On May 17, 2017, the Tufts Gordon Institute community gathered to celebrate the Class of 2017. The ceremony, held in the week before Tufts University’s commencement ceremonies, gave students the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments with faculty, fellow students, staff, and their families.
This year’s M. S. in Engineering Management graduating class totaled 82 students, and included the first Saturday cohort. The ceremony was also an occasion to celebrate the 14 members of the inaugural class of M. S. in Innovation Management students.
Mary Viola, Professor of the Practice and director of the MSEM program, says that she has witnessed a transformation among her students over the past two years, and has a message for the new leaders.
“After two years of study, practice and reflection, you have the knowledge, skills and mindset to lead. But you must make that very personal decision to act,” Viola says. “Your family, your company and your community need your leadership. Whether you aspire to be a quiet leader, or a famous leader, I hope that you can find within you the source of energy and courage within that will allow you to be the leader that only you can be.”
At the celebration, several faculty members, including Mark Ranalli, Ewa Winston, Sam Liggero, and Partha Ghosh, toasted to the class and encouraged them to step into their career with new confidence
Two MSEM students were presented with Outstanding Student Award in Engineering Management: Rick Osterberg and Eoin Kiely. Several MSEM students were presented with Distinguished Student Awards to recognize their academic performance and leadership qualities, including: Kathryn G. Smith-Petersen, Scott Bambrick, Andrea M. Dwyer, Peter Trearchis, Carlos A. Benitez, Johnathan W. Antonizio, and Misty Carlisle. Ken Nugent was recognized for his completion of the Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS) graduate certificate.