Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | May 2, 2022 | wbjournal.com P O W E R 5 0 H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N DAVID FITHIAN PRESIDENT CLARK UNIVERSITY, IN WORCESTER Residence: Worcester Colleges: Clark University, Yale University Since taking the reins of Worcester's second-largest private college two years ago, Fithian has aggressively expanded Clark University's presence and character within the Worcester community, including in 2021 announcing a deal with the closing Becker College to absorb the design and technology department. Fithian is committed to leveraging this new department to enlarge Clark's STEM offerings, despite it being a liberal arts school. Fithian secured $100 million in capital markets financing, which will help with the college's construction of a 70,000-square-foot academic building to house its new design and technology department. He also oversaw the ambitious purchase of a seven-acre vacant land parcel, the future of which has yet to be determined. Clark's expansion academically and physically holds powerful promise for Worcester's incoming workforce, as well as the development of the historically sidelined Main South neighborhood. Fithian has shown a concrete commitment to racial diversity with $1 million set aside for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The last five individuals appointed to the university's leadership team were all non-white, making nearly 60% of the school's administration women and/or people of color. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? We are fortunate to be located in and around Worcester, which is an endless source of innovation, inspiration, energy, and momentum. Worcester gives us the vibrancy of a major city, and the intimacy of a small town. n Clark at his core: I'm the first Clark president who is an alumnus, and I graduated in Clark's centennial class. VINCENT ROUGEAU PRESIDENT COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS, IN WORCESTER Residence: Worcester Colleges: Brown University, Harvard Law School At the helm of a 179-year-old college with a $1-billion- endowment, Rougeau holds the power to transform Central Massachusetts' wealthiest higher education institution. Rougeau began his tenure at Holy Cross in July, as the college was finishing up a record-breaking fiscal year, which yielded nearly $66 million in gifts. Holy Cross has about 3,000 enrolled students and employs 1,000 people, paying more than $50 million in salaries to Worcester County residents. Rougeau represents a new era for the Jesuit college: He is the first non-priest layperson to lead the Worcester college, as well as the first Black individual to hold the role. Holy Cross has weathered controversy in the last several years, particularly related to race issues, such as the school's ties to slavery and its Crusader mascot. As the new face of a powerful institution, Rougeau's impact will indelibly shape the region. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? I'll start with an educated workforce! With eight colleges and universities in Worcester alone, we provide the intellectual resources to a wide range of businesses. Add a wonderful quality of life and a diverse and welcoming community, it's easy to see why our region is having this renaissance. n Music man: Long before "Pitch Perfect" thrust a cappella groups into the global spotlight, I was a member of The High Jinks at Brown University. So I can sing (I'm a bass/baritone), but I secretly wish I could play the piano. LUIS PEDRAJA PRESIDENT QUINSIGAMOND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, IN WORCESTER Residence: Worcester Colleges: Stetson University, University of Virginia In influencing the future of the workforce, Pedraja is one of the most powerful stakeholders. QCC serves more than 10,000 students annually, most of whom move quickly into the workforce in health care, manufacturing, technology, and emergency response. The school has been a leader in workforce development, particularly for people who historically have faced barriers to higher education, and is working on a $25-million manufacturing and robotics center, announced in June. As the coronavirus pandemic tested higher education in new ways, Pedraja was unwavering in his support and response. QCC offered a debt forgiveness program, which eliminated $2.6 million in student debt owed to the college, and provided free workforce development training to community members to help address labor shortages. QCC was the only Mass. community college whose freshman enrollment did not fall from 2019 to 2021, seeing a 9% increase in the second year. Pedraja is chair of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, influencing infrastructure, transportation, workforce training, and mental health resources for the higher education industry. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? Central Massachusetts has a rich history of innovation and leadership, from abolition, to the industrial revolution, to space flight, and, more recently, biotechnology. Our community takes pride in our history, but doesn't stop there, looking to the future and for new opportunities to innovate and lead. n Emergency training: I was a first responder, serving as the head of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team in Dallas and later as reserve officer for emergency management in Memphis-Shelby County, Tenn. PHOTO | COURTESY OF COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS

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