With Gratitude and Confidence in the Future, Babson President Announces Retirement
President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD shared this message with the Babson College community this morning.
Dear Members of the Babson Community,
I am writing to share a personal and institutional update. After much reflection, I have informed the Board of Trustees that I will retire as President of Babson College at the end of June 2027.
This decision is deeply meaningful to me. From student to alumnus, professor to president, Babson shaped my life and career. Serving this institution and community has been my greatest professional honor. I share this news with gratitude for what we have accomplished together and confidence in the road ahead.
Babson is strong. We have seen record student demand, historic fundraising success, and sustained financial resilience. These results reflect faculty excellence in teaching and research, acute management, cross-community collaboration, and a shared commitment to Babson’s mission and values.
We are clear in our strategy. Through a comprehensive and inclusive planning process, we defined Entrepreneurial Leadership as our competitive advantage and launched our strategy, Entrepreneurial Leaders Impacting Communities Everywhere. That strategy was tested during the COVID-19 pandemic and validated by the market and our historic rankings. In the years since, our community, the College’s leadership team, and the Board of Trustees have aligned around ambitious aspirations for greatness that continue to guide our work.
“Above all, Babson’s continued ascension speaks to who we have become as a community, aligned in purpose and strengthened by the momentum we now carry into the future.”
President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD
We also have demonstrated agility in execution by expanding flexible delivery, embracing innovation, and scaling models that meet learners where they are. Our focus remains firmly on learners, prioritizing outcomes, access, lifelong value, and inclusive excellence.
Importantly, we are positioning Babson for the future. We are building one integrated, durable business model designed to adapt and lead. The creation of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership marks a defining moment, advancing faculty research, strengthening the field, and introducing the first conceptual model of Entrepreneurial Leadership. Lifelong learning, anchored in the new Executive Lodge and Conference Center and scalable through technology, is being realized.
Above all, Babson’s continued ascension speaks to who we have become as a community, aligned in purpose and strengthened by the momentum we now carry into the future.
Between now and June 2027, I remain fully committed to Babson and to advancing our strategy and momentum. After June 2027, I will always be a loyal supporter. I look forward to continuing this important work alongside you and supporting a thoughtful and successful leadership transition.
Thank you for your trust, partnership, and belief in Babson. Our best chapters are ahead.
With appreciation and confidence,
Steve
Latest Stories
Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership
