VP Data Services and Technology Innovation

Wentworth Institute of Technology is a leading institution advancing the fields of the built environment, engineering, and applied technology. With deep expertise in architecture, design, and construction, along with strengths in engineering, computing, emerging technologies, and management, Wentworth offers interdisciplinary, experiential education that prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving world. Through immersive learning and strong industry partnerships, the university delivers a high return on investment while empowering graduates to drive innovation and create meaningful societal impact today and into the future.Founded in 1904 to furnish education in the mechanical arts, Wentworth has grown into one of the nations premier STEM and design universities. Nearly 3,900 undergraduate students and nearly 250 graduate students now pursue degrees across five schools: Architecture and Design Computing and Data Science Engineering Management Sciences and HumanitiesWentworths academic pathways are designed for flexibility, ranging from accelerated three-year degrees to 3+1 and 4+1 bachelors/masters programs, as well as part-time, hybrid, and online study.Every undergraduate completes two co-op semesters, applying classroom knowledge to real-world settings and building professional networks before graduation. 91 percent of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months, 97 percent work in their field or major, and the median starting salary is more than $72,000. The university earned the top ranking in Massachusetts from The New York Times when measuring earnings, mobility, and diversity, was highlighted by the Carnegie Foundation as one of only five STEM institutions with Higher Access, Higher Earnings, and has been recognized in Forbes Top Colleges list. News & World Report rankings for both Best Value Schools and Undergraduate Engineering Programs.This vision builds on Wentworths longstanding tradition of applied, experiential learning while positioning the institution to prepare graduates who thrive in a technology-driven, globally connected economy.The universitys financial and institutional strength supports this ambition. In 2024, the university unveiled a 10-year Institutional Master Plan that will transform the physical campus with three new academic buildings, three new residence halls, and expanded green spaces. When completed, the plan will increase housing capacity from 2,200 to 3,900 students, while also adding a new athletics field house and doubling the campuss green space to advance sustainability and resiliency.From training servicemembers during World War I to becoming coeducational in 1972, to launching Accelerate, the universitys Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center in 2012, Wentworth has consistently adapted to meet the needs of students and society. Through its strong academic programs, nationally recognized co-op model, industry partnerships, and strategic investments, Wentworth Institute of Technology stands as a university of opportunity and innovation preparing graduates who are not only ready to succeed in their fields but also to shape the world around them. His career in higher education spans more than three decades, including teaching and advising roles at Marshall University and Morehouse College and more than twenty years in senior leadership at Quinnipiac University, where he served as executive vice president and provost and helped establish both engineering and medical schools.A scholar of urban and regional economics, Dr. Thompson earned a bachelors degree in economics-finance from Bentley University, an MBA from Western New England University, and a Ph.His research has examined housing segregation, labor market discrimination, and the role of intellectual property rights in economic development.At Wentworth, President Thompson has led with a spirit of optimistic urgency, guiding the university through a period of transformation and renewal. Building high-performing academic and administrative leadership teams and embedding inclusive excellence as a core institutional priority, including the creation of Wentworths first vice president for Inclusive Excellence. Expanding academic innovation by restructuring academic divisions and launching new programs such as Applied Artificial Intelligence, Robotics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and graduate offerings in Mechanical Engineering. Enhancing student success and support through initiatives such as the Success Studio and expanded Center for Wellness, and strengthening high school-to-career pathways in partnership with Boston Public Schools. Securing transformational resources, including more than $40 million in commitments in FY25, as well as the $10 million Advancing Student Access and Potential (ASAP) scholarship campaign and significant external funding to support labs, equipment, and scholarships. Thompson has positioned Wentworth as a national leader in applied, experiential education and as a university of opportunity whose graduates are in high demand for their skills, experience, and mindset. The Role: Wentworth is seeking a new Vice President for University Advancement to lead the development of a comprehensive campaign, provide robust leadership, secure major gifts, and oversee the annual fund as well as build out a planned giving program. The VP will report directly to Wentworths President. The VP will be highly influential in integrating fundraising throughout the university and will collaborate and partner with colleagues up and down the institution to achieve ambitious revenue goals in service to Wentworths mission. The VP will serve as a key member of the Presidents cabinet by enriching team culture and creating and implementing overall strategy.