Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater State University
The "Welcome Back BBQ" Moved Inside Due to
Rain But the New Academic Year Was Still Celebrated Across the Campus
On Tuesday, September 1st - the day before classes for the 2026-2027 academic year officially began - the plan was to hold the usual gala barbecue in University Park for the thousands of students, faculty, staff and alumni to gather to celebrate the new academic year from 4:00 p.m. to six p.m..
Following the washout weather forecasts, however, President Clark, '83, - now beginning his 12th year as president - and his team decided to hold three separate events indoors on West Campus and East Campus, which meant that he and his wife Ms. Carrie Kulick-Clark, '85, '98, had to run a mini-marathon to cross the campus to get to all three "Welcome Back" events between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.
Thousands did indeed don their rain gear and showed up as planned at one of the three places for the BBQ.
The event in the East Campus Campus was particularly popular as long lines wound around the outside of the building as people waited to get entry.
Our camera was waiting at the very last event - in the Bears Den of the Student Union Building - as the clock ticked down to 6:00 p.m., and so we were able to film a brief segment.
Mr. David Morwick, '64, who was a BSU staff member for 59+ years, was among those waiting, accompanied by his partner Ms. Geri Taylor, '70, along with our camera man, and you can see the short video here:
New Partnership with Northeastern University Helps BSU Students Pursue Advanced Healthcare Degrees
Agreement with Northeastern University marks the third health care collaboration with a New England school
Ms. Deborah Ashiedu, '25, G '26, is studying to become a nurse practitioner
New Partnership Helps BSU Students Pursue
Advanced Healthcare Degrees
From Brian Benson, BSU University News, September 3, 2026
"Deborah Ashiedu, ’25, G’26, aspires to make a difference through a career as a nurse practitioner. Having earned two biology degrees from BSU, Ms. Ashiedu is ready for the specialized training she needs to land her dream job.
“Most of my prerequisites were already done,” said Ms. Ashiedu, who begins a nursing program at Northeastern University this fall.
“I understood what I was getting into. Being a biology major really prepared me.”
It’s now even easier for Bridgewater graduates to follow in Ms. Ashiedu’s footsteps.
BSU and Northeastern’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences recently finalized an agreement covering NU nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, physical therapy and pharmacy programs.
It provides guaranteed admission for at least five qualified BSU alumni per program per enrollment period.
Students are also eligible for special scholarships.
The agreement covers programs at Northeastern’s Boston campus as well as a new accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing in Fall River.
“I saw it immediately as a pathway for our students that’s advantageous,” said Dr. Martina Arndt, G’21, G’26, dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics.
BSU has similar agreements with MGH Institute of Health Professions and Johnson & Wales University.
The partnerships help Bridgewater graduates access advanced clinical degrees that BSU does not offer.
Healthcare is a multidisciplinary field, and students pursuing majors across BSU may benefit from the agreements, said Dr. Marci Swede, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions.
“The healthcare field is so important to Massachusetts as a whole,” Dean Swede said.
“When students go into healthcare, they’re going back to serve their communities. Healthcare is a very mission-driven field to get into.”
Ms. Ashiedu is thrilled that even more students can follow the BSU-to-NU path. She encouraged them to take full advantage of the resources BSU provides. Ms. Ashiedu conducted undergraduate research on aging, presented at conferences and wrote a thesis – activities that enhanced her independent thinking and communication skills.
“I’m thankful to BSU for the amazing opportunities it gave me,” she said. “I really enjoyed going there.”
Dr. Thomas Turner, in his 2010 history of the university, wrote the following of Dr. Adrian Tinsley, the 10th president of Bridgewater State University.
Dr. Adrian Tinsley assumed the presidency of Bridgewater State College in June 1989, the first woman to lead the institution.
Dr. Robert Dillman and Dr. Adrian Rondileau, president emeritus, were each, in turn, appointed acting president to fill the gap between the resignation of Dr. Gerard Indelicato and Dr. Tinsley’s appointment.
Dr. Tinsley grew up in Virginia, graduated with honors from Bryn Mawr College (1958) and earned her master’s from the University of Washington (1962) and her PhD from Cornell (1969).
She was a successful teacher and administrator prior to coming to Bridgewater.
During her 13-year tenure at Bridgewater, Dr. Tinsley accomplished much, including clarifying the vision for Bridgewater; establishing the new academic structure and creating new schools and academic programs; modernizing the financial systems; constructing the Adrian Tinsley and J. Joseph Moakley centers and introducing new computing and telecommunications technology; integrating alumni affairs and development into an advancement division; initiating the first capital campaign; and making and solidifying connections with political leaders in the commonwealth.
Perhaps her most lasting influence, however, was her determination to bring a modern leadership style to Bridgewater, one that transformed the university academically, administratively, financially, physically (the building out of East Campus and acquisition of land for future expansion) and, as already noted, in terms of building a strong unit of development that encourages the support of many more thousands of alumni and friends than previously.
"Not to be Ministered Unto
but to Minister"
In Dr. Thomas Turner's classic 2010 book, Not to be Ministered Unto but to Minister: Bridgewater State College, 1840-2010, he included a story about the events of September 11, 2001 - the 25th anniversary of that event to be observed across the nation and the world this week.
Dr. Turner's comments will be followed by an interview with a BSU alum and current vice president - Mr. David Robichaud, '83, - who was a television reporter for WBZ-TV Boston and was at Ground Zero.
Dr. Thomas Turner, professor emeritus of history
"Like all of America, Bridgewater was affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, not merely in a general manner but also through the death of William Hunt, Class of 1992, who had worked on the 84th floor of the World Trade Center," wrote Dr. Turner.
"On September 19, 2001, students, faculty and staff gathered on the quadrangle.
"President Adrian Tinsley addressed those assembled and called the attack 'a tragedy of enormous dimensions.'
"She noted the pins designed by Bridgewater students: red ribbons stood for love; white for hope; blue for support; and black, not only for the victims, but also for the troops who would be heading into battle.
"Concluding her remarks, she added that the town and college had always gathered on the quadrangle during national crises, most recently in 1991 when students and citizens lit candles for the soldiers involved in Operation Desert Storm," Dr. Turner wrote.
"The attacks were also the topic of the convocation address by WBZ-TV reporter David Robichaud, Class of 1983. Mr. Robichaud recounted his experience of reporting from Ground Zero and called it a 'very humbling experience,' " concluded Dr. Turner.
On September 11, 2001, David Robichaud, '83, then a reporter for WBZ-TV Boston, now a Vice President at his alma mater since 2018, went to New York City to cover the immense disaster of 9/11. He reflects now on his memories.
Mr. Robichaud, seen above at Ground Zero in September of 2001, shared his memories in a recent interview.
To see the interview, please click on the link below:
Upcoming Events of Note . . .
All are welcome!
The Bridgewater State University Police Department will host its 2nd annual National Night Out on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the Tinsley Center.
Event Details
· Date: September 17, 2026
· Time: 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
· Location: Tinsley Center, 325 Plymouth St., Bridgewater, MA
· Admission: Free and open to the public
Activities & Attractions
· Police and fire vehicles
· K9 units and comfort dogs
· Helicopters
· Food trucks
Dr. Stephen Smalley, professor of art emeritus, to host Display at the
Flora T. Little Art Gallery,
Bridgewater Public Library,
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
We share the following announcement courtesy of the town of Bridgewater Public Library:
September Artist Reception | HENRICUS VIII ReDux
Meet Stephen Smalley, the artist behind this month's art exhibit, on September 23 from 4:00 to 7:00PM.
Can't make it to the meet & greet? Check out Dr. Smalley's exhibit "HENRICUS VIII ReDux" from September 8th through September 29th any time the library is open.
The Flora T. Little Art gallery is located on our second floor.
Biography and statement:
Dr. Stephen Smalley, a Bridgewater resident and professor emeritus at Bridgewater State University, graduated from Massachusetts College of Art, State College at Boston and The Pennsylvania State University.
He joined the art faculty at BSU in 1972 and served as department chair from ‘72-‘84.
Dr. Smalley retired in 2005 and taught part-time until 2022.
He chaired the Emeriti Faculty Club (revised to Retired Faculty Club) from 2011-2022.
Other teaching positions were at Rindge Technical HS (Cambridge MA),The Pennsylvania State University, Massachusetts College of Art and the American College in Paris.
For twenty years, he conducted an art workshop for BSU on the Maine coast and over many years, he offered art history study tours for BSU to London and served often as a faculty associate for Bridgewater-at-Oxford.
Dr. Smalley continues to expand on his long-standing theme relating to Henry VIII and his new works include acrylic and mixed media pieces as well as a subset of miniatures on handmade paper.
Guided by Hans Holbein’s portraits, Dr. Smalley references popular culture and Indian/Persian miniatures.
A small assemblage and historical book will also be included.
To see video interview done with Dr. Smalley in 2025, please click on the link below:
​
This concludes the report for September 8, 2026
Next edition: Monday, September 14, 2026
​