conference brings entrepreneurship centers from leading colleges and universities together to collaborate on emerging challenges and share best practices—both areas of Babson expertise. I am proud that our community is serving as this year’s conference host.

The conference will be held on campus from Thursday to Saturday this week and will feature a number of presentations and discussions led by Babson faculty and thought leaders. As you go about your days this week, you may notice an increase in foot traffic across campus from our GCEC guests. I know that our community will extend warm welcomes and show kindness to all as guests venture to and from sessions.

Babson has long been the global leader in entrepreneurship education and thought leadership. Hosting gatherings like the GCEC Conference is an example of the important role that we play in inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world to lead with innovation and impact.

I look forward to seeing how this conference will shine a spotlight on the exceptional work our students, faculty, and staff do each day to enhance the entrepreneurial mindset.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Each year, Veterans Day provides us with the important opportunity to reflect and share gratitude for those who have served our nation.

Babson is proud to count more than 50 veterans among our student population. Initiatives like the Babson Veterans Club connects more than 200 student and alumni veterans, providing each with networking opportunities and support systems as they advance their own entrepreneurial mindsets.

I know that many in our community have family members and friends who have served. Like you, I’m grateful for their service, commitment, and sacrifice.

My family has experienced that commitment firsthand. My sister served in the Air Force and is now a Veterans Administration nurse. My father-in-law served in the Marines and my father served in the Army. My father spent 51 consecutive months in the South Pacific and fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal during the Second World War. I appreciated his service when I was growing up, and I appreciate it even more today.

Veterans have long played a vital role at Babson. Throughout the early 1940s, the College closed and was turned over to the Navy Supply Corps School to provide important spaces and resources to train more than 2,000 reserve officers on campus. After the war, many veterans looked to Babson to begin the next chapters of their lives and pursue fulfilling careers. That cohort brought with them a lifetime of experiences and skillsets that brought important perspective to the college experience for our entire community.

I am grateful that veterans continue to enrich our campus. To all those who have served, I offer a sincere thank you on behalf of the entire Babson community.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I’ve been obsessing about the importance of higher education in the upcoming presidential election.

This quadrennial exercise in democracy punctuates an important role of our industry. Our responsibilities are amplified in times of angst or uncertainty.

I believe we must foster the intersection of thoughtfulness, passion, and respect to achieve a civil society. Indeed, ideas are received more openly when the debaters seek to understand the possibilities of alternative positions—especially when they are contrary to their own beliefs.

The Babson community has developed rules of conduct that nurture intense discussion and foster respect, increasing the chances for civil progress. I know everyone will respect College policies.

My meetings with students regarding even the most contentious issues have been underpinned by what I see as an earnest need to solve problems. They know that active listening is a prerequisite for just solutions. It is a testimony to our faculty that a Babson education inspires the best in our community.

I know the tensions will be high next Tuesday and maybe for several more days thereafter. This is a test of our individual and communal character. I believe we will set an example for others to follow.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

As a community of entrepreneurial leaders, we know that the ability to embrace new technological innovations and rapidly integrate them into the ways we learn, teach, and work is critical to our success. That is why we have placed a strategic focus on elevating technology as we continue to ascend as global leaders in entrepreneurship education and beyond.

This semester has already brought significant validation of our approach to infusing technological innovation into the entrepreneurial journey. As we consider how these advancements will benefit our individual and collective growth, I felt it important to pause and reflect on all that we’ve accomplished thus far.

Introducing Babson’s Foundations of AI Badge

This semester, we proudly launched the Foundations of AI Badge, a new credential awarded to students who demonstrate a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with AI and the entrepreneurial mindset.

AI has the potential to impact global business and society deeper and faster than any business or social movement in history. The ability to iterate and experiment using generative AI can open doors for entrepreneurs to more rapidly impact society and move revolutionary ideas forward.

Babson students have proven to be leaders in integrating AI into their entrepreneurial journeys. This resource—and the College’s broader embrace of AI—will ensure our students are future-ready and nimble in their approach to new technologies. The badge can be earned at students’ own pace to ensure flexibility when balancing rigorous academic schedules.

I look forward to hearing how our undergraduates, graduates, and lifelong learners will take advantage of this complimentary credential as proof of their leadership in this space. Advancing our understanding and application of AI in the entrepreneurial process allows us to learn in new ways and develop innovative ventures and ideas at a rapid pace.

I’m encouraged by the more than 150 students who have taken advantage of this opportunity thus far and hope all students will broaden their understanding of AI with this excellent resource.

Students can learn more and enroll here.

Unveiling the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship

Babson unveiled a defining asset in our approach to innovation with the official opening of the C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship. This landmark institute elevates the groundwork that our community has developed in the realm of technological innovation and AI.

This institute is already opening new doors for our students to embrace the confluence of technology and entrepreneurship—our new Foundations of AI Badge is offered to all students thanks to the Metropoulos Institute’s financial support.

Advancing Thought Leadership and AI Best Practices with the Generator

The AI Generator continues to drive innovation by supporting faculty and students in their journeys through entrepreneurship and AI. This interdisciplinary lab is impacting our community in significant ways thanks to the leadership of our faculty across academic disciplines and the drive of our students to explore methods for adopting and enhancing AI’s usage on campus. The Generator, which now lives within the Metropoulos Institute, is a significant example of our community’s ability to quickly embrace emerging technologies and explore ways we can deepen their use as global leaders in entrepreneurship.

Our ability to adopt new practices and explore emerging technologies is a contributing factor to our success. It’s a reason why we are The Wall Street Journal’s No. 2 best college in the United States and have been the No.1 school for undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship for multiple decades.

I encourage all members of our community to embrace these tools and opportunities to deepen our understanding of new technologies and approaches to generative AI. Doing so will rapidly accelerate our capacity to change the world and move society and business forward.

My best,

Steve

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pride that we share that Babson College has been selected as a “Great College to Work For” in 2024.

As evidenced by the recent market validation of a Babson education by The Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report, our aspirational community continues to achieve new levels of excellence in teaching and learning. Our dedicated faculty and staff play a significant role in Babson’s ascension as a global leader in higher education, and this new Great Colleges achievement is a testament to your hard work and commitment to your colleagues.

This recognition is a direct result of your Babson experiences. Last spring, faculty and staff were surveyed to assess Babson’s teaching and working environment. Those results were independently assessed by the Great College survey administrators and benchmarked against peer colleges and universities around the country.

The culture that our faculty and staff have created and upheld makes Babson special. We are grateful for all that you do for our community of learners and leaders and hope that you take pride in this new designation.

As we reflect, we have much to be grateful for and much to celebrate.

With our gratitude, 

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD
President

Donna Bonaparte
Vice President, Human Resources

Dear Babson Community,

We began this academic year by celebrating a historic moment for Babson College. Our recognition as the No. 2 college in the country by The Wall Street Journal signals to the world that our community of learners, educators, and thought leaders has ascended to a new leadership position in higher education.

Building on this momentum, I am proud to share that Babson has again retained our spot as the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship on U.S. News & World Report annual rankings.

Babson College pioneered the earliest approach to entrepreneurship education. Our continued placement atop these rankings is a testament to our ability to elevate our practice and thought leadership into the sphere of entrepreneurial leadership. That approach broadens our reach, allowing us to create entrepreneurial leaders of all kinds across a lifetime and prepare them to succeed in any industry or profession. Our bold vision for entrepreneurial leadership is a result of this community’s relentless commitment to growth, improvement, and excellence.

This unprecedented streak of continuous excellence in entrepreneurship is even more significant given the competitive market of today’s higher education landscape. For decades, many refuted the belief that entrepreneurship was a discipline that could be taught. The entrepreneurial spirit was seen as a mindset that some had, and others could not attain.

We at Babson never believed that to be true, and the substantial impact that our more than 46,000 alumni have on the world affirms what we’ve long known—that entrepreneurship not only can be taught, but it must be taught to move society forward.

I remarked last year that our Wall Street Journal recognition as the 10th best college in the country was only the beginning for Babson’s ascension. I challenged our students, faculty, staff, and governance members to remain aspirational and imagine what the next level of greatness would hold for us. These latest recognitions are proof that you not only answered that call—you exceeded it.

Thank you for contributing to a remarkable milestone for Babson College. Together, we will show the world what is possible when entrepreneurs lead the way.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Tomorrow, our community will gather in celebration of one of my favorite campus traditions—Back to Babson.

This gathering is one of the most exciting times on campus. The energy of our alumni, students, families, and friends coming together is palpable. I hope that you are able to join us for as much of the weekend as possible to share in the joy and togetherness of our full community.

A full schedule of events can be found here. I encourage you to explore these opportunities to connect with our alumni, students, and their families. You play an important role in making Babson special, and I know that our guests will appreciate the chance to connect.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Last fall, Babson was named the 10th best college in the country by The Wall Street Journal. We celebrated that historic achievement by committing to being perpetually aspirational—a hallmark trait of an entrepreneurial leader.

Today, the world bears witness to the strength and power of this community’s ability to meet the moment and answer that call to action: Babson College has ascended to the rank of second best college in the country by The Wall Street Journal.

We have long asserted our place as the global leader for entrepreneurship education as evidenced by our decades-long recognition as the No. 1 school for entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report. To once again earn recognition as a top college in the country speaks to our status as a leader beyond entrepreneurship.

This remarkable milestone holds great significance for Babson. More so, it holds great significance for entrepreneurship—a discipline once thought to be too niche to dedicate significant academic focus or resources.

Our status as the second best college in the country is a signal to the world that the study of entrepreneurship has transcended business education. To be an entrepreneur is to be an innovative changemaker in any field or industry. It’s to be a champion for progress where our world needs it most. To be an entrepreneur is to be a leader who takes charge in the face of adversity without fear of uncertainty.

This ranking places Babson College in exceptional company. Whereas Princeton, Stanford, and Yale have long been symbols of excellence in higher education, Babson now joins this prestigious cohort. This recognition is an important signal that entrepreneurship has grown to be recognized as a core competency across academia and beyond—something we have known all along. Babson’s status as the second best college signals the world needs entrepreneurial leaders now more than ever.

Babson reaches this historic moment on your shoulders. This recognition is made possible by our students and their thirst for finding solutions to tomorrow’s greatest challenges. It’s possible because of our faculty of practitioners and thought leaders who are at the center of academic rigor and exploration. It’s thanks to our exceptional staff who keep our campus operational and ensure our community is supported. It’s thanks to the leadership of our governance members and their ongoing commitment to our future. And it’s because of our scores of successful alumni who have shown the world firsthand what can be accomplished with a Babson degree.

We are here because of you.

Together, we are poised to expand our reach and ensure that Babson continues to make bold impacts in entrepreneurship and beyond for generations to come.

We will undoubtedly share moments to celebrate this achievement for our community in the coming weeks. For now, please know how proud of—and appreciative for—you I am.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Today, we embark on the beginning of our next chapters at Babson College. We do so on a foundation of historic accomplishments.

Last year was full of milestone moments and memorable achievements. We were named the 10th best college in the country and No. 1 for career preparation by The Wall Street Journal and retained our decades-long place as U.S. News & World Report’s No. 1 undergraduate and MBA entrepreneurship programs in the country. Our new graduates achieved record outcomes for employment and starting salaries. And, our faculty and staff continued to be recognized around the world for their thought leadership and innovative pedagogy.

These valuable recognitions hold great significance. They signal that Babson—and our students, faculty, staff, and alumni—has ascended to a new leadership position across higher education and across the globe.

Accepting that mantle of responsibility can be daunting for high achievers. New beginnings are designed to feel immense and uncertain. But, in that space of uncertainty is where entrepreneurial leaders thrive. The distant horizon is where we innovate best. It’s where we can imagine new ways of creating and doing that can move society forward. That is the hallmark of successful entrepreneurship—and of this community.

As you begin the new academic year, whether this is your first as a member of our community or you are adding to your Babson legacy, I challenge you to start page one of your new chapters with great aspirations. Today represents the unwrapping of a canvas that is ripe with potential for audacity and innovation. Envision big things, then iterate continuously. Try new approaches and fail along the way. That’s what learning, teaching, and working on a college campus is all about. Because at Babson, there will always be someone to lift you up and provide the spark to move forward.

Remember, too, that we will have differences of opinions, beliefs, and approaches to complex societal issues along the way. Those differences play an important role in the entrepreneurial process, helping us understand and appreciate different perspectives. Through our contrasts, we must commit to always respecting our peers and colleagues. That is what allows us to thrive as One Babson.

I look forward to building on our successes. I am invigorated by how you will solve problems, create value, and make Babson proud.

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,  

Earlier this week, I shared news that Dr. Ariel C. Armony will join our community as Provost and Executive Vice President this fall. I am pleased to build on that momentum and announce two new leadership appointments that will support and enhance the ways we teach and learn.  
 
Dr. Donna Stoddard has been named Dean of Faculty, and Caitlin Capozzi has been named Vice President for Learner Success and Dean of Campus Life. Donna and Caitlin have been instrumental leaders in higher education for decades and together bring more than 40 years of Babson experience to these important leadership roles. 
  
Dr. Donna Stoddard has held numerous important roles throughout the ranks of faculty at Babson over a nearly 30-year span, most recently as Associate Dean of Faculty and Chair of the Operations & Information Management Division. Her research exploring how companies leverage enterprise systems to improve communication and collaboration has added significant value and thought leadership to Babson’s curricular offerings and research initiatives.   
 
Throughout her Babson career, Donna has taught undergraduate, graduate, and executive education courses related to management information systems, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. She has served as the faculty mentor to Babson’s cohort of Posse students, an experience she credits as one of her most rewarding while at the College. Prior to arriving at Babson, Donna served as a faculty member at Harvard Business School, where she taught in the MBA and executive education programs. Her research and case studies have been widely published and currently focus on block chain, technology entrepreneurship, electronic commerce, managing the IT infrastructure, and IT business innovation. 
 
I am thankful for the work of the Dean of Faculty Search Committee and their commitment to identifying an internal leader to take the helm of this important leadership role. Their time and efforts ensured a thorough evaluation of the experience required to successfully support Babson’s faculty and thought leaders.   
 
Caitlin Capozzi has been a leader in Learner Success and Campus Life at Babson for 13 years. She most recently served as the Dean of Students, where she played an integral role in ensuring Babson’s rich student engagement offerings are aligned and meaningful. Her support of important student life groups, including Student and Family Engagement, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Residence Education, Housing and Dining Operations, Orientation, Community Standards, Multicultural and Identity Programs, and BabsonARTS, has equipped her well to lead Babson’s many student experience initiatives. 
 
Caitlin’s collaborative approach to informing and supporting students will ensure that Babson’s learners continue to have access to enriching cocurricular experiences. As Dean of Students, she has overseen the College’s on-call system managing student-related emergencies and served as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator, experiences that underscore her commitment to campus safety and student wellness. 
 
Donna and Caitlin will report to our new leader of Academic Affairs Ariel Armony, and their respective offices will fall under the scope of the Office of the Provost. All three will serve as members of my President’s Council. I look forward to the ways these senior leaders will support our students and faculty as our community of entrepreneurial leaders aspires for a new level of excellence. Together, I am confident that Ariel, Donna, and Caitlin will enhance the Babson experience for years to come. 
 
Please join me in congratulating Donna and Caitlin on their new appointments. 
 
My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

As we look to build upon a milestone year for Babson ahead of the fall semester, I am proud to share that Dr. Ariel C. Armony will join our community as Provost and Executive Vice President.  

Ariel comes to Babson from the University of Pittsburgh, where he currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs and Director of the University Center for International Studies. In this capacity, Ariel has been responsible for forging new international partnerships and deepening the University’s reach and impact—experience that positions him well to lead Babson’s global approach to educating the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. He has been a passionate leader and advocate for faculty research, innovative pedagogy, and diversity across academia throughout his career.  

As Vice Chancellor, Ariel played an integral role in advancing the University’s global learning initiatives, research, partnerships, and community engagement. His strategic efforts have consistently been focused through a lens of international advocacy and globalization. Under his leadership, the University of Pittsburgh’s six international and global centers were designated as National Resource Centers by the U.S. Department of Education, positioning the institution among the nation’s leaders in international and global studies.

Ariel’s academic research has centered on democratization, civil society, and human rights topics around the world, work that has been influential in sparking debates centered on the relationship between democracy and society. As an immigrant of Argentina, he frequently has drawn upon his personal and professional experience as a Latino leader in academia and beyond.

His broad interdisciplinary experience and extensive scholarship around the world have positioned Ariel as a leader in the complex relations between China and Latin America. He has gained notable recognition following the publication of his most recent book, Emerging Global Cities: Origin, Structure, and Significance, which details the rapid and unprecedented rise of Miami, Dubai, and Singapore as new global powerhouses. Ariel has been published on such topics at length in acclaimed university presses including those at Cambridge, Stanford, and the University of California.

Prior to assuming his role of Vice Chancellor, Ariel advanced through positions at Pittsburgh including Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Senior Director for International Programs. He previously led the University of Miami’s Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas and has been a Fulbright scholar, Rockefeller Foundation scholar, and residential fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. 

Babson’s influence and success as a global leader in higher education and entrepreneurship are certain to be amplified with Ariel at the helm of the College’s academic innovation. His ability to connect global thought leaders in conjunction with a commitment to student success will impact all facets of the ways we teach and learn. 

Ariel joins our community with a longstanding appreciation for Babson’s approach to entrepreneurship education. In his personal life and throughout his extensive career in academia, he has encountered many Babson alumni. From undergraduate degree holders to MBAs, each Babson graduate left an impression. I know that he is eager to bring his global and entrepreneurial mindset to Babson to contribute to the ways we shape the leaders of tomorrow.  

The national search for the next leader of Academic Affairs was conducted with rigor. Careful consideration was given to assessing the caliber of leader required to build on Babson’s proven Entrepreneurial Thought & Action paradigm. I am grateful for the extensive work of the Provost Search Committee, comprised of faculty and administrators, who committed substantial time to this important process. Their commitment to these efforts yielded an inclusive search process, which engaged our full community through multiple input sessions to ensure their work was informed by a broad base of campus stakeholders. I am also thankful for the guidance of the renowned firm Isaacson Miller, who facilitated our extensive search. The committee’s work yielded many exceptional candidates for this role, and I am certain that Ariel is the leader of this impressive group.

The leadership role that Ariel will hold is a direct result of Babson’s community-driven organizational redesign process. Supported by faculty feedback collected through the COACHE survey and the findings of EY-Parthenon’s organizational assessment, community input was integral to our efforts to bring Ariel to Babson.  

Ariel is an avid hiker, a hobby that led him to cross Thorong La in the Himalayas, one of the highest mountain passes in the world. He has lived in four continents, written for television, and directed theater. He is married to Mirna Kolbowski, who has extensive financial experience in banking, higher education, and the non-profit sector. Together, they have two sons, Ian and Alan, who live in New York City. As a family, they enjoy grilling and watching soccer—especially when Lionel Messi plays.

Ariel will assume this important position by the middle of the fall semester. I will share additional updates related to academic and student leadership at Babson soon. In the interim, please join me in welcoming Ariel to the Babson community of entrepreneurial leaders.  

My best,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business is crucial to Babson’s delivery of entrepreneurship education. We are proud to announce that tomorrow we will launch a new online degree program that will enhance our graduate portfolio—the Master of Science in Management in Business Creation (MSBC). The MSBC is Babson’s first fully online degree program, delivered primarily in an asynchronous format.

Entrepreneurship is at the intersection of thought and action. Traditional graduate programs often require aspiring founders to choose between building a business and pursuing a graduate degree. The MSBC is designed to support the dual path.

This new degree builds on our proven success supporting venture creation at all stages. It will empower graduates with more than a credential—they will leave with a degree, a validated business concept, and an investment-ready business plan. The MSBC joins a growing portfolio of graduate programs, including the launch of the online Core Leadership Essentials (CLE) Graduate Certificate.

We look forward to the expanded reach this new online program will offer aspiring entrepreneurs around the world. Applications will open tomorrow, June 30, for the inaugural spring 2027 cohort.

With gratitude,

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD
President

Ariel Armony, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President

Dear Babson Community,

Few events in the College’s year bring the full Babson community together like Commencement. Thank you to our faculty, staff, and governance for your time, care, and commitment in celebrating the Class of 2026. Commencement also marks the beginning of a lifelong relationship with our graduates and their families. Each of you plays a role in that connection.

Thank you to our speakers and honorees. I extend special congratulations to our student speakers, Christelle Brandt MBA’26 and Jake Thibeault ’26. Walking to the stage, Jake delivered a moving reflection and recognized the guidance, encouragement, and support this community shows our students.

For employees, I look forward to seeing you at tomorrow’s Employee Appreciation Reception as we close the academic year together.

Thank you for all you do for Babson.

With gratitude,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I am writing to share the sad news that former Babson President William Rankin “Bill” Dill H’91 has passed away.

President Dill served as Babson’s president from 1981 to 1989, a period of important growth and development for the College.

During his tenure, Babson expanded its reach and reputation, including opening new opportunities for students and faculty to engage internationally. Under his leadership, the College also strengthened the facilities and infrastructure that support student life, executive education, and learning across campus.

At the heart of President Dill’s impact was his deep commitment to integrating the liberal arts and business education. That vision continues to shape Babson today. Our undergraduate students still complete half of their coursework in the liberal arts, reflecting a philosophy of education he helped advance.

I am personally grateful for the time I spent with President Dill, first as an MBA evening student and later during a fireside chat in 2019, when we reflected together on Babson’s past, present, and future.

President Dill’s legacy lives on through the curriculum he helped shape and the generations of students, faculty, and staff who have benefited from his leadership and vision. He will be remembered with appreciation and respect across the Babson community.

Please join me in keeping the Dill family in your thoughts during this time.

Sincerely,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

For 32 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report recognized Babson as the No. 1 MBA in Entrepreneurship—a rare distinction unmatched in business education and one that reflects the enduring strength of the academic approach this community has built together.

This year, following a significant change in U.S. News & World Report’s methodology, Babson’s MBA is ranked No. 4 in Entrepreneurship, continuing to place us among an extraordinary group of peer institutions that includes MIT, Stanford, and Harvard. After 30 years, this marks the first major shift in methodology, including a move from a voting-based system to a rating model and a reduced number of survey recipients from over 650 to about 175.

I know the pride this community takes in Babson’s leadership, and moments like this invite both reflection and perspective. Rankings may change, but Babson’s advantage remains constant. For more than a century, our approach to teaching entrepreneurship has shaped founders and innovators, establishing a discipline that continues to grow on a foundation Babson helped build.

As more institutions embrace entrepreneurship, our shared work is stronger for it. I see this as an unmistakable validation of the approach Babson has championed and refined for decades.

We see this impact every day through our degree programs, our faculty’s impact, the work of Babson Academy, and an alumni community that creates social and economic value across industries and geographies. Our student outcomes speak for themselves. The Class of 2025 continues to demonstrate the value of a Babson degree through strong employment outcomes across programs. Notably, 16 percent of MBA graduates are actively working on their own ventures, underscoring the entrepreneurial mindset that defines who we are.

There is pride in knowing Babson’s legacy has advanced entrepreneurship as a core leadership competency. I’m deeply honored to see some of the world’s most respected institutions embrace this belief as they educate the next generation.

As a community of entrepreneurial leaders, we know that change brings opportunities to explore, adapt, and lead. I encourage our community to use this moment for deeper innovation and introspection. Together, we will help shape what comes next for entrepreneurship education.

With appreciation,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Commencement is one of the most meaningful moments in our lives at Babson. Our graduates celebrate achievement, purpose, and the entrepreneurial leadership they will carry into the world. Each year, we are proud to welcome accomplished leaders whose stories and values reflect the best of Babson.

I am pleased to announce our 2026 Commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients.

C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68 will serve as our Undergraduate Commencement speaker and will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurial Leadership. A distinguished Babson alumnus, Dean is the executive chairman and CEO of Metropoulos & Co., a family-owned investment firm that has transformed and revitalized some of the most iconic consumer brands in the United States and globally. His lifelong commitment to entrepreneurial growth, value creation, and to Babson, including the recent establishment of The C. Dean Metropoulos Institute for Technology and Entrepreneurship, embodies the impact of entrepreneurial leadership at scale. Dean, his wife Marianne, and their sons Evan and Daren are also committed to many philanthropic causes.

Our Graduate Commencement speaker, Adriana Cisneros, will also receive an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurial Leadership. As CEO of Cisneros, Adriana leads a multigenerational, global enterprise spanning media, digital innovation, and real estate. She is a champion of education and social impact through Fundación Cisneros and a respected voice in business, philanthropy, and global leadership. Her deep family ties to Babson make her presence especially meaningful to our community.

In addition, Babson will confer an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurial Leadership upon Cyril Camus ’92, P’26. Cyril is president of the Camus Group and a fifth-generation leader of one of the world’s most respected family-owned spirits companies, as well as a dedicated Babson trustee, Global Advisory Board chair, and advocate for family entrepreneurship.

I am confident that the wisdom, perspective, and entrepreneurial spirit of this remarkable group will inspire our graduates as they begin the next chapter of their lives. I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 together this Commencement season.

With gratitude,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Babson alumni continue to demonstrate the value of entrepreneurial leadership. Around the world, students and graduates create social and economic value by launching ventures, transforming organizations, and addressing complex global challenges—as they build purposeful and financially rewarding careers.

Each year, we survey our graduating class to understand how they are translating their Babson experience into impact. The results once again affirm the value of a Babson education and the strength of our community.

The Undergraduate Class of 2025 continues Babson’s long‑standing record of exceptional outcomes—97.8% are employed, continuing their education, or volunteering. Graduates continue to report strong starting salaries, with an average of $77,642, reflecting sustained demand for Babson talent across industries and sectors.

Members of the Class of 2025 were hired by more than 400 companies around the world. Importantly, our graduates find purpose in their work—86% find their work meaningful, and 72% believe their careers will contribute positively to society.

Our graduates join a global community of founders, innovators, executives, and leaders who actively support one another through mentorship, hiring, investment, and collaboration. Last year, LinkedIn named Babson No. 1 for the strongest alumni network in the country, highlighting our community’s ability to prepare graduates for long‑term career success and professional mobility.

This success is driven by the faculty, staff, and motivated students, and the powerful combination of rigorous academics, immersive experiential learning, and co‑curricular opportunities that define the Babson experience.

It is inspiring to see our alumni thrive and lead with impact around the world. Their achievements set a noble example for today’s students and affirm our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.

With appreciation,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

A core component of our mission and strategy is the ability to empower entrepreneurial leaders across a spectrum of ages and experiences to add value around the world. Today, I’m proud to announce our newest approach to delivering and expanding upon this mission with the launch of Summer at Babson.

Summer at Babson is a comprehensive suite of new and existing programs that will span audiences of high schoolers, current Babson students, entrepreneurship educators, athletes, and executives from around the world. A key component of Summer at Babson offerings will be the launch of an array of unique pre-college programs in partnership with the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Campus Life.

The Blank School Summer Program offers rising high school juniors and seniors an immersive introduction to Babson’s renowned approach to entrepreneurship education through more than 50 courses delivered throughout the month of July. Representing all ten academic divisions and many Blank School centers and institutes—with Campus Life playing a central role in its design and delivery—the program is intentionally structured to immerse students in Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® framework as they explore future college and career pathways.

Through hands-on learning and discovery, students build confidence and develop real-world skills while customizing their experience through residential, in-person, and online sessions ranging from one week to multi-week options. Courses are delivered in flexible modalities, span a wide range of topic areas, and are taught by Babson faculty and expert practitioners—a core differentiator that sets the Blank School Summer Program apart. A badge to be used on LinkedIn profiles will be awarded to all students who successfully complete the program.

You can explore these extensive new offerings below. Applications officially open today and will run through the beginning of May. I encourage you to consider how your networks may benefit from access to our facilities and curricular experiences this summer.

Explore Summer at Babson

In addition to the Blank School Summer Programs, we have innovated and enhanced summer offerings for current undergraduate students with the introduction of the Summer Intensive Program. This credit-bearing offering will provide current students with the opportunity to focus on a specific academic area with career development and alumni mentorship over a six-week period in the summer.

Summers on campus have long played an integral role in advancing our mission. Under our new unified summer framework, our existing offerings will benefit from opportunities to collaborate and expand their reach. Long-established programs such as Undergraduate and Graduate Summer Session, Babson Build, Summer Study, Babson Miami Financial Literacy course, and our numerous athletics camps will continue to bring learners from across the country and around the world to our campus. Now, our centralized approach to summer initiatives will ensure clarity and consistency for those delivering programs and their respective learner audiences.

I am thankful for the collaborative and expeditious approach that made the unification process and these new offerings possible. Academic and faculty leaders, the Blank School, Babson Academy, Campus Life, College Marketing, and all existing summer program organizers contributed to this successful launch.

Babson’s commitment to teaching and learning across a lifetime is a defining factor in our status as The Wall Street Journal’s no. 2 best college in the United States. Advancing initiatives that reach new learners and diversify our revenue streams represents direct progress in the support of our strategic plan and annual critical few objectives.

I look forward to seeing how these new summer initiatives will position our community for continued success while opening doors for new audiences of entrepreneurial leaders around the world.

With appreciation,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Welcome to the start of the spring semester. Each new term gives us the chance to build on the successes and lessons of the past, to reflect on what we have learned, and use those insights to grow. I am excited for what we will accomplish together in the months ahead.

At Babson, aspiration and achievement are core to who we are. They are essential components of our leadership paradigm, yet they are sometimes misunderstood. Moving at full speed ahead without awareness of the world around us and its impact on people creates unnecessary risk. Risk is a part of life, and managing it thoughtfully is what allows us to unlock the opportunities it brings. The world is a risk-and-return environment.

A defining element of entrepreneurial leadership is intentional action. This semester, we continue to bring that mindset to the forefront by aligning our work with our values, responding thoughtfully to complexity, and strengthening the value we create for the world.

Small moments of kindness, thoughtful collaboration, and genuine connection have an impact that extends far beyond our campus. These gestures strengthen our community and create conditions for bold ideas to take shape.

Best wishes for another successful and fulfilling semester.

With appreciation,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Today, we reflect on the enduring impact of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His vision of justice, dignity, and human possibility continues to inspire our work to create a better world.

Dr. King believed in the power of individuals to drive meaningful change through moral courage, compassion, and collective action. These principles align with Babson’s mission to prepare and empower entrepreneurial leaders who create, grow, and steward sustainable economic and social value everywhere.

As we honor Dr. King’s legacy, we also reaffirm our core value of Inclusive Excellence. This commitment calls us to foster a community defined by respect, dignity, and shared accountability and to advance practices that enable the flourishing of all members.

Dr. King once said, “I am convinced that men hate each other because they fear each other. They fear each other because they don't know each other, and they don't know each other because they don't communicate with each other, and they don't communicate with each other because they are separated from each other.” His words remind us that building relationships with one another is essential. When we come together as One Babson, we strengthen our community and the world.

I invite you to attend Babson’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Day event from 5–6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11. For more information and to register, please visit this website.

This gathering is an opportunity to celebrate his life and learn from leaders who continue his work, challenge inequity, uplift communities, and inspire courageous dialogue.

Dr. King’s life encourages us all to lead with empathy, pursue justice with determination, and create a Babson community and a world where every voice matters.

With appreciation,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

As the year comes to a close, I want to express my gratitude for all of your contributions to our community. Whether through your learning, teaching, research, leadership, or support, your resilience and dedication in trying times have strengthened our community and advanced our mission in meaningful ways.

This season offers us time to reflect on the past year, even as the world moves quickly around us. Our mission to create entrepreneurial leaders who impact communities everywhere empowers us to solve problems, big and small, and to shape a better future even in periods of uncertainty. From my family to yours, I wish you peace, joy, and a safe and healthy holiday season. I look forward to all we will achieve together in the year ahead.

I hope to see many of you at the Holiday Party tomorrow, December 12 from 2:30–4:30 p.m. in Sorenson Commons at the Babson Executive Conference Center.

With gratitude,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

As you have seen, last Tuesday ahead of our Thanksgiving break, our Dean of Campus Life shared the important resources below for our community who may be seeking additional support. Due to legal and privacy considerations, the College will not be commenting further at this time. Our priority remains the wellbeing of our students and all members of our community.

Steve

Good evening,

We are writing to share that one of our students was detained by federal immigration authorities while traveling home for the Thanksgiving holiday. We understand that this news may feel unsettling, particularly for our students, faculty, and staff who may already be navigating uncertainty.

Our ability to share specifics is limited by law, but please know that our focus remains on supporting the student and their family, as well as the wellbeing of our community. The College is following established protocols for situations that involve federal authorities, and we are staying informed through appropriate channels. Relevant faculty and staff have been informed so they can provide appropriate academic and community support in the student’s absence.

Support and Resources 

Students can engage with any of the following Babson resources:

Student Advising & Success, Graduate Academic Services, Student Life, Office of Belonging & Inclusion, Religious & Spiritual Life, Health Services, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) and free, immediate access to teletherapy through Uwill. ISSS is available to offer resources and guidance to students to help navigate the complexities of the changing immigration landscape. 

Moments like this can impact people in different ways. If you’re feeling uneasy or would like to talk with someone, campus resources are here for students, faculty, and staff. Thank you for continuing to look out for one another with care and understanding.

Dear Babson Community,

As Thanksgiving approaches, let us pause and reflect.

Through challenges and uncertainty, we stood firm, and our shared accomplishments speak volumes.

I am proud that our community continues to excel. Our faculty were honored for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service through this year’s Babson Faculty Awards. A remarkable 12 Babson entrepreneurs were featured in BostInno’s 25 Under 25 list, and LinkedIn ranked Babson No. 1 for alumni network strength, affirming the lifelong value of our alumni community and of the connections built here.

On campus, we marked important milestones, including the groundbreaking of Babson’s new Executive Lodge and Conference Center and the launch of the TARCO Institute for Real Estate and Entrepreneurship, becoming the 7th center or institute in the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership. These initiatives will strengthen our ability to convene entrepreneurial leaders and expand opportunities for collaboration. We also welcomed Ring Founder and Babson alum Jamie Siminoff for a fireside chat that underscored the impact of entrepreneurial thought and action.

For the third consecutive year, we’ve been ranked among the top 10 colleges in the country by The Wall Street Journal. For the 29th straight year, U.S. News & World Report named us the No. 1 undergraduate entrepreneurship program, a distinction that reflects our leadership in entrepreneurship education.

The world moves quickly and often unpredictably. Our ability to adapt and engage empowers entrepreneurial leaders: those who turn uncertainty into opportunity.

As you gather with family and friends this holiday season, please know how much I appreciate all that you do for Babson. I wish you a restful break and look forward to finishing the semester strong.

With gratitude,
Steve

Dear Babson Community,

Veterans Day is a moment to pause, reflect, and express our gratitude to those who have served in the armed forces. Their courage, sacrifice, and commitment to something greater than themselves inspire us all.

At Babson, we are proud to be part of a legacy that honors and supports veterans. From our historic role training Navy officers during World War II to the vibrant community of veterans on campus today, their presence has shaped our institution in meaningful ways. This year, we celebrate our veterans currently enrolled at Babson and our alumni who have served. Their leadership, perspective, and entrepreneurial spirit enrich our classrooms and our community.

My own appreciation for veterans is deeply personal. My sister served in the Air Force and now continues her service as a Veterans Administration nurse. My father-in-law served in the Marines, and my father spent over four years in the South Pacific during World War II, including the Battle of Guadalcanal. Their stories remind me that service is not just a moment in time, it’s a lifelong commitment.

This year also marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, a milestone that reminds us of the enduring legacy of service and sacrifice across generations.

To all veterans in our community and beyond: thank you. Your contributions are woven into the fabric of Babson, and we are better because of you.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I am humbled and thrilled to share another historic moment for our community. Babson College has once again been named the No. 2 best college in the United States by The Wall Street Journal.

This moment is a clear testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurial leadership—not just as a business discipline, but as a catalyst for change. It tells the world that entrepreneurial leadership is essential in every field, every sector, and every community.

Our stellar streak of three consecutive years as a top 10 college in the country validates our place as a leader far beyond business and entrepreneurship education. This recognition is a direct reflection of the caliber of the Babson community around the world.

From our recent graduates and engaged alumni to our faculty of great teachers and thought leaders and world-class staff, our community consistently contributes lasting social and economic impact at home and abroad. The exceptional return on investment of a Babson degree and the elevated focus on student and graduate outcomes, including graduation rates and salaries, again played a role in our recognition.

As we well know, entrepreneurial leadership is about so much more than launching a business or pitching a venture. It’s about relationships formed by common values, compassion, empathy, and perpetual aspiration—all tenets that our world so desperately needs. In a time of increasing divisiveness and alarming social anxieties, let’s use this period in the spotlight to serve as models for how respect, inclusivity, care, and genuine leadership can make the world a better place.

Entrepreneurial leaders are perpetually aspirational. We know that this recognition provides a moment for retrospection to explore how we can improve within our community and beyond. I look forward to celebrating this historic achievement throughout the year. This milestone is a springboard for continued growth and impact.

The Wall Street Journal’s recognition is every part yours as it is the institution’s. Take pride in knowing that you play a role in our ascension.

With great thanks,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

I am honored to share that Babson has been named the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report for the 29th consecutive time. This impressive recognition again validates our approach to creating entrepreneurial leaders who impact communities everywhere.

In recent years, Babson’s reputation has grown beyond pioneers in business and entrepreneurship education. Rankings from The Wall Street Journal and LinkedIn’s Top Colleges 2025 validate our place as leaders across higher education and elevate us alongside an impressive set of institutional peers.

But make no mistake, our continued role as the flagship for entrepreneurship remains critically important to our mission, strategy, and success. As the early pioneers in entrepreneurship education, we helped the world realize that not only can entrepreneurship be taught, but it must be taught.

For years, many asserted that the entrepreneurial spirit was something that some were born with, and others simply were not. It wasn’t believed that someone could learn to become an entrepreneur. Babson never believed that to be the case, and our commitment to creating generations of entrepreneurs plays a significant role in our growing reputation around the world.

Our continued success in the U.S. News & World Report rankings is noteworthy considering the crowded pantheon of high-level entrepreneurship programs and centers at colleges and universities across the country. We compete in an increasingly competitive market, as others have begun to see the power that entrepreneurship can harness as a catalyst for positive change. The spotlight on entrepreneurship—which is highly positive for higher education and society alike—validates our commitment to advancing entrepreneurial leadership.

Where Babson was the pioneer for the early adoption of entrepreneurship as an academic discipline, we continue to elevate what it means to be an entrepreneur by focusing on the human aspects of our discipline. This commitment to entrepreneurial leadership is building the next generation of values-based, empathetic, iterative, and innovative leaders who are creating solutions to our world’s greatest challenges.

Congratulations to our entire community. Your commitment to entrepreneurship education is the reason we remain No. 1 in our field.

With gratitude,

Steve

Dear Babson Community,

At the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership, we’re always looking for ways to expand our impact and provide our community with resources that address emerging opportunities. Real estate has been a vibrant and transformational sector for entrepreneurs, and interest from our students and alumni continues to grow.

To meet that demand and build on Babson’s tradition of creating mission-driven centers and institutes, we are excited to announce the launch of the new TARCO Institute for Real Estate and Entrepreneurship.

This is all thanks to the vision and generous donation from Todd Ruderman MBA’99, who has spent decades innovating in commercial real estate. Todd’s passion for the industry and his deep appreciation for his experience at Babson inspired him to create a home for real estate at the Blank School.

“I’m a firm believer that real estate creates lasting value—it’s always going to be needed, and it can do a lot of good,” said Todd. “Babson is already a leader in entrepreneurship, and with the TARCO Institute, it has the opportunity to lead in real estate as well. My hope is that students will discover real estate as a powerful path for innovation and impact, and that Babson will become a top destination for future leaders who want to bring those two together.”

The TARCO Institute for Real Estate and Entrepreneurship, which is named after TARCO Properties founded by Todd in 2002, will address a critical gap in business education by combining values-based entrepreneurial leadership with specialized skills in the real estate industry. It will add to the Blank School’s distinctive centers and institutes offering:

• Targeted programming
• Dedicated accelerator and incubator opportunities
• Sector-specific negotiation training

The institute will also amplify and support student-led organizations like the Babson Real Estate Club, whose growth and renewed energy highlight the appetite for this field on campus, as well as integrate with courses included in the Real Estate Concentration for further impact within the Babson academic community.

We are moving quickly to bring this institute to life. Leveraging the real estate roots we have on campus, our goal is to have programming underway in the next academic year. We will initiate a search for a founding executive director in the coming months to guide its development and growth. We look forward to updating you as we finalize details and formalize the leadership team.

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD

President

Donna Levin, CEO, Arthur M. Blank School of Entrepreneurial Leadership

Dear Babson Community,

Welcome to a new academic year at Babson. This new beginning reminds us that our community is one where entrepreneurial leadership is not just taught, but lived.

The global social and political environments remain tense. Higher education is clearly caught in the vortex of concerns. I am proud of the respectful and sophisticated discourse and behavior on our campus. I encourage everyone to continue upholding the College’s tradition of intense intellectual and emotional debate delivered with respect for opposing views.

The fall brings with it a sense of renewal. Whether you’re returning to advance your educational journeys or joining us for the first time, you are part of a community that believes in the power of innovation, the strength of collaboration, and a shared responsibility to lead with purpose.

Entrepreneurial leadership is about more than starting businesses. It’s about solving problems, creating value, and making a difference in the world. It’s about seeing opportunity where others see challenge, and acting with courage, creativity, and compassion. It is about building enduring relationships. These values are embedded in all that we do at Babson.

Babson is also a community that cares for one another. As we pursue bold ideas and navigate complex challenges, we know that empathy, inclusive excellence, and respect are the cornerstones of entrepreneurial leadership. We’re at our best when we lift each other and lead by example.

I encourage you to embrace the full Babson experience. Take risks, ask questions, build something new—and support those around you. Together, we will continue to shape a future defined not only by success, but by significance.

In anticipation,

Steve