GSDM alumni return to Boston for 2019 Alumni Weekend
Even as the sun began to set below the trees of Boston Public Garden, the Four Seasons’ Aujourd’Hui room continued to glow as alumni from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) talked, laughed, and reminisced about their days in dental school during the School’s annual Alumni Weekend reception, held on Friday, September 20, 2019.
“It means so much to me, as your dean, to see your commitment to this community,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter during his opening remarks. “Whether that is by coming here tonight, attending other alumni events throughout the year, volunteering your time, or supporting the School philanthropically—we could not do what we do without your support.”
The first guests arrived at 7 p.m., and the room was soon packed as the record-setting 112 attendees chatted with friends and guests, listened to music from Vitamin B-3, and enjoyed food stations offering bite sized portions of tacos, dumplings, mac and cheese and more. A “selfie” photo booth allowed attendees to pose for photos with friends in front of a red BU background.
Dean Hutter emceed the evening’s speaking program, which featured updates on the Additional and Renovation Construction Project from Christy Murphy, a senior project manager with Compass Project Management, an important leadership transition in the School’s Alumni Association, and the presentation of the 2019 Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to the School. Alumni Weekend continued on Saturday, with a variety of events happening on both the Charles River and the Boston University Medical Campuses.
Passing the Gavel
Every two years, the alumni reception marks a change in leadership for the GSDM Alumni Association. During this year’s event, outgoing president Sean Rayment DMD 97 DSc 00 hit the ceremonial gavel for the final time, and then handed both the gavel and the presidency to Gigi Meinecke DMD 88.
“It has been a true honor to helm the Alumni Association over the last two years,” Rayment said. “I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Meinecke’s leadership capabilities, and am excited to see what the Alumni Association and its Board as a whole accomplishes in the future.”
In her remarks, Meinecke spoke of the tight knit community that GSDM’s alumni network presents—sharing and celebrating successes together, and inspiring school pride.
“This is your home, and this is your family—and just like your traditional family, we care about you,” she said. “We’re invested in your future….we miss you when you’re gone, and we get excited when you come back.”
Honoring an Alumni
During the alumni reception, Dean Hutter presented the 2019 GSDM Distinguished Alumni Award to Mark Desrosiers ENDO 06.
This award is presented annually to an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the School, to the profession, and/or to his or her community. The award can be given to an alumnus in recognition of contributions in any one of those categories, or for contributions across all three.
“When Mark sees a chance to get involved and make a difference, he takes it – and then works tirelessly behind the scenes to make positive change happen.” said Dean Hutter.
To read more about Desrosiers, click here.
Taking a Look Around
On Saturday morning, the GSDM building at 635 Albany Street was busier than usual as Dean Hutter led a tour of the school for visiting alumni. Clad in a hardhat, Dean Hutter highlighted the progress made in the Addition and Renovation Construction Project, including the first floor admissions suite and patient reception area and the new Central Sterilization Space in the renovated basement, as he led guests around the premises and the active construction site.
Celebrating a Campaign
Later on Saturday, the Agganis Arena on the Charles River Campus was a kaleidoscope of music and light as people from across the BU community came together for the Campaign for Boston University’s Victory Celebration.
Featuring speakers, live music by the Boston Pops, and skating performances, the event marked the end of a seven-year fundraising campaign in which BU raised $1.85 billion, and emphasized a theme of “innovation” as a concept central to the University’s future. About 50 members of the GSDM community attended the event, which featured many highlights from GSDM as was fitting for a performance centered on innovation. This included displaying an image of ‘digital dentistry’ moving swiftly across the skating rink and projecting the animated video showcasing the GSDM Addition & Renovation Construction Project on the large screen above the stage where the Boston Pops were performing.
“It was wonderful to see GSDM featured so prominently in the Victory Celebration,” said Stacey McNamee, director of Alumni Relations. “We are proud of the progress made in the last seven years and of the contributions our School made to such a monumental campaign.”
Going Back to School
Also on Saturday evening, the GSDM Class of 1984 headed back to school….for their 35th reunion. The event, a dinner, was attended by 26 people and took place in the patient reception area at 635 Albany Street, which was transformed into a dining area, complete with autumnal accents and live music. Neil Fleisher and Tina Valades, both DMD 84 and faculty at GSDM, served as reunion chairs and led the organization of the dinner.
“I so appreciate the vision that Drs. Fleisher and Valades had for how the Patient Reception Space could be transformed into an elegant room for their reunion dinner,” said Dean Hutter, who gave brief remarks at the dinner after attending the BU Victory Celebration earlier in the evening.
The Class of 84 was not the only year celebrating their class reunion. The Class of 1989 (30 years) and the Class of 1994 (25 years) both had large groups attend the alumni reception on Friday.