New Year’s Hopes: 6 Reasons to Be Optimistic in 2026
Ask Babson faculty what they are looking forward to in 2026, and a clear pattern emerges: momentum.
Whether helping students launch their ventures, reimagining how AI and writing intersect, traveling abroad with students to study sustainability firsthand, or creating space for deeper human connection through the arts, faculty are embracing the year ahead as an opportunity to act, experiment, and grow. It’s a distinctly Babson approach—one that treats uncertainty not as a barrier, but as an invitation to learn by doing.
Their answers also point to six interconnected areas of progress: advances in technology and AI, a renewed focus on humanity and the liberal arts, experiential learning across the globe, moments of meaning closer to home, innovation in the classroom, and personal growth beyond traditional boundaries.
Together, these reflections offer a snapshot of the Babson community in motion—one that advances entrepreneurship not only through ideas but also through action, reflection, and purpose.
Advances in AI
“I’m especially excited to keep building on the AI and writing work that took shape this year. At Babson, that means continuing the ‘Writing Across Levels’ roundtable work with high school partners and helping to shape the next phase of AIxEd as it grows from its first summit into a more sustained conversation across K–12, higher education, and workforce learning; continuing to think about the transformation of our Writing Center into a hub for writing and AI literacy; and expanding The Generator‘s applied research and experiential partnerships.
“I’m also looking forward to the release of my co-authored book, Getting Learning Right: The Promise of Higher Education, which ties together many of these threads by emphasizing student-centered, experiential, and collaborative learning. It feels like a year where the groundwork we’ve laid across teaching, research, and community partnerships can open into something wider. ”
— Kristi Girdharry, associate teaching professor of English
Advances in Humanity
“As I reflect on the state of the world around us as we head into 2026, I’m most excited to witness and help foster the flourishing of the liberal arts and student-centered learning at Babson. With the ever-increasing prevalence of widespread divisiveness, we need to center human connection and critical thinking now more than ever. More specifically, on March 31, Babson’s Arts & Humanities and History & Society divisions will be hosting a symposium organized around the question: ‘What does it mean to be human right now?’ “
“The event will feature student projects emerging from liberal arts courses, a student-run debate, and faculty discussions. I’m so eager to see this event come together, as it will showcase students’ original writing, creation, and thinking, which will no doubt make for an enriching and thought-provoking evening.”
— Shannon Mooney, assistant teaching professor of English
Advances Across the Globe
“In 2026, I’m most looking forward to teaching Political Economy of Sustainable Development: The Case of Germany, my faculty-led elective abroad. The big idea is: How did Germany become a sustainability leader in the first place, and what were the political and economic conditions that made that possible, especially now that the whole landscape is shifting and that role is getting challenged in real time.
“The best part is we don’t just talk about it—we go see it. Over spring break, we’ll be in Germany, traveling through Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Berlin, meeting business leaders and politicians and getting behind-the-scenes looks at places like Airbus, Mercedes, Hapag-Lloyd, plus startups doing really interesting work.
“It’s the most fun and interesting class I teach because it’s always changing. Politics changes, business changes, energy and climate policy changes, the underlying economics changes … so every year there’s something new and unexpected to dig into. And I love that our course is built around real business partners as the ‘clients.’ Students come back and deliver a consulting-style presentation at the end of the semester based on an actual client with a real-world question—evaluated with support from the German American Business Council of Boston. How fun is that?
“This year, we have had overwhelming interest and the highest number of applicants. The cohort of 23 students spans all four classes, 10 nationalities, including several company founders and even a licensed pilot. Can’t wait to get to know them better!”
— Jason Wong, assistant professor of economics
Advances Closer to Home
“As a longtime Boston Celtics season-ticket holder, I’m looking forward to Jayson Tatum recovering from surgery and helping the team win Banner 19!
“I’m excited to watch my two daughters, Willow (11) and Ella (5), continue to impress me with their kindness, courage, and eagerness to learn.
“I’m hopeful that in the coming year we can treat our colleagues, friends, neighbors, and strangers with more compassion, understanding, and human decency.”
— Ryan Davies, professor of finance
“I’m looking forward to several professional and personal milestones in 2026. In the fall, a textbook I’ve co-written with a University of California colleague, titled Well Crafted, Well Said: Public Speaking from Draft to Delivery, will be published by Broadview Press. Early in 2026, I’ll be reviewing a few Broadway and off-Broadway theater productions for academic journals. I am excited to direct a production at Babson for The Empty Space Theater in October. On a personal note, I can’t wait to help my mom celebrate her 80th birthday in July!”
— Beth Wynstra, associate professor of English
Advances in the Classroom
“I’m most excited to watch my students’ FME (Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship) ventures launch in the spring. One of my favorite parts of the course is seeing their ideas come to life and helping them turn those ideas into shared learning experiences that strengthen their collaboration and problem-solving skills. I also look forward to trying new approaches in the classroom guided by ET&A (Entrepreneurial Thought & Action), and I’m investing in my own growth through Babson’s CELT (Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching) programs and an upcoming teaching conference so I can bring fresh ideas back to my students.”
— Jessica Burkland, assistant professor of practice in management
“After a great start in 2025, I am looking forward to seeing our first DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) cohort getting into some real academic research. In best Babson tradition, the DBA program also has its own version of experiential learning, here it is a yearlong group project focused on research. In addition, the DBA students get to experience how we teach entrepreneurship by participating in the SEE (Symposia for Entrepreneurship Educators) program in January. I am also very excited to begin the recruiting of our second cohort in the spring, and welcome them on campus in the fall to start them off their own DBA journey.”
— Sebastian Fixson, faculty director of the Doctor of Business Administration program, Marla M. Capozzi MBA ’96 Term Chair in Design Thinking, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
“In 2026, I look forward to a) welcoming Dr. Cinthia Satornino, the second full-time sales faculty to Babson, b) scaling our annual Sales Leadership Summit beyond imagination, c) introducing SALESSIM, our AI-sales training simulator, and d) launching in January, Save Our Sales (SOS)Angels for FME, where a record number of alumni, faculty, parents, and staff have signed up to deliver a 90-minute masterclass on Selling Techniques to all freshmen as they navigate their go-to-market semester.
“Sales is finally blossoming and generating increased interest at Babson thanks to repositioning selling as listening, connecting, persuading, and building ethical relationships that last. My years of patient grassroots work is bearing fruits and I can’t wait to keep serving our community in this space.”
— Vincent (Vini) Onyemah, professor of marketing
Personal Advances
“In 2026, I am looking to step outside my comfort zone and grow professionally and personally. Some of the challenges ahead for me include deepening my coaching skills, teaching a new interdisciplinary course, learning to play mahjong, and more AT skiing, a backcountry skiing combining uphill hiking and downhill skiing.”
— Danna Greenberg, Walter H. Carpenter Professor of Organizational Behavior
“What excites me most about the coming year is the promise of new opportunities. Each semester brings a sense of renewal, but the start of a new year amplifies that feeling. I’m eager for the unknown opportunities ahead—a new group of students, the prospect of exploring new ideas in the classroom, and chances to grow both personally and professionally. While uncertainty can sometimes spark anxiety, I choose to see it as an invitation: an invitation to stretch, to learn, and to embrace change. These unknown opportunities aren’t something to fear, rather it’s where growth happens. And that’s exactly what I’m looking forward to most in 2026!”
— Cristina Alberti, assistant professor of accounting
Posted in Insights
Latest Stories
Posted in Insights
