Gompei Appearance Request Form The Student Alumni Society (SAS) is the keeper of Gompei! To request that Gompei makes an appearance at your event, please fill out the form linked above at least 2 weeks in advance of your event.  If you have any questions, you can reach the SAS Herd Chair at ahbuier@wpi.edu. 

Thank you for your RSVP! I'm looking forward to meeting you! For any questions or if your plans change, you can reach me at 508-831-4921 or jcdevries@wpi.edu.    Johanna DeVries Student and Young Alumni Engagement Coordinator WPI Lifetime Engagement Office

Dear WPI Community,  Our university has been fortunate to attract leaders whose commitment to WPI is profound and long lasting, and I am writing to let you know that two such leaders have announced their intention to retire from service—and to share with you the leadership transition plan. Philip Clay, senior vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, will step down at the end of this academic year. Philip joined WPI in 1993 and is the living embodiment of our values and culture. Widely respected for his unwavering integrity, empathetic leadership, keen insight, and kindness, Philip has been a principled advocate for the student experience and for the university as a whole. His exceptional leadership— from residential life and student affairs to enrollment management and emergency management—has been remarkably valuable to WPI. Philip proudly served on construction project teams for at least five major academic buildings and residence halls, contributing his understanding of student needs to enhance our built environment. He has provided steady guidance through transitions in campus leadership and operations—and through the pandemic—never compromising on doing what is right for our students and our university.  Charlie Morse, dean of Student Wellness, will retire at the end of September after a distinguished 33-year career at WPI. Charlie has played a leading role in supporting student mental health and holistic wellbeing. His deep understanding of students—and of the rapid evolution we have seen in young peoples’ mental health needs—has greatly enhanced WPI's culture of care, wellness, and belonging. I am grateful for his devotion to the people of this great institution.     We will have the opportunity to celebrate each of these leaders more in the weeks and months to come.  As we prepare for these departures, we are fortunate to have exciting new leaders to step up and continue the momentum. That is why I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, Emily Perlow, assistant vice president and dean of students, will be named vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students. Emily joined WPI in 2005 and has established herself as champion for students, dedicated to helping them make the most of their WPI experience, and an empowering mentor for her team. Her empathetic and principled leadership will continue to be valuable assets for WPI.   Emily will oversee all areas within student affairs, including career development, housing and dining, physical education, athletics, recreation, student activities and engagement, support for WPI’s diverse student populations, health and well-being, student conduct, the campus center, and the bookstore.  Emily will report to Philip until the end of 2025 to ensure a collaborative and smooth transition. Starting in January, Emily will report to me directly. You may recall that in 2023 we consolidated enrollment management under Philip’s purview—giving him ownership of the student journey from first contact through graduation day.   Given the rapidly shifting enrollment landscape across the country and around the world, the time is right to have a dedicated leadership position, focusing on enrollment management and serving as a focal point of partnership with academic affairs, student affairs, marketing, international house, student success, pre-collegiate activities, and career development.   In this context, we will launch a national search for a chief enrollment officer, and I am confident that WPI’s institutional strength and collaborative culture will attract a highly capable pool of candidates. The chief enrollment officer will report to Senior Vice President and Provost Andrew Sears and will serve on the president’s cabinet.  Additional details will follow in time. Please join me in congratulating Emily on her well-deserved promotion.  I am sure you will continue to support and collaborate with Emily and her team.    Again, I am deeply grateful for what Philip and Charlie have done for WPI.  I ask that you carry their legacies forward by always showing kindness, empathy, and care for our students—and each other—as they have demonstrated throughout their careers.     Warmly,   Grace