In February, five of Babson’s presidents emeriti (pictured on the cover of our newly redesigned Babson Magazine) returned to campus for our Presidents’ Fireside Chat, the first of many Centennial celebrations. It was an incredible evening to reflect on Babson’s past and envision our future. Reminiscing with these icons of industry and academia, and hearing their advice for business and life, made for an inspiring event that illustrated firsthand the arc of Babson history.
President Kerry Healey
Photo: Webb Chappell
As my time at Babson soon comes to a close, it prompted me to consider how the College has grown and evolved over the past six years. I am exceedingly proud of our record of shared accomplishments and the impact the Babson community is making around the world.
On campus, over the last six years, we have welcomed the most well-qualified, diverse, and international undergraduates in Babson history, including 47 Global Scholars and the first female-majority class. We launched an accelerated degree pathway to reduce undergraduate tuition by up to 25 percent, met 100 percent of demonstrated need for incoming undergraduates, and awarded nearly $200 million in grants and scholarships since 2013.
We have celebrated the renovation and expansion of the Park Manor Quad, and opened Roger’s Pub & Grille and the Weissman Foundry. We created new spaces for wellness and connection with the Babson Recreation and Athletics Complex and Babson Commons at Horn Library. And, we restored and relocated the Babson Globe to a beautiful new park at the center of campus—one that will be named in my honor, as Kerry Murphy Healey Park. My most sincere thanks to everyone who has made this possible.
Around the world, Babson’s reach and reputation are unparalleled. Since 2015, we have introduced new satellite locations, launched the Babson Collaborative for Entrepreneurship Education, and brought free, online courses to nearly 200,000 students in more than 200 countries. Since 2013, alumni participation has increased 135 percent, international giving has increased 500 percent, and we have raised nearly $200 million to support Babson’s people, programs, and campus.
We have achieved so much together, yet there remains an incredible need and opportunity for Babson to lead in our second century. Babson has always believed that business can be a force for good, that it can transform lives, communities, and societies for the better. In the words of Roger Babson, business should be “a means of rendering service to humanity.”
Today, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs. Without question, Babson’s entrepreneurs possess the skills, ambition, and mindset to take on big challenges and change the world.
Thank you for allowing me to lead this remarkable institution. I am so grateful to be a member of this extraordinary community and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Babson.
Kerry Healey