Prominent Bryant alumnus F. Kurt Last ’78, executive vice president at WorkingBuildings, LLC in Hawaii, a global leader in critical facility support services, will be visiting Bryant March 21-23 as a Presidential Executive in Residence and featured speaker for the Physician Assistant Graduate Program Commencement.
The Bryant Presidential Executive in Residence program is a platform for industry executives and leaders to share their expertise and enrich the academic experience of the Bryant community. The program focuses on two pillars: student guidance and mentorship, and enhanced experiential learning.
Last will be sharing lessons from his career spanning law enforcement, project management, and entrepreneurship in the health sciences sector. Over his three days on campus, he will tour science labs and the new Exercise and Movement Science Lab, visit the course Human Health and Disease, host a lunch and learn with the PA students, hold individual mentoring sessions with students , and meet with faculty and administrators. He will wrap up his visit delivering the keynote address for the Class of 2024 at the PA Commencement on Saturday, March 23, where he will also receive an honorary degree.
A former member of Bryant’s Board of Trustees, Last has had a long career in the health science and technology industry, with companies such as CytoTherapeutics Inc. (now StemCells Inc.) and Specialty Operations Solutions Inc. His expertise led to his 2015 appointment by the National Institutes of Health to a panel of subject matter experts called the Red Team.
Last’s Smithfield roots run deep, having earned bachelor’s degrees from Bryant in both law enforcement and finance. He worked as a police officer while a student and served as a volunteer and call firefighter in the Smithfield Fire Department. He was also a member of the town’s planning board for six years.
Last now lives in Kauai, Hawaii, where he is active in the local community. He is co-founder and CEO of Kauai North Shore Food Pantry, providing food and personal hygiene products to 150 families per week. He also serves as board treasurer for both the Makana North Shore Urgent Care, which provides reduced cost and no cost medical services to Kauai residents in need, and the Kauai Humane Society, an open admission animal shelter.
