He was a Babson student, a professor, and an administrator, and now Spinelli is poised to lead the College, starting this summer.

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD Named Babson’s 14th President »

Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration

In professor Elizabeth Swanson’s human rights class, students work with inmates on entrepreneurial ventures that they can pursue once released.

Can Entrepreneurship Reduce Recidivism? This Babson Professor Says Yes »

Toyoda, Case Chosen as Commencement Speakers

Renowned entrepreneurs Akio Toyoda MBA’82, P’14 of Toyota Motor Corporation and AOL co-founder Steve Case will deliver speeches at Babson’s 2019 Centennial Commencement.

Global Business Leader Akio Toyoda MBA’82 to Deliver Graduate Centennial Commencement Address »

Internet Pioneer Steve Case to Deliver Undergraduate Centennial Commencement Address »

The New Babson MBA Debuts

See how this updated MBA features customization options, more electives, intensity tracks, and is in tune with today’s job market.

Get to Know Babson’s New MBA »

Ken Matsuno Appointed Dean of Faculty

In his new role, the Marketing Division professor will head up full- and part-time faculty and serve on the President’s Cabinet, Academic Council, and the Operating and Finance Committee.

Dr. Ken Matsuno Named Babson’s Dean of Faculty »

The Campus Gets a New Park

Kerry Murphy Healey Park, named for the College’s 13^th president, will feature the Babson Globe, Fountain of Flags, and a statue of Roger Babson.

Centennial Park to Be Named in Honor of President Kerry Healey »

Success Starts with a Coach

Getting an edge on career achievement starts with coaching and mentorship, says professor Joseph Weintraub, founder of the Coaching for Leadership Teamwork Program.

Making the Babson Experience Meaningful, One Coaching Session at a Time »

The Barefoots Endow Athletics Director Position

Babson president emeritus Brian M. Barefoot ’66, H’09, P’01 and wife Pamela P. Barefoot P’01 have donated $2 million to endow the Athletics Director position and inspire others.

With $2 Million Gift, Babson Establishes Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Athletics Director Position »

Christine and Michael Angelakis Support Education

During Babson’s Centennial year, Christine ’86 and Michael Angelakis ’86 give a $6.8 million gift for financial aid and unrestricted support to the College.

Angelakis Family Gift Advances Entrepreneurship Education and Leadership »

Roger Babson

Roger Babson may have been a dedicated businessman during the week, but Sundays were set aside for church services and family suppers. As devoted as he was to this spiritual routine, one of his granddaughters recalls that entrepreneurship was never far from his mind.

Marlene Graf says that these weekend get-togethers included her grandfather “always bringing out a new project he had going.” Once, it was a box filled with faux diamonds. “He was always looking for a new investment, a new invention.”

Those who knew Babson recall a driven man who was both practical and sentimental, who loved his family, was deeply religious, and had a determination to help others succeed.

“Anybody could talk to him,” says Judy Webber Ross, Graf’s older sister, who remembers accompanying her grandfather as he stopped by the campus lunchroom to talk with students and staff. She adds that he encouraged empathy in others. Babson took her to a convalescent home in a building that eventually became part of the campus, one that at the time treated polio patients. “He wanted me to see what life was like for people who had polio.”

Katherine Babson Jr. MBA’77, H’99, was in junior high school when she asked Babson, her grandfather’s second cousin, to contribute an ad for her school magazine. “We had a nice discussion,” she says, “and he gave me a check for the ad. The check had his picture on the left side, and on the right side was a picture of Sir Isaac Newton.”

Babson made an impression on students as well. Jack Dewey ’49, P’80 attended Babson’s weekly Friday talks on campus where Babson offered students guidance on business and investments.

Dewey, who worked for Liberty Mutual and directs the annual scholarship award selection committee for the Class of ’49 Scholarship Fund, says his education included statistics, which he loathed. “When I finally got into management,” he says, “I started using statistics. I found out how valuable they were. So, Roger knew more about it than I did.”

And what would Roger Babson think about the campus today? Those who knew him say he would likely be surprised—but pleased—by the coed campus; stunned to see a pub that bears his name, given his stance on Prohibition; and thrilled at the College’s expanded curriculum and focus on entrepreneurship.

“I think the school has progressed further than probably he ever thought it would,” Dewey says. – Jeannine Stein

In January, alumni gathered over dinner in Beijing. Pictured here are (back row, from left) Tianyi Tang, a 2017 exchange student; Xin Guo, MBA’16; Li Wang, a 2018 exchange student; Yubei Teng ’00; Weihong (Warren) Shen, MBA’01; Rong Zhou, MBA’01; Carlos Granados, MS’16; Yong-Ji Sun, MBA’00; and Qiang (John) Chen, MBA’08; (front row, from left) Sijia Guo ’14; Jingxi Ren, a 2018 exchange student; Shengnan Liu ’12; and Qing Zhao, MBA’10.

Aamir Anwar (right), a Babson international advancement officer, honored Junichi Murata, MBA’60, H’92 (second from right), at the ninth annual meeting of the Babson Alumni Club of Japan. Also attending were Motoya Okada, MBA’79 (left), and Seiichi Sato, MBA’85 (second from left).

Vaibhav Vohra ’08 (left) hosted a Babson Alumni Club of India president’s reception. Alumni, parents, current students, administrators, and friends gathered to welcome President Healey (center) to India. Also enjoying the reception was Global Advisory Board member Vivek Jain, MBA’83, P’07 (right).

The president’s reception in India included Babson alumni and friends. Pictured celebrating the start of Babson’s Centennial year are (sitting from left to right) Mukesh Hathiramani, P’19, Shaku Mahtani, P’19, and trustee emerita and Global Advisory Board member Elizabeth “Betsy” Powell, MBA’76, P’01.

That scholarship didn’t come from a large gift from a single donor—or even two or three. Small donations from a number of alumni made it possible for Damiecki to focus on studying finance and accounting and swimming competitively. In fact, in 2018, numerous alumni gifts to Babson under $100 were combined to fund 15 scholarships for students in need.

“When alumni give back, they help sustain and strengthen Babson in more ways than they can imagine,” says Kathryn McCarron, managing director of annual giving. “These gifts help to ensure that Babson remains the standard for excellence in entrepreneurship education, empowering the business leaders of tomorrow with the skills and expertise to transform industries, strengthen communities, and improve the lives of people everywhere.”

“This scholarship gives me more options for what I want to do and where I want to work. It allows me a lot more flexibility. It’s unbelievable.” – Alex Damiecki ’20
Photo: Jon Endow

Regardless of the donation size, she adds, “When people support the Fund for Babson, gifts are put into action immediately to benefit students.”

Damiecki has been fascinated with business since childhood, when he took part in stock market games in elementary school in Centerville, Massachusetts. Babson’s comprehensive business curriculum was a huge draw as he applied to colleges. “The fact that I was able to learn finance, marketing, operations management, and emerging technology—that was very valuable,” he says, adding that this broad knowledge base was key in his decision to ultimately pursue accounting and finance. “Babson really helped guide me through that process.” This summer, he’ll intern at PwC in audit services.

Becoming part of Babson athletics has been another highlight of his time on campus. “The swim team is very close—it’s like a family,” Damiecki says. “I found a strong social connection with people on my team.” That experience, plus his education, “has helped me grow a lot,” he adds. The encouragement he received as a first-year student from upperclassmen wasn’t forgotten, and he now offers guidance to younger students.

With graduation on the horizon, Damiecki is grateful for what a scholarship affords him: the ability to focus on his studies and explore jobs and a career path without the worry of paying back student loans. “This gives me more options for what I want to do and where I want to work,” he says. “It allows me a lot more flexibility. It’s unbelievable.” – Jeannine Stein

Keep your connection to Babson strong and join our community of donors this fiscal year.

From 2013 to 2018, the number of donors to Babson has increased by 74 percent, and alumni participation has increased from 15 percent to 30.5 percent. Between 2013 and 2018, total commitments to the College have grown from $10.4 million to $67.4 million annually.

Every gift of any amount is greatly appreciated and valued by the College. Participation rates are one of the important factors that have helped keep Babson rated as the No. 1 program in undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship education by U.S. News & World Report.

While Babson recognizes and celebrates gifts at all levels, the College has been especially fortunate to receive ongoing financial support from a core group of philanthropists who have placed Babson among their top giving priorities.

These generous individuals have had the willingness and the capacity to—over time—change the course of Babson’s future through their philanthropy. From advancing academic priorities, to endowing faculty and staff positions, to creating scholarships, and building new campus facilities, these donors have left an enduring legacy to the Babson experience.

In recognition of these preeminent benefactors, this May Babson will launch the Circle of Distinction, the college’s first lifetime giving society that includes people who have given $1 million or more to the College during their lifetimes.

At a luncheon being held during Commencement weekend, more than 80 individuals will be inducted as Circle of Distinction members for their extraordinary commitment to Babson.

“There is no better time to celebrate these exceptional alumni, parents, and friends,” said President Kerry Healey. “Babson’s first century was built on the generosity of our leadership donors, and we want to take this opportunity in our Centennial year to honor them. We are thrilled to welcome 80 Circle of Distinction members and highlight their impressive lifetime contributions.”

Collectively, these individuals have committed more than $330 million to Babson to date. Their impact is remarkable.

For example, their gifts designated for scholarships and financial aid have helped deserving students from around the world—from Maine to Texas, Brazil to Egypt, and everywhere in between. The result: a diverse, multicultural student body and numerous opportunities for any aspiring entrepreneurial leader, regardless of background or circumstances, to access a Babson education.

The common thread among these donors is that they have entrepreneurship in their blood— whether as executives, entrepreneurs, or leaders of family businesses—and they fundamentally believe in the College’s mission to create economic and social value everywhere.

“Babson has had a profound impact on my life and on the lives of our alumni,” said Craig Benson ’77, H’03, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Advancement Committee. “More important, however, is the impact Babson alumni, parents, and friends have on the lives of people living around the world. I believe that fact lies at the heart of why these individuals have made the College among their top philanthropic priorities, and we are very grateful to them.”

The College will induct additional Circle of Distinction members annually as they reach the $1 million threshold, and their names will be inscribed on a distinctive plaque in the new Kerry Murphy Healey Park. In this way, new leadership donors will build on the bedrock of those who have come before and set the stage for the College’s second century: alumni, parents, and friends who believe in the Babson DNA and its ability to create fertile ground for novel ideas. – Andy Tiedemann

David James MBA’18 brings his faculty coaching program to campus.
Photo: Webb Chappell

You’ve landed as an assistant professor at a prestigious college and you can’t wait to get into the classroom. But, do you have all the skills necessary to triumph as a teacher?

That’s where David James, MBA’18, comes in. James is the co-founder and managing director of Boston-based Beacon Instructional Partners, and his mission is to turn good professors into great ones via customized coaching. During James’ time at Babson he combined his interest in teaching with a love of entrepreneurship, eventually leading him to start his company (the director of marketing is former Babson classmate Shuning Hsu, MBA’18). James returned to campus last fall to work with the Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching on a pilot program to coach assistant professors, calling upon his previous experience in teaching, coaching, and co-founding a middle school in Lawrence, Mass.

“Babson is known to be a great teaching college, and it recruits people who are good teachers and love to teach,” says James. But, not everyone who makes it to higher education has benefited from effective teacher training. “For some professors, teaching is trial by fire,” he adds.

James’ inaugural volunteer group included four assistant professors who had a variety of goals that fell into four categories: developing and expressing clear and aligned objectives, improving assessments and rubrics, increasing student engagement, and creating ways to more effectively check for student understanding.

Coaches observed professors in the classroom over a semester both in person and via video. Subsequent one-on-one coaching was confidential and not connected to any tenure evaluations. “Some of the feedback we got from the professors was that they enjoyed being coached by someone who saw their class, saw the students, and understood what they were trying to do,” James says.

James created a case study, extrapolating data from student evaluations and feedback from the professors. The professors’ comments were overwhelmingly positive, noting increased student engagement, significant breakthroughs and improvements in their teaching, and the ability to achieve their goals.

James is partnering with Babson again this spring, and says that coaching is necessary in a shifting educational landscape. “Yes, you can watch classes online,” he says, “but to get the full experience, you need to be there in person.” – Jeannine Stein

Ben Chevrette is Babson’s director of regional and international advancement.
Photo: Webb Chappell

Ben Chevrette is the very definition of a frequent flyer. As Babson’s director of regional and international advancement, he wings around the world, meeting with members of the College community to raise support for the institution. “I travel extensively, from South Africa, to many spots in Asia, to Europe, to Latin America,” he says. “There is no place we don’t have alumni and supporters of the College.” While all the traveling is exciting, Chevrette confesses to being a homebody. When not on the road, he likes spending time at home or on campus, where he often eats in Trim Dining Hall. “I see the students,” he says, “and I’m reminded what this is all for.”

Where have you been lately?
I just returned from India. You can’t find two places that are more different than Mumbai and Wellesley. I am reminded that our students from India have to adapt to a new culture, a new style of learning, and they excel. That’s a testament to the students we attract. And it’s a testament to my colleagues at Babson. They have created a welcoming environment, where students from any part of the world can excel.

What kind of reception do you receive during your visits?
There is red-carpet treatment for any Babson representative who travels internationally. People invite me to their homes, to their clubs, and introduce me to their families. I’ve never experienced a warmer reception. I’ve met with heads of state and CEOs of multinational corporations. The energy people have for this College is amazing.

How is that energy translating into support?
Babson’s average fundraising amount internationally used to be about $1.5 million a year. Last year, we raised $13 million.

What do you like about your job?
I have found a career in which I meet people and help them realize the type of impact they want to have. That’s rewarding. I think of Babson as a platform. People invest here to make change. There is no cause you can’t impact with Babson as your vehicle. Global health issues. Climate change. Really, anything. If you care about hunger, you can give to a food bank, and that will give food to people. That’s noble. But you can give to a school like Babson that trains entrepreneurs, who may address the causes of global hunger and find solutions. – John Crawford

Now in its 21st year, the Black Affinity Network Conference is dedicated to strengthening the leadership and legacy between black alumni and current students, and providing networking and professional development opportunities for participants. The event also is a celebration of diversity, inclusion, and the achievements of individuals within the Babson College community. – Brianna Radicioni

Photos by Chao Zheng Li

From left: Eric Johnson ’72, P’08; vice president for programming and community outreach Jane Edmonds; president-elect Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD; Amanda Strong ’87

From left: Chief diversity and inclusion officer Sadie Burton Goss; BAN president Katrina Fludd ’08, MS’10; associate professor Tina Opie

BAN honoree Cathy Hughes (left), Aaron Walton ’83

Conference co-chair Shatiek Gatlin ’16 (left), Affinity Award winner Jeannette F. Angles, Babson’s ARM-E risk manager

From left: Dyana Williams, Lynn Scott, Vivian Scott Chew, Ray Chew.

Alumni, students, and community members attended this year’s Black Affinity Network Conference that included panel discussions and awards.