Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater State University
Surprising Faculty with
Awards for
Academic
Excellence
"We are deeply honored to announce the 2026 recipients of the Awards for Academic Excellence," said President Fred Clark, '83. "These awards recognize faculty and librarians who have made outstanding contributions to teaching, research, scholarship and social justice."
The president made those remarks this past month as he went personally to present the awards to people such as Dr. Sandra Mueller (above), professor of physics, photonics and optical engineering, who was among those selected to receive this year's Presidential Awards for Distinguished Teaching.
He said in his comments, "The recommendations, particularly from students, were exceptionally strong and passionate . . . her highly interactive teaching style further underscores her impact on students and how deserving she is of this award."
Joining them in the photo, from left: Dr. Michael Young, senior associate provost and chief data officer; at right are Dr. Martina Arndt, dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics as well as professor of physics; Dr. Nicole Glen, professor of STEM Education and associate provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs; and Dr. Jeffrey Williams, professor of physics and chairman of the Department of Physics, Photonics and Optical Engineering.
A complete list of all the 2026 awards - plus photos of the surprise presentation of awards (many in classrooms in front of students) and several in offices of their recipients - may be found at this web address:
A Video Journey Through
Fast-Paced Times at BSU
We share in this week's edition a recent video produced by the superb folks in BSU's IT Department that takes viewers on a speedy pace through life at the
university.
To see this post, which appears on Intstagram, please click on the link below:
"Gray Matters" -
Dr. Margaret Johnsson
on the Truth about Aging
"One of every two people aged 50 to 54 will involuntarily lose their jobs," writes Dr. Margaret Johnsson of BSU's Department of Management and Marketing, and two weeks ago we shared in this report "Tales of the Road," which she authored and published in The Bridgewater Review about her experiences meeting senior-age people on her travels and discussing with them the economic problems they were encountering.
This week we share "Gray Matters" - also a close look at a similar subject by the same author.
Dr. Johnsson's articles are not only exceptionally well-researched and well-written but the stories they reveal are of compelling interest to our readers.
"Gray Matters" is certainly among those of that importance, and to read Dr. Johnsson's article, please click on the link below:
Dr. Margaret Johnsson
Among BSU true legends, count Mary Lou Thimas, '68, who was profiled in The Boston Globe on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Mary Lou's connections to Bridgwater State are many.
In addition to being an alumna, she returned to Bridgewater in 1978 and spent the next nine years coaching women’s basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey while running the school’s compliance department as associate athletics director.
Her field hockey squad made the playoffs every year from 1978-86.
To read The Globe's story,please click on the
link below:
Below, Mary Lou Thimas as she appeared in her BSU yearbook
We're grateful to Mr. Brian Benson, G '23, a member of BSU's Office of Enrollment, Marketing and Communications, who recently authored a profile of Ms. Sheryl Royster, a great-grandmother from Brockton, who will graduate this coming week at the university's 2026 Commencement Exercises.
In his profile, Mr. Benson wrote:
"When fifth-grader Aixa Blackwell faces a challenging night of homework, she
doesn’t have far to look for inspiration. That motivation comes from her great-
grandmother, who has her own assignments as she nears the completion of a
bachelor’s degree decades in the making.
“It’s inspiring to me because I’ve seen the improvement she’s making,” Aixa said of her great-grandmother, Sheryl Royster, ’26, a sociology major at Bridgewater State University.
Sheryl, 76, dabbled in higher education several times over the years, even earning an associate degree from Massasoit Community College.
But the Brockton resident’s plans for a bachelor’s degree have always been derailed.
Once, she dropped out to care for her mother, who was dying of cancer. Another time, she lacked the funds to complete a final year of classes.
Nevertheless, college remained in the back of her mind.
When she took Aixa to a summer program for Brockton children at BSU, the former school cafeteria worker felt inspired to enroll as a student.
“I’m more enlightened. I’m not as critical. I’m more accepting,” she said of the
effects of a Bridgewater education. “I’m like a sponge. Even at this age, I can soak it all up.”
Sheryl praised the support she received from faculty, including Kim
MacInnis, Tina Mullone and Kevin McGowan.
She also appreciated the patience of staff at the Academic Achievement Center.
In dance classes and a course on the chemistry of food, Sheryl easily connected with her much younger classmates.
This summer, she will join traditional-aged BSU students on an interdisciplinary travel course to Barbados.
“I have met students 50 years younger than me that I fit in with very well,” said
Sheryl, who minors in African American studies.
While she does not have any concrete long-term plans, she may end up back in a classroom as a student or even as a substitute teacher.
“It’s like I’m in Disney and I’m having fun and I’m gonna ride all the rides,” she
said of being a college student. “Thanks for the opportunities, Bridgewater.”
Memory Lane: Remember Telephone Booths?
When was the last time you used a telephone booth?
This photo, from the then-Bridgewater State College Class of 1968 yearbook, reminds us of the times when cell phones were 30+ years in the future.
Above women living in Woodward Hall - then an all-women's
resideice hall (and our oldest dormitory, dating back to 1911) - pose in the only telephone in the building, which was in a telephone booth . . . when the phone rang, whoever was closest to it would answer and then get on the intercom to say "Mary Jones has a phone call!"
Memory Lane II: Commencement, June, 1940
Our thanks to Dr. Orson Kingsley, head of Archives and Special Collections, for making available a rare film recorded in June,1940 - which, at the time, was when then-Bridgewater State Teachers College was celebrating its 100th anniversary Commencement.
Above see a (blurry) still photo of the graduates assembled on the steps of Boyden Hall.
But the film itself is of better quality and you can see this historic film
at the address below.
Note the film opens with the arrival of then-Governor Leverett Saltonstall, Commencement speaker, accompanied by motorized state police, and then we move to (1) the procession of junior women in white dresses holding boughs of ivy, which they will (2) pass to the seniors in black gowns (signifying the passage of knowledge), and (3) the graduation ceremony itself.
The passing of the boughs of ivy - called the "Ivy March" - had been part
of Bridgewater State Commencements since the 1870's.
All BSU Commencements through the 1960's featured this ceremony.
Below we share an image from earlier in 1940 which shows faculty assembled on the steps of Boyden Hall.
Note the man smoking the pipe and the woman wearing a hat - both customs of another era.
That film we'll share in an upcoming report.
