From Currier Times staff///
In a dramatic conclusion to the presidential inauguration of Curry College's new president, Jay Gonzalez announced a new “job guarantee” for students starting with this year's freshman class. Gonzalez, who will be Curry College's 15th president, said the initiative is called the Curry Commitment and is the first of its kind at a U.S. university.
The announcement capped a day of celebration for Gonzalez, who took over as president last July following the retirement of Kenneth Quigley, who served as the institution's president for 27 years.
The inauguration will feature Curry's Connected Initiative, with a video demonstrating how students, faculty, coaches, and staff all work together to embrace student success and enrichment on the way to their first post-college careers. The focus was on the community.
Lexi Meader, a fourth-year student in the School of Communication, served as moderator. Meader transferred to Curry, where she said she was immediately welcomed into a caring community. She started college during the pandemic, but she said her sense of isolation changed when she arrived at Currie.
“With Curry, I don't have to worry anymore,” Meader said. She also expressed her gratitude to her professors and highlighted the graduates in attendance.
“We would like to thank them for supporting us in so many ways,” Meader said.
Dr. Kara Provost, Dean of the Faculty, then spoke and explained the fundamental role of a professor.
“We are first called to learn,” the chancellor said. “We too are called to teach,” the president said of giving students the knowledge, skills, resilience and “voice” to make their mark on the world.
In a moving speech by third-year computer science student Nathan Sinclair, the Dorchester native talked about his struggles as a first-year day student. He used the metaphor of a “chair” to describe how “alone” he felt until his fateful day when he was asked to play an intramural sport.
“That was my first opportunity to get out of my chair,” Sinclair said. “My single seat became a sofa and became a seating area for a group of people.'' He said there was a chair with “your name on it,'' and “you'' was the best person to sit on it. .
President Robert Shea said he supports the new president, saying the university is united in purpose and “inspired by possibility.”
Next, Curry alumnus Laurie LeSage, Class of 2010 and current Chief Financial Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, spoke and talked about how Curry “has shown us what I thought was impossible.” “Did you challenge me in a way I didn't have before?”
During his time at Curry, Mr. Lesage embodied President Gonzalez's touchstone motto: “BE CURRY.” Lesage served as a resident assistant, class president, computer lab supervisor, and worked in public safety.
LeSage said her most important connections are with faculty, particularly the late Katherine Morrison of Health and Wellness. Ms Lesage fought back tears as she said Prime Minister Scott Morrison's “advice” to her had been “invaluable”. She said Mr Morrison taught her “to advocate for herself”.
With the help of Callie's new support dog, Graham, Board President David Hemenway presented Gonzalez with the President's Medal, a symbol of upholding the ideals to which the university is dedicated.
In his inaugural address, Gonzalez said he was grateful for the collaborative spirit he found at Curry, especially the students he met across campus.
“You inspire me and give me strength every day,” Gonzalez said.
He was joined by former President Kenneth Quigley, former Maine Governor John McKernan, former Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and many other dignitaries from politics and academia, as well as family members who traveled. He expressed his gratitude to those in attendance, including his friends and colleagues. They are there all over the country.
He highlighted the historic Advancement of Learning (PAL) program, the first in the nation to serve students with learning differences, and the new SAIL initiative to support neurodiverse students, which will launch this fall. announced that it would be done.
He also talked about athletic facility improvements, a new men's volleyball team, a first-ever fundraising campaign, and a reimagined first-year experience.
But the most dramatic announcement was saved for last: Curry's job security.
Starting with this current first-year class, Curry guarantees a job for every student. Gonzalez said students can find employment within six months of graduation if they meet certain minimum requirements.
He said that if they do not have a job, the university will ensure that: Students can have their student loans paid off for up to 12 months while they continue to work with an advisor in the Career and Experiential Learning Center. Alternatively, students are offered a paid internship for up to 12 months at an organization aligned with their field of study while continuing to work with advisors in the Career and Experiential Learning Center. Or, if you are accepted into a graduate program at Curry College, your tuition will be waived for 6 credits.
Gonzalez said there are only a few colleges in the country that offer job guarantees, and none in metropolitan Boston.
“A new day in higher education has begun,” Gonzalez said.
“I believe in my students. I believe in Curry…Let's be Curry!” Gonzalez declared, to a standing ovation from the approximately 1,000 people in attendance.
Category: News
