Smithfield, RI—Bryant University’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences has been elevated to the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, renamed accordingly to reflect its tremendous growth and powerful impact in bolstering the region’s health care system. In tandem, Bryant’s College of Arts and Sciences will be renamed the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to more clearly reflect its foundation in the liberal arts, its focus on understanding human experience and social structures, and its industry‑focused curriculum enriched by signature experiential learning opportunities.
The Bryant University Board of Trustees approved the changes on Friday, January 23, and they go into effect on July 1.
“The announcement regarding the two colleges reflects their significance and the exciting direction they have embraced,” says President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “The elevation of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences recognizes the exceptional work of our faculty and the high impact of its academic programs, and the updated name to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences strongly communicates its mission and strengths. Together, these changes reaffirm our strong commitment to these colleges’ academic excellence, innovation, and preparation of graduates for the career and broader opportunities and challenges of the future.”
Bryant Provost and Chief Academic Officer Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D., adds, “These changes recognize Bryant’s core strengths: a student-centered focus, breadth of academic programs, impactful interdisciplinary collaborations, and an exceptional education that prepares students to be purpose-driven leaders in their respective fields,” he says. “None of this progress would have been possible without the dedication and ongoing contributions of college leadership, faculty, and staff. Their commitment to teaching, scholarship, and student success continues to strengthen Bryant University’s academic mission and elevate our institutional distinction.”
The elevation of the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences to a college recognizes its remarkable momentum and growing impact within the university since its inception in 2022. In recent years, the unit has experienced sustained growth across academic programs, enrollment, and research activity, reflecting strong demand for Bryant’s distinctive approach to health and behavioral sciences education. This transition affirms the college’s evolution into a robust academic hub, offering an expanding portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs designed to meet the rapidly evolving needs of today’s healthcare, life sciences, wellness, and behavioral science sectors.
“The elevation of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences marks an important moment for Bryant and for the communities we serve,” says Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. “It reflects the strength of our academic vision and the growing impact of programs that prepare students to be agile problem-solvers who are able to transform data into insight and insight into action across the healthcare industry."
The renaming of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which was established at Bryant in 2004, reflects a more strategic alignment between the college’s identity and its academic disciplines that examine human meaning-making, institutions, culture, communication, and social systems. The new name signals a career-relevant liberal arts education grounded in communication and data literacy, focused on critical and creative thinking, and providing essential skills in AI and experiential education that prepare students to address real‑world challenges with insight, adaptability, and professional expertise.
“This is an exciting opportunity to showcase our sought‑after programs in communication, sports industries, the arts, law, and economics — fields that foster creativity, problem‑solving, and critical thinking — while also highlighting the strength of our general education curriculum, which supports holistic, purpose‑driven learning and prepares students for meaningful academic and professional success,” says Terri Hasseler, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “Bryant’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences is offering transformative learning experiences that allow our graduates to excel as ethically engaged and critically informed leaders.”
Together, these developments reinforce Bryant’s distinctive academic model: one that intentionally integrates every major with a strong foundation in business education and a growing emphasis on applied artificial intelligence across disciplines. This integrated, outcomes-focused approach is a defining strength of a Bryant education and a key driver of the university’s top 1 percent national outcomes for career placement and earnings.
About Bryant University
For more than 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers an integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences.
Located on a 465-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students from 41 states and 50 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top 1 percent national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, QS Stars, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, and College Factual. Bryant.edu