WPI Celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month 2025
Honoring Culture, Contributions, and Community
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month 2025 by honoring the vibrant culture, rich heritage, and significant contributions of the Caribbean American Diaspora throughout history and today. Worcester, Massachusetts, the second largest city in New England, proudly hosts one of the largest Caribbean American communities in the region. This month, and every day, we encourage our community to learn from, celebrate with, and stand in solidarity with our Caribbean American neighbors, students, faculty, and staff. Caribbean Americans have added to our history, culture, and communities in countless ways. The unique relationship between the United States and the Caribbean has enriched both regions, and this month is a wonderful time to celebrate our shared past and future. STEM Scholar Spotlights
Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne (Trinidad and Tobago) Aerospace Engineer and Rocket Scientist at NASA. She has worked on spaceflight programs including Orion and the International Space Station and is a fierce advocate for girls in STEM globally. Dr. Deborah Berebichez (Mexico with Caribbean Jewish heritage) Physicist, data scientist, and science communicator. She was the first Mexican woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University and has Caribbean lineage through her Cuban-born grandparents. Dr. Jeanese Badenock (Jamaican heritage) Epidemiologist and public health researcher. She is known for her work on health disparities and equity in biomedical research, particularly in Caribbean American populations.
Read, Watch, Listen, and Learn
Explore The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCARTS) Visit Island SPACE Caribbean Museum – the only Caribbean heritage museum in the U.S. Learn more about WPI’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Discover authentic Caribbean recipes Read about the history of the Caribbean Explore The Caribbean Collaborative Action Network Explore the work of the Dean of the Global School, Mimi Sheller, PhD, a leading scholar in the field of Caribbean Studies:
Island Futures Consuming the Caribbean | From Arawaks to Zombies | Democracy After Slavery: Black Publics and Peasant Radicalism in Haiti and Jamaica: Sheller Watch Caribbean-centered documentaries via PBS Caribbean Stories
Enjoy local Caribbean American stories via the Worcester Public Library's Caribbean Literature Collection Explore and Learn more about WPI's Puerto Rico Project Center Listen to:
Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Podcast Caribbean Science Fiction Network Podcast The Nerds with Accents Podcast
Take Action and Get Involved
Support WPI’s Caribbean and Hispanic Student Association (CHSA) Attend the Worcester Caribbean American Heritage Festival Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025, | Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Location: Institute Park, Worcester, MA Featuring Caribbean food, live music, arts & crafts, and cultural performances. Support the Caribbean Science Foundation Practice intentional self-care and community care Register to vote or check your registration at vote.org Sign up to become a poll worker
Did You Know? The effort to establish National Caribbean American Heritage Month began in 1999 by the Institute of Caribbean Studies. After years of advocacy and community engagement, the resolution passed the U.S. House in 2005, the Senate in 2006, and was officially proclaimed by President George W. Bush on June 5, 2006. Learn more: National Today – Caribbean American Heritage Month The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) ODIME leads and supports student-facing initiatives across WPI’s campus.
Honoring Culture, Contributions, and Community
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month 2025 by honoring the vibrant culture, rich heritage, and significant contributions of the Caribbean American Diaspora throughout history and today. Worcester, Massachusetts, the second largest city in New England, proudly hosts one of the largest Caribbean American communities in the region.
This month, and every day, we encourage our community to learn from, celebrate with, and stand in solidarity with our Caribbean American neighbors, students, faculty, and staff.
Caribbean Americans have added to our history, culture, and communities in countless ways. The unique relationship between the United States and the Caribbean has enriched both regions, and this month is a wonderful time to celebrate our shared past and future.
STEM Scholar Spotlights
- Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne (Trinidad and Tobago)
Aerospace Engineer and Rocket Scientist at NASA.
She has worked on spaceflight programs including Orion and the International Space Station and is a fierce advocate for girls in STEM globally. - Dr. Deborah Berebichez (Mexico with Caribbean Jewish heritage)
Physicist, data scientist, and science communicator.
She was the first Mexican woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University and has Caribbean lineage through her Cuban-born grandparents. - Dr. Jeanese Badenock (Jamaican heritage)
Epidemiologist and public health researcher.
She is known for her work on health disparities and equity in biomedical research, particularly in Caribbean American populations.
Read, Watch, Listen, and Learn
- Explore The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts (CMCARTS)
- Visit Island SPACE Caribbean Museum – the only Caribbean heritage museum in the U.S.
- Learn more about WPI’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
- Discover authentic Caribbean recipes
- Read about the history of the Caribbean
- Explore The Caribbean Collaborative Action Network
- Explore the work of the Dean of the Global School, Mimi Sheller, PhD, a leading scholar in the field of Caribbean Studies:
- Island Futures
- Consuming the Caribbean | From Arawaks to Zombies |
- Democracy After Slavery: Black Publics and Peasant Radicalism in Haiti and Jamaica: Sheller
- Watch Caribbean-centered documentaries via PBS Caribbean Stories
- Enjoy local Caribbean American stories via the Worcester Public Library's Caribbean Literature Collection
- Explore and Learn more about WPI's Puerto Rico Project Center
- Listen to:
- Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Podcast
- Caribbean Science Fiction Network Podcast
- The Nerds with Accents Podcast
Take Action and Get Involved
- Support WPI’s Caribbean and Hispanic Student Association (CHSA)
- Attend the Worcester Caribbean American Heritage Festival
Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025, | Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Institute Park, Worcester, MA
Featuring Caribbean food, live music, arts & crafts, and cultural performances. - Support the Caribbean Science Foundation
- Practice intentional self-care and community care
- Register to vote or check your registration at vote.org
- Sign up to become a poll worker
Did You Know?
The effort to establish National Caribbean American Heritage Month began in 1999 by the Institute of Caribbean Studies. After years of advocacy and community engagement, the resolution passed the U.S. House in 2005, the Senate in 2006, and was officially proclaimed by President George W. Bush on June 5, 2006.
Learn more: National Today – Caribbean American Heritage Month
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME)
ODIME leads and supports student-facing initiatives across WPI’s campus.
Latest Announcements - Talent & Inclusion
- Campus Center Summer Socials: "Goat Together"Join the herd at the Campus Center for our "Goat Together" Summer Socials from 12 - 1pm on the following Wednesdays for a fun-filled hour with free ice cream, outdoor lawn games, board games, and relaxing hammocks in the park! June 25 July 16 August 6 Location: Rubin Campus Center, Back Patio Rain Location: Campus Center Food Court Sponsored by Rubin Campus Center in Collaboration with Staff Council Contact: Kim Wykes, Assistant Director of Campus Center Operations | kwykes@wpi.edu
- WPI Summer Programs for High School Students Begin!The Office of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs is excited to welcome high school students from around the world to their summer programs! Over the next four weeks, you will see hundreds of students on campus, immersing themselves in coursework, activities and field trips through our Frontiers two-week residential program. Additionally, students will be joining us virtually through the College Credit Jumpstart program where they will engage in a WPI E-term course and earn college credit while still in high school! We are thrilled to provide these experiences for students to explore all that WPI has to offer and hope to see them as future undergrads!
- Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering Program Kicks Off with Fourth CohortOn Monday, June 30, the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering program launched its fourth cohort, welcoming eight middle and high school educators. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), RET is a six-week immersive program that provides K–12 teachers with research experiences in engineering, and led by Erin Solovey (PI), Kathy Chen (co-PI) and Donna Taylor. Participants are enhancing their disciplinary knowledge and developing classroom activities and curricula to broaden students’ awareness of and engagement with computing and engineering pathways. (L-R) Demetrios Kennedy, Jesse Drozd, Abigail Prisby, Em Beeler, Tiffini Cornock, Deborah Baird, Michael Nixdorf Jared Quin This year’s cohort includes two recent WPI graduates, Demetrios Kennedy and Michael Nixdorf, who completed the Teacher Preparation Program (TPP), as well as TPP alum ‘22, Em Beeler. The educators are mentored by WPI faculty members Scarlet Shell, Adam Powell, Andrew Teixeira, Michael T. Timko, Geoffref Tompsett, and Yihao Zheng. In addition to their research projects, RET teachers are participating in weekly professional development sessions led by the STEM Education Center. These sessions support the integration of their research experiences into real-world, standards-aligned STEM instruction, all while connecting to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and strengthening partnerships among WPI, K–12 schools, and industry. 2025 RET RESEARCH PROJECTS Research Project (UN SDG #) Research Project WPI Faculty Mentor, Department Teacher, Licensure, School Teacher, Licensure, School/Major #7 – Affordable & Clean Energy Magnesium Production and Recycling for Clean Energy Adam Powell (Mechanical & Materials Engineering / Chemical Engineering) Jared Quinn (Life Sciences, Overlook MS, Ashburnham) Demetrios Kennedy (HS Chemistry, WPI Chemistry) #3 – Good Heath and Well-Being Antibiotic Resistance in Mycobacteria Scarlet Shell (Biology & Biotechnology) Abigail Prisby (HS Biology, Groton-Dunstable HS) Em Beeler (HS Math, Burncoat HS, Worcester) #13 – Climate Action Removing PFAS from Contaminated Soils Andrew Teixeira & Mike Timko (Chemical Engineering) Tiffini Cornock (HS Chemistry, Carver MS/HS) Jesse Drozd (HS Chemistry, WPI Chemistry) #3 – Good Heath and Well-Being Engineering Bench-Top Testing of Interventional Devices for Cardiovascular Diseases Yihao Zheng (Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering / MME, RBE & BME) Deborah Baird (MS Broad Meadows Middle School) Michael Nixdorf (MS Math, WPI Applied Physics)
- Community Update on the Hampton InnDear WPI Community, When WPI acquired the Courtyard Marriott and Hampton Inn at Gateway Park in 2024, we planned to repurpose them as student residence halls, beginning with the Hampton Inn in 2026. However, we have now decided to postpone our planned conversion of the Hampton Inn. This decision was based on the shifting dynamics affecting WPI and higher education across the country—including significant reductions in federal research funding, anticipated declines in international student enrollment, and the continuing effects of a shrinking pool of domestic students. The Hampton Inn will continue to serve WPI and the City of Worcester by operating as a full-capacity hotel under its existing management company. The revenue generated by the hotel will provide financial resiliency for WPI and continue to produce property and hotel taxes for the city. The Courtyard Marriott will remain an operating hotel until at least 2030, as previously announced. We reevaluate our student housing needs annually, taking into account the current demand for housing, future needs and other factors, and we will review the status of the Hampton Inn as part of this process. WPI has updated officials in city government about the change in the timeline for the conversion. WPI has been proud to call Worcester home for 160 years. Our students, faculty, and staff contribute every day to the city’s vibrancy and growth—through innovation, research, entrepreneurship, community service, and civic engagement. We are equally proud of our economic contributions: More than $140 million invested in Gateway Park since its inception Annual PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) currently exceeding $815,000 $9 million paid to the city since 2009, with a total of approximately $18 million projected through 2034 Technologies developed at WPI resulting in local and regional spin-off companies employing more than 400 people and over $1 billion in investment WPI remains firmly rooted in Worcester and steadfast in our commitment to its future—bringing stability, opportunity, and shared success to both the campus and the city. Sincerely, Mike Horan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Philip Clay, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
- Registration is open for Intro to Mindfulness Meditation in E-TermMIEA Intro to Mindfulness is a four-week evidence-based mindfulness curriculum the Center for Well-Being is offering to WPI employees and graduate students at no cost. Registration is now open for the in-person program that runs Tuesdays, 1:00 to 2:15 PM, July 15 to Aug 5 in the Center for Well-Being. Register here.
- Robotics Professor Constantinos Chamzas Awarded $175K NSF Grant to Advance Robot LearningConstantinos Chamzas Professor Constantinos Chamzas, a faculty member in the Department of Robotics Engineering, has been awarded a prestigious $175,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support his research in robotic planning and manipulation. The award, part of the NSF’s highly competitive Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Initiation Initiative (CRII), will help launch a project titled “CRII: Towards Real-World Robotic Manipulation: Learning Abstract State and Action Representations from Visual and Execution Data” which aims to revolutionize how robots learn and reason in complex, real-world environments. Professor Chamzas’s inspiration for the project traces back to his doctoral research, where he explored how robots leverage past experiences to improve planning efficiency. “I’ve always been fascinated by how classical planning algorithms offer strong generalization in theory,” he explains, “but in practice, they require carefully designed spaces and significant manual effort to function effectively.” His curiosity led him to explore the intersection of symbolic planning and machine learning—two traditionally distinct approaches in robotics. The core idea behind his project is deceptively simple: enable robots to reason more like humans. When we put clothes in a closet, “We don’t consciously model every object or constraint,” Chamzas says. “We just follow an abstract plan: go to the closet, open the door, put the clothes inside.” But for a robot, that same task requires a detailed, manually encoded model. His research seeks to change that by allowing robots to learn abstract representations of tasks and actions directly from experience, rather than relying on human-specified models. Technically, the project focuses on enabling robots to perform long-horizon manipulation tasks by learning symbolic abstractions from real-world data. “Instead of assuming a perfect model of the world,” Professor Chamzas states, “the robot will autonomously collect and analyze its own experience to discover how to represent tasks and actions symbolically.” The result enables more adaptive and explainable robotic behavior. The grant application process, Professor Chamzas notes, was both challenging and rewarding. “The CRII program is unique in how it supports early-career researchers,” he says. It gave him the “opportunity to distill my long-term research vision into a focused, high-impact proposal.” He credits the support of his colleagues in the Robotics Department and past CRII recipients for helping him refine his ideas and navigate the application process. For other researchers seeking NSF funding, Professor Chamzas offers practical advice: “Start early and don’t be afraid to share your ideas with trusted peers and mentors. Treat the proposal not just as a funding opportunity, but as a chance to clarify and articulate your long-term research vision” He emphasizes the importance of grounding proposals in prior work and being open to feedback—even when it’s conflicting. Professor Chamzas says that open dialogue with colleagues is what helped him the most, and he strongly encourages open conversations. With this NSF grant, Professor Chamzas is poised to make significant strides in the field of robotics, pushing the boundaries of how machines learn, plan, and interact with the world. The work supported by this award will contribute to broader developments in the field and provide valuable insights for the robotics community at large.