President Gilliam Salutes ‘Transformational’ Nature of BU’s City of Boston Scholarship Program at 2025 Event
On December 10, 2025, Boston University’s Metropolitan College (BU MET) hosted the 14th Annual City of Boston Scholar Recognition Event at 1010 Commonwealth Avenue, bringing together city employees pursuing graduate degrees and certificates across BU, as well as faculty, staff, and city officials.
BU President Melissa Gilliam joined the event to “celebrate and honor academic achievement and the role of public service and the commitment to lifelong learning that those of you in the room have made.”
President Gilliam emphasized the University’s deep commitment to serving the Boston community and its public servants and noted: “There is no border between our campus and the city . . . We are so committed to things such as affordable housing, public health, education, and we are always hard at work at finding ways to increase the impact that we have in the city.”
She also highlighted the significant financial commitment BU has made to the program.
“This partnership has been a model for how universities and cities can work together. Over the past 12 years alone, we’ve invested about $5 million supporting more than 400 city employees,” she said, affirming that this collaboration empowers not only individuals but also the broader communities where they live and work.
“This program represents our shared belief that education is transformational,” President Gilliam said.
Alex Lawrence, Boston’s chief people officer, also addressed the attendees, expressing gratitude for the partnership between the city and BU. She acknowledged the hard work of city employees balancing full-time roles with academic study. “Pursuing advanced education while managing a full-time job in municipal government is no easy feat,” she said, praising the scholars’ dedication. “I’m so inspired by your resilience and determination and most importantly your commitment to your personal growth and civic duty.”
Lawrence noted the lasting nature of BU’s educational affiliation with Boston. “The City of Boston Employees Scholarship Program was created in 1984, and for 41 years, Boston University has believed in public service and helped hundreds of employees grow in their careers,” she said. “We’re so grateful for this enduring partnership.”
“Strong public service needs strong public servants.”
Harry Dam (CAS’21), a Questrom graduate student who currently works as director of operations for the Mayor’s Office, reflected on the scholarship’s transformative impact, expressing gratitude for both the opportunity and for the shared a sense of purpose the scholarship committee’s faith in the scholars’ potential inspires. “I felt a renewed sense of responsibility . . . to do the best I can, learn as much as I can, and find ways to bring it all back to City Hall,” Dam said. “Not for myself, but to better serve the city that I call home.”
Dam then encouraged fellow students to persevere in their studies and bring what they’ve learned in their classrooms into practical application at work. “Strong public service needs strong public servants,” he offered.
Through this longstanding collaboration, Boston University and the City of Boston continue to empower municipal employees in their educational pursuits, developing a skilled and dedicated workforce committed to serving the city’s residents.
The event concluded with recognition of the City of Boston scholars by name, with red BU MET scarves presented to each as tokens of appreciation. “This,” President Gilliam said, of the City of Boston Scholarship program, “is how we build a stronger city.”