LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announce it was selected as a winner of the Virtual Innovation Awards: Excellence in Delivering Virtual Student Services hosted by NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Bay Path is among 10 schools recognized across the nation for exemplary virtual student support services, and one of only three schools to receive the top award of $50,000.

The award highlights the effectiveness of the work being done to support both Bay Path’s traditional undergraduates and adult students enrolled in its online undergraduate degree program, the American Women’s College. These best practices will serve as case studies to inform the field at large.

“Student-support services are essential to students’ progress in college,” said Maura Devlin, associate vice president and dean of Undergraduate Studies at Bay Path. “These supports include advising, orientation, emergency aid to help with textbook costs and other essentials, clubs and activities, academic and learning supports, and health and well-being programs.”

As Bay Path’s online program for adult women, the American Women’s College has been continually developing and enhancing its virtual support services since 2013. At the onset of the pandemic, university staff were able to put these supports into overdrive to ensure campus-based undergraduate students could easily access services despite the abrupt move to remote.

Some of the virtual services that have allowed Bay Path University to be responsive to its diverse student body, whether in person or online, include a virtual career-services hub; UWill, a telecounseling service; and Tutor.com, which provides access to online tutoring services 24/7. Similarly, programming related to orientation, peer-to-peer engagement, community building, and multi-cultural affairs was provided by a support team that was able to quickly pivot to virtual platforms and social-media tools.

“We are so honored to be the recipient of this award. Our focus is fully on the students we serve and how we can continue to meet them where they are, in even the most trying of times, to help them to achieve their educational goals,” said Anne Chapdelaine, Bay Path’s dean of students and director of persistence. “This award will allow us to continue to pilot new, responsive tools and expand our resource availability, to make sure that we can flex and bend with the complex lives of our students.”

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University’s annual holiday party and employee-recognition event has been a long-standing tradition for faculty and staff. The pandemic prevented the normal gathering, but technology came to the rescue and provided a platform to connect remotely.

Highlights of the event include naming a charity to be the recipient of Bay Path’s generosity, as well as employee recognition for years of service at the university.

For 2020, the designated charity is Christina’s House, a Springfield-based nonprofit and Christ-centered ministry that provides transitional housing to meet the needs of mothers and their children who are homeless or near-homeless. More important, Christina’s House provides emotional, spiritual, physical, and education support as families transition from homelessness to permanent, stable living environments.

“Christina’s House is honored to have been chosen by Bay Path University as their charity of choice to give back to this holiday season,” said Shannon Mumblo, executive director of Christina’s House. “Our missions are so much aligned, empowering others to be leaders and realize their dreams through education. It is only through the support and generosity of our community that our mission continues to thrive during these unprecedented times. We are grateful to each and every person who has made a donation this holiday season; you are helping to change lives for generations to come. God bless you, and thank you.”

To donate to Christina’s House, visit www.christinashouse.org or mail a gift to Christina’s House, 38 Madison Ave., Springfield, MA 01105.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University will host its 25th Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) in person at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Friday, April 1, 2022. The decision comes nine months after the March 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual conference brings more than 2,000 attendees to downtown Springfield for a day of speakers and workshop sessions devoted to professional development and personal goals. After weighing several options for hosting the annual conference, the university decided to forgo a 2021 event and wait until the event could take place in person.

“Initially, we hoped to bring everyone together for a March 2021 conference, but there’s still too much uncertainty attached to when this pandemic will subside,” said Caron Hobin, vice president of Strategic Alliances, Bay Path’s division of professional development, which has produced the conference since its inception. “We also contemplated making the conference virtual, but ultimately, we felt that the intimacy, spontaneity, and energy that distinguishes the WLC would be lost.”

“We realize, from our own experiences attending Zoom meetings and digital forums, that screen fatigue is real,” Hobin added. “In order to truly create a day that would meet the high standards that we and our attendees have come to expect, we feel that waiting it out to create a great in-person experience is the right way to go.”

With an extended timeline, social media and digital forums will serve as virtual hubs to generate conversations and share thoughts and information that will carry over to the WLC.

“We know these are hard times,” Hobin said. “The bright side is that we can really take advantage of this extra time to build community, encourage connection, and make the 2022 event an exceptional in-person experience.”

More information on speakers and schedules is forthcoming and will be posted at baypathconference.com.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced it will again welcome prospective students and their families to visit the Longmeadow campus in person. Tours will be available at designated times Monday through Saturday, and reservations must be made in advance. Detailed safety protocols will be in place to ensure the health and safety of all participants.

“We’re thrilled to welcome prospective students and their families back to campus to experience first-hand what makes Bay Path so special,” said Sarah Wisnouskas, director of Recruitment Events for Bay Path University. “We’ve spent months building and testing our COVID protocols to ensure that we can offer these tours safely. There’s nothing like walking a campus to feel the culture and climate of a college or university, and we’re confident that we can offer these tours in a way that prioritizes what is always our number-one goal — keeping students safe and cared for.”

When allowing visitors on campus, Bay Path will follow the guidelines set forth by the state of Massachusetts; as such, not all buildings will be available to tour.

To schedule an in-person campus visit, or for more information on visitation requirements, log onto baypath.edu/visit. For those prospective students or families who wish to tour campus virtually, individual guided virtual campus tours are still being held Monday through Friday. Check out baypath.edu/visit for more information or to schedule a virtual appointment.

LONGMEADOW — On Oct. 17, the Bay Path University community celebrated what may be the most resilient graduates in recent history: the class of 2020. Although the celebration was viewed on screens instead of in person, and graduates were sent texts and Facebook comments of congratulations instead of hugs and high fives, it was an event to remember.

The ceremony — Bay Path’s 123rd — was held live on campus with a production team from Zasco Productions safely bringing the event to graduates, friends, and families all over the globe. A small group of Bay Path administrators, trustees, and faculty members donned their celebratory commencement regalia to bring the event to life, delivering encouraging messages of hope and resilience to the 1,010 graduating students.

Six graduating seniors from the class of 2020 kicked off the ceremony with a moving virtual rendition of the national anthem, followed by a special invocation of the Nipmuck Prayer delivered by Gentle Running Deer and Aprell Mumford (class of 2021), both members of the Mohawk tribe from the Iroquois Confederacy. Local dignitaries and faculty members gave virtual well wishes, reminding the graduates of what they had to overcome to make it to this moment.

“I want you to take a moment to celebrate this moment because it represents the absolute joy that comes from completing a journey that once seemed overwhelming. I want you to celebrate achieving something that is life-changing,” Bay Path President Sandra Doran said.

During the ceremony, two students received awards for their hard work and exemplary character. Traditional undergraduate student Lilly West received the Eagle Award for her positive attitude and community leadership on campus and in athletics, while maintaining a 3.5 or higher GPA. Karen Vecchitto, a non-traditional student at the American Women’s College, received the Pathfinder Award in honor of obtaining academic excellence of a GPA of 3.5 or higher while balancing her family life, career, and community-service responsibilities.

After a benediction from Fr. Christopher Waitekus of St. Mary’s Church in Longmeadow, the event ended with special remarks from the guests of honor — the graduates themselves. More than 50 graduates submitted videos thanking their families, friends, professors, and the Bay Path community for helping to make their success a reality. As one Bay Path graduate shared, “special thanks to my friends, family, and BPU faculty. Congratulations 2020, we finally did it! It’s time to conquer this world — be great, not average!”

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced the launch of a monthly webinar series bringing the concept of ‘leading-edge thinking’ to a deep examination of the future of higher education.

The series will open Thursday, Oct. 29 with a presentation titled “The Human Side of Innovation: Finding Joy and Meaning in Everyday Life and Work.” Presented by Elaine Dundon, bestselling author and founder of the Global Meaning Institute, it will explore the search for meaning in the context of widespread change and discuss how innovation can bring us forward as we embark upon a new normal for post-pandemic life.

The webinar series was developed by Bay Path’s Center for Higher Education Leadership and Innovative Practices (CHELIP) to further the discourse and confront the challenges surrounding the upheaval of traditional higher education.

“The higher-education sector is being transformed at a rapid and dramatic pace, creating demand for fresh, creative perspectives that can address the needs and aspirations of modern-day students and the institutions that serve them,” said Melissa Morriss-Olson, founding director of CHELIP and Bay Path’s doctoral program in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies. “Through forums such as this new ‘leading-edge thinking in higher ed’ webinar series, CHELIP will cultivate and explore these new perspectives and serve as a guide for innovation and transformation in higher ed, actions so greatly needed by leaders today and in the future.”

Morriss-Olson imagines the series will best serve higher-education professionals looking for new approaches and models to help confront the sector’s pressing issues and challenges, but she also believes anyone who cares about the future of higher education, including college and university board members, parents, alumni, and donors, would be intrigued by its content.

“There is much to be learned from how the business world has used innovative thinking and entrepreneurial strategies to forge new paths,” she noted. “Given the unique organizational structures and missions at most colleges and universities, the challenge lies in learning and borrowing from other industries and making that learning fit the higher-ed culture. We’ve designed this webinar to not only inspire what might be possible, but also to provide a roadmap for how to actually get it done.”

The series is open to all. Each webinar is an hour long, with future presentations looking at topics such as student-retention challenges, racial injustice, and transforming the learning process. Click here for the full schedule and descriptions.

LONGMEADOW — After a long push for emerging professionals to be proficient in technical skills upon graduation, employers are now advocating for a slight twist: employees still need soft skills, too. The American Women’s College at Bay Path University, known for its ability to offer degree programs specific to workforce needs, recently announced a degree that combines a liberal-arts education with the technical skills in high demand.

The digital information design and society major offers students a curriculum that combines traditional liberal-arts skills in critical thinking, ethics, analysis, communication, and research with technical skills in coding, programming, data science, text mining, web development, modeling, and mapping.

“We really wanted to think about what the future of work looks like and how we can train our students to meet those needs that employers are asking for,” said Emily Thompson, academic director of Liberal Studies and Communications at the American Women’s College. “Employers need people with tech and STEM skills, but they also need people who can write well, think critically, and possess emotional empathy in the workplace.”

While a degree in liberal studies has always been an interdisciplinary program, the addition of quantitative and computational thinking skills allows students to apply their knowledge base across career fields. The program, in which students will earn a bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies, also allows students to tailor their curriculum to best suit the direction they want to head in post-graduation.

“We’ve left elective space open to allow students a broad spectrum in where this degree can take them,” Thompson said. “While one student may be interested in public policy and can choose electives that focus on that field, another may be interested in instructional design or new media design, and can choose electives that support those fields.”

Upon graduation, students will be equipped to enter fields like academic and health administration, digital communications, media production, learning design, and public-relations strategy.

For more information on the digital information design and society concentration, visit www.baypath.edu/digitalinformationdesign.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has put together a unique course for recent high-school graduates looking to explore ways they can impact movements for social justice. The course, “Exploring Pathways to Social Justice,” will combine lectures, discussions, videos, readings, and virtual, experiential learning through the context of history, legal studies, and communications. In addition, the students will participate in presentations by professionals who have channeled their visions for a more just world into careers advocating for social justice and leading their communities.

The three-credit course runs from Sept. 21 to Dec. 21 and is open to recent high-school graduates and college students, whether enrolled at Bay Path University; its online program, the American Women’s College; or any other institution, as well as students who are taking a gap semester while they evaluate their college options. Registration runs until Sept. 16.

The class is a collaboration between several faculty members and will explore social-justice movements, trace the historical roots of the civil-rights struggle, investigate how race factors into the contemporary criminal justice system, and consider strategies for change. Students will be challenged to apply their passion for social justice while learning to express themselves and developing practical skills for academic and professional settings. Through the course material and ongoing opportunities for conversation, they will connect with other students and become part of an inspired, motivated network.

“We created this class for students who may be using this time away from their schools to contemplate how and where to channel their voice and their passion for social justice, as they begin to think about their long-term goals, personally and professionally,” said Gwen Jordan, director of Bay Path’s Justice and Legal Studies department. She will be teaching sections on the criminal justice system, including a focus on the movement devoted to exonerating the wrongly convicted and reforming the system.

“The course really speaks to what we’re striving to do at Bay Path,” Jordan said. “As educators, we look to give our students a larger, deeper picture of the world we’re living in, while also helping them set concrete goals and acquire practical skills to achieve them.”

Additional course information and a registration link are available here.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has unveiled the premiere episodes of its new podcast, IngenioUs. Devoted to exploring relevant, provocative topics in higher education through the lens of innovation, IngenioUs is the brainchild of its host, Melissa Morriss-Olson, provost emerita of Bay Path University, distinguished professor of Higher Ed Leadership, and creator and director of the college’s new Center for Higher Education Leadership and Innovative Practices. She is also the author of the accompanying IngenioUs blog.

“Even before the coronavirus challenged institutions to rethink traditional learning paradigms, higher education was in a freefall, forcing colleges and universities to experiment with new models and ways of operating,” Morriss-Olson said. “Throughout my nearly 40-year career in higher ed, I’ve studied how leaders adapt to challenging environments, what conditions and factors make the most difference for those who are able to weather the storms and emerge more resilient and relevant than ever. With IngenioUs, I have an opportunity to speak with some of the most innovative and provocative thought leaders about the remarkable ways they’re changing their institutions and the higher-ed landscape. The hope is that our discussions will inspire deeper thought, ongoing conversation, and creative solutions to some of the biggest challenges and changes facing colleges and universities.”

Guests have included retired Bay Path President Carol Leary, reflecting on 25 years of innovative leadership; national thought leader Amer Ahmed, interim executive director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and visiting faculty at Dickinson College, discussing how to move beyond words to create lasting social-equity change; and Lenore Rodicio, executive vice president and provost at the nation’s largest community college, Miami Dade College, on how to reimagine higher education for the benefit of all students.

New episodes are released weekly. Subscribe to the podcast and blog here.

LONGMEADOW — As women continue to experience the devastating impact of unemployment due to COVID-19, representing close to 60% of all lost jobs this spring, the food-service, hospitality, retail, and travel industries have been some of the hardest hit.

Further delivering on its mission of empowering women, at a time when many are forced to reimagine their lives, Bay Path University is offering a free three-credit online undergraduate college course in August. The course, “Fundamentals of Digital Literacy,” will help women expand their digital technology skill set and be better prepared for the workforce of the future. The course is offered through The American Women’s College, Bay Path University’s fully online division designed to fit busy women’s lives.

“We hope this free course inspires women to look to a better future through education at a time when they are experiencing such uncertainty,” said Carol Leary before her recent retirement as Bay Path president. “This is our way to offer women an opportunity to discover the benefits of online learning. We have deep experience serving women in a proven college format resulting in a graduation rate that is 20% higher than other adult-serving online programs.”

“Fundamentals of Digital Literacy” is a six-week, three-credit course in which students will examine best practices for utilizing social-media and digital-communication tools in the workplace. In addition, they will learn practical skills for a digital world and gain an increasing awareness of the risks of digital communication essential in all fields. By mastering the fundamentals of computing technology and demonstrating digital literacy, women who complete the course will have developed the computer skills needed to thrive in a 21st-century workforce that is continually changing.

Leaders in the Women in Travel and Hospitality and Women in Retail Leadership Circle organizations are sharing this free course opportunity with impacted employees impacted. The course offering is not exclusive to these groups, however, and any woman in sectors affected by COVID-19 are welcome to enroll.

“At a time when the retail industry has been dramatically impacted, it is refreshing to see Bay Path University, an institution dedicated to advancing the lives of women, provide an opportunity for women in our industry to gain a valuable skillset and college credits,” said Melissa Campanelli and Jen DiPasquale, co-founders of the Women in Retail Leadership Circle.

Unlike other online degree programs, students enrolled in classes through the American Women’s College at Bay Path University are able to get immediate feedback on individual academic performance. They also get the support they need to excel in the program, such as coaching, counseling, virtual learning communities, and social networking. The courses are designed to help provide the flexibility women need to engage in their studies, while still balancing their daily lives, jobs, and families.

As a result of the innovative approach to learning offered through the American Women’s College, women successfully earn degrees at higher rates than national averages, the institution notes. The model has been widely recognized by industry experts, the federal government, and granting agencies since its inception in 2013. Most recently, the American Women’s College was awarded a $1.6 million grant from the Strada Education Network to use its unique model to close the digital-literacy gap for women.

Enrollment in this six-week, three-credit course is subject to availability. This offer is intended for women who are first-time attendees of Bay Path University. Active Bay Path University students and those enrolled within the past year are not eligible for this offer.

Any student enrolled in this course who wishes to officially enroll into a certificate or degree program at the American Women’s College or Bay Path University must submit the appropriate application for admission and be accepted according to standard admissions guidelines.

To register for the course, visit bpu.tfaforms.net/41. The registration deadline is July 20, and enrollees will have course access on July 27. For more information, visit www.baypath.edu/baypathworks.

LONGMEADOW — At its recent annual meeting, held virtually, the board of trustees of Bay Path University, on behalf of the entire Bay Path community, surprised retiring President Carol Leary with a celebration in her honor.

“Carol Leary led a remarkable transformation of Bay Path during her 25-year tenure. The board was honored to pay tribute to her and express gratitude for the countless ways she and her husband Noel have impacted Bay Path and the Western Massachusetts community,” said Jonathan Besse, board chair.

The longest-serving president in Bay Path’s history, the board granted Leary the title of president emerita, which will begin July 1, her first day of retirement. Emeritus status is a special honor given to an individual who has provided distinguished service to an institution or organization. During her tenure, Leary guided the university through a remarkable transformation, resulting in an unprecedented number of institutional improvements and initiatives such as strengthening academic offerings, enhancing the student experience, investing in capital projects, and establishing ties with the greater community and cultivating new partnerships.

In addition to electing Leary president emerita, the trustees voted to rename the main administration building, Deepwood Hall, to Leary Hall.

Carol and Noel Leary were also acknowledged for their commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the tremendous impact they have had on all students. As first-generation college students themselves, they have inspired hundreds of women to attain a degree.

Also, in recognition of Noel Leary’s deep commitment to students, as well as his civic activism and volunteerism, the board awarded him an honorary degree. As Besse noted, “for this selfless community servant who, without fanfare, has dedicated his life to the betterment of others, we are proud to bestow Bay Path’s highest honor, the doctor of humane letters, honoris causa, upon Noel Leary.”

Sandra Doran, the sixth president of Bay Path, will assume office on July 1.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University is expanding its focus in the rapidly growing area of cybersecurity — and helping to bring more women into it — with the introduction of an undergraduate major in risk management. In addition, the university will offer scholarships to women looking to obtain degrees in cybersecurity. Made possible by Strada Education Network, these scholarships will help offset the cost of fall 2020 enrollment in cybersecurity programs.

The term ‘risk management’ applies to the forecasting and evaluation of risks alongside the identification of procedures to avoid or minimize their impact. This new program concentration will include coursework in data privacy, project management, crisis management, and incident recovery.

“Bay Path’s risk management degree is designed for women who enjoy collaborating to proactively identify risks and guard against cyberthreats,” said Beverly Benson, program director for Information Technology and Security at the American Women’s College of Bay Path University. “This degree will enable women to combine valued skills and insights like problem solving, creativity, collaboration, communication and leadership, and essential technical knowledge to develop and implement risk-management strategies for an incredibly exciting and rewarding career.”

With nearly 80% of the organizations surveyed for the 2019 Marsh Microsoft Global Cyber Risk Perception Survey ranking cyber risks as a top-five concern, but only 11% feeling adequately prepared to assess and address those threats, the need for risk managers in the cybersecurity sphere is more important than ever. Within those responding organizations, the majority of board members and senior executives responsible for their organization’s cyber risk management reported that they had less than a day in the last year to spend focused on cyber risk issues.

“In time, with training and experience, high-paying jobs in cybersecurity are available, especially for women,” Benson said. “Bay Path is working to ensure women students get desirable internships in cybersecurity to close the experience gap and position them for better starting salaries.”

For more information on Bay Path’s undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity programs, including focuses in risk management, digital forensics and incident response, and information assurance, visit www.baypath.edu.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University is joining a growing movement that uses storytelling to strengthen the connection between the clinical and emotional facets of healthcare with the launch of a certificate in Narrative Medicine, offered through its master’s in Creative Nonfiction program.

Through reflections on the giving and receiving of treatment; interactions with practitioners, patients, and agencies; and the journey of illness and recovery, the medical community has embraced the sharing of stories as a way to bring a depth of humanity to what’s so often experienced as an impersonal transaction.

“This new offering draws on the most recent research into the connections between medicine, the humanities, and literature,” said Suzanne Strempek-Shea, faculty member in Bay Path’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction program and author of the cancer memoir Songs from a Lead-Lined Room. “Students will not only develop empathy but also build skills in creative writing, critical analysis of literature, workshop design, teaching and facilitating, and active listening that can be applied to patient/client settings, and beyond.”

Coursework will focus on coping with illness and trauma and explore how inequities in access to medical care and exposure to trauma influence the experiences and outcomes for people of color, women, poor people, and immigrants and undocumented residents, in addition to other marginalized groups.

An internship will give students the opportunity to apply creative and critical thinking, people skills, flexibility, and communications skills in a real-world setting, while contributing meaningfully to their communities.

Launching in January 2021, the certificate in Narrative Medicine will require no academic prerequisites, and will be available to a wide array of professionals within the healthcare field: physicians and physician assistants, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, and trauma and addiction specialists, as well as to writers with a personal illness or trauma story. The certificate courses will also be available to MFA students as a specialized track within Bay Path’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction, currently the only MFA in the country with a Narrative Medicine certificate option.

“We find that a significant number of students in our MFA in Creative Nonfiction — many with backgrounds in social work, nursing, teaching, and other related fields — are interested in writing narratives based on medical, physical, and psychological trauma,” said MFA Director Leanna James Blackwell. “Whether it be healing from cancer, recovering from addictions, surviving abuse, healing from grief, or reckoning with the real-world costs of navigating the world as a woman, person of color, and/or member of the LGBTQ community, they have important stories to tell. In addition to helping these students tell their stories, the program prepares them to pursue post-graduate careers as teachers and writing workshop leaders, who are specifically qualified to help others wanting tell their own healing stories.”

On June 1, Bay Path will offer a glimpse into the power of medical storytelling at a free online discussion, webinar, and Q & A session with Strempek-Shea and Meredith O’Brien, MFA graduate and author of the new medical memoir Uncomfortably Numb, which details her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and her struggle to maintain her life as a journalist, teacher, and mother. For more information about the event, click here.

For more information on the certificate in Narrative Medicine, click here.

LONGMEADOW — As an onslaught of complex challenges, and the urgency to develop innovative solutions to meet them, promise to reshape higher education, Bay Path University announces the launch of a new master’s program in Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) this fall.

The fully online program will tap into Bay Path’s long-standing position as a leader in the use of emerging technologies, creative curricula, and learning analytics to train professionals looking to shape the ongoing evolution of higher education by applying technology to the development of innovative, accessible, and impactful learning processes. 

Designed by a broadly representative team of Bay Path faculty and staff, the LDT program was launched to give students a students a deep foundation in the tools and theory of learning design, technology innovation, learning analytics, and higher-education leadership, a foundation on which they can create engaging and innovative learning experiences for all students. Students will also have the opportunity to enroll jointly in Bay Path’s doctoral program in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies (HELOS) and carry out applied, real-world learning design projects.

“While there are hundreds of graduate programs currently preparing individuals for careers in the educational technology field, the Bay Path MS in LDT uniquely pulls together several essential threads that are especially important in today’s environment for reimagining higher education,” said Melissa Morriss-Olson, Bay Path’s outgoing provost and the architect of the HELOS degree.

While the launch comes at a time when the coronavirus has transformed campuses, Bay Path has used technology to pioneer unique teaching and learning formats and offer flexible, dynamic, and personalized educational experiences for 20 years. The university’s diverse student population includes its traditional on-campus undergraduates, online graduate students, and online adult learners obtaining bachelor’s degrees through the American Women’s College. 

“Given Bay Path’s long-standing, successful track record in educating higher education professionals … and in applying innovative learning solutions across the university,” Morriss-Olson said, “it is logical that we should position ourselves as a leader in educating digital learning professionals for this emerging, inter-disciplinary, and in-demand career field.”

To learn more about this program, click here.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University’s fourth annual President’s Gala will take place on Saturday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel. While the event will continue its tradition of raising funds for student scholarships, it will also celebrate the legacy of Carol Leary, who will retire in June after 25 years as Bay Path president.

The gala will feature a tribute to Leary and her husband Noel, silent and live auctions, dinner, and dancing with live entertainment. The evening will also tell the story of the university’s mission — empowering undergraduate women and graduate women and men to flourish in a constantly changing world. Last year’s event netted more than $360,000 in support of student scholarships. 

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to raise funds again this year for student scholarships while celebrating the legacy of Dr. Carol Leary and Noel. The Learys have been instrumental to Bay Path and the Western Mass. community over the last 25 years,” said Allison Gearing-Kalill, Bay Path University’s vice president for Development and Planned Giving. “The gala provides an opportunity to bring together businesses, community partners, alumni, and friends of Bay Path who understand the obstacles our students face today.”

Mary and David Bushnell, Laura and Rick Grondin, and Michelle and Peter Wirth are the gala’s honorary chairs. The platinum sponsor is MassMutual. Gold sponsors include Advance Manufacturing Co. Inc., Hannoush Jewelers, Health New England, Melinda and K. Francis Lee, PeoplesBank, and Powerstation Events. Drew and Lauren Davis are the entertainment sponsors.

The President’s Gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by a seated dinner at 7:30 p.m. The tribute will start at 8:30 p.m., and at 9 p.m., guests will be invited to dance the night away. To learn more about the gala, including sponsorships, purchasing tickets, and donating to or participating in the auction, visit www.baypath.edu/gala or contact Meg Morrill at (413) 565-1396 or [email protected].  

For those who are not able to attend, but would like to support Leary’s 25th and final year as president, Bay Path University announced the relaunch of the Carol A. Leary Endowed Scholarship Fund for First-Generation College Students. The fund, which was initially established in 2005 in honor of Leary’s 10th anniversary as Bay Path’s president, is just as relevant today as Bay Path continues to welcome first-generation students into the community. Since its induction, Bay Path has awarded this scholarship to more than 100 women attending college as first-generation students. To learn more about the fund, visit baypath.edu/leary.