Smithfield, RI— Bryant University has announced its record-breaking $150 million capital campaign, Momentum in Motion, to strengthen academics, enhance the student experience, and expand opportunity. The campaign was unveiled Friday night at a celebration that brought together hundreds of university leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters.
"Guided by the goals of our Vision 2030 strategic plan, we are reimagining how students learn and engage, strengthening connections between the classroom and the workplace, and advancing experiences that have lasting impact. Our progress is significant, and the opportunity ahead is even greater," said Bryant University President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. "Momentum in Motion is our plan to deliver on that opportunity, making a substantial investment in Bryant's future and in our ability to lead with confidence in a time of constant change."
Mike Montecalvo, WPRI-TV 12 news anchor and Bryant faculty member, served as the emcee of the launch event, which featured student voices and storytelling segments focusing on how ideas become enterprises at Bryant and how community, experiential learning, and partnerships are a fundamental part of the Bryant experience.
Aurora Pedwell ’27, who served as the event’s co-emcee, talked about the many real-world learning experiences afforded to her at Bryant – from her dispatches at the Super Bowl’s Radio Row to her summer internship with 98.5 The Sports Hub – within Bryant’s Sports Industries, Media, and Promotion program.
“Bryant gave me the stage, the mentors, and the opportunity to build a network,” said Pedwell. “One opportunity led to another, and each time I asked, ‘What if I could do this?’ I found people willing to let me try. That’s what momentum feels like: Someone gives you an opportunity, you step into it, and suddenly you can imagine possibilities you couldn’t see before.”
At the event, Bryant Board of Trustees Chair D. Ellen Wilson ’79 sat down with President Gittell to speak about her own experience as a Bryant student, recalling the Blizzard of ’78 and how, even with significant expansion since her time on campus, Bryant has stayed committed to its “secret sauce.”
“What has always distinguished Bryant is the sense that an entire community is invested in each student’s success,” said Wilson. “Momentum in Motion is about preserving that hallmark while giving Bryant the resources to be nimble — to move quickly on opportunities, invest in new ways of teaching and learning, and prepare our students to succeed.”
Campaign co-chairs Joseph F. Puishys ’80, vice chair of Bryant’s Board of Trustees and executive chairman of SitelogIQ, and David Sorbaro ’85, member of the Board of Trustees and co-CEO of Mavis Tire Express Services Corporation, spoke of the clear sense of direction Bryant has established in forging a distinct educational experience that is interdisciplinary, experiential, and career focused.
“Bryant was an important part of who we became, and reconnecting with the university reminded me how powerful this community is,” said Puishys. “My message to alumni is simple: Stay involved, bring others back into the Bryant family, and help tell this university’s story. We are part of Bryant’s past and present, and now we have an opportunity to help shape its future.”
Sorbaro added: “Bryant is thriving, and the reason is simple: There is an unwavering focus on what is best for students. Vision 2030 is ambitious, thoughtful, and built for the future, and philanthropy gives Bryant the ability to turn that vision into reality. This is our opportunity to invest in the people, programs, and experiences that will make Bryant exceptional for the next generation.”
"Momentum in Motion" will also expand opportunities for Bryant students, helping to fund scholarships, global partnerships and experiential learning opportunities, community initiatives, and the Bryant Fund, which directs critical resources throughout the university where they're needed most.
The campaign builds on significant momentum already underway at Bryant, with investments that have transformed the university’s physical footprint while showcasing a bold new approach to higher education. These include the opening of the Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Center (BELC) with a range of future-focused labs dedicated to artificial intelligence, financial markets and data analytics, and sales.
Bryant also recently unveiled the Navigant Credit Union Field House, a state-of-the-art facility to empower student-athletes and provide a next-level fan experience; the Puishys Residence Complex, a contemporary living space that fosters a strong student life and sense of belonging; the Sprague Center for Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking, a forward-looking hub to develop new products and businesses, from concept to launch; and the Hauck AI Performance Labs that are accelerating Bryant’s leadership in applied, responsible AI.
“When someone is willing to back an idea, you see what becomes possible,” said Bryant Professor of Marketing Stefanie Boyer, Ph.D. “The support of Frank and Marion Hauck gave us the home we needed to turn an ambitious vision into the Bryant University Sales Institute, and to create opportunities for students that simply didn’t exist before. We’ve seen what can happen when students and faculty are willing to work hard and someone believes enough to invest in them.”
At the same time, Bryant has launched new scholarship opportunities, including the Conaty Scholars Endowed Fund, and opened the Ellen Wilson Leadership Center to support the academic journeys of extraordinary, ethical, and inclusive leaders.
“I chose Bryant because of its momentum — the promise of growth and new opportunities — and that is exactly what I found,” said Kiran McGuirk '26, Gertrude Meth Hochberg Endowed Scholarship recipient who is among the first to participate in Bryant College of Health and Behavioral Sciences’ direct admission partnership with MGH Institute of Health Professions. “Scholarship support helped make it possible for me to say yes to experiences that took me around the world and ultimately helped me find my path in healthcare. The impact of a Bryant education doesn’t stop at graduation; we take it with us into the work and the lives ahead.”
Bryant has also deepened its commitment to the student experience with expanded Campus Ministry and interfaith programming, and the recent opening of the Wellbeing Center, a place to help students build inner resources, find balance, and achieve success.
These dynamic learning environments and programs are part of Bryant’s strategic focus on delivering student success. The campaign will support that vital work while growing the institution’s exceptional faculty, who inspire students to think critically with a curriculum rooted in experiential learning and a commitment to lead with purpose.
“This campaign is bringing the Bryant community together to secure the institution’s future and ensure our commitment to transformational change will continue to benefit new generations of students empowered to become innovative leaders with character,” says David Wegrzyn ’86, P ’23, vice president for University Advancement. “The university is grateful for the generosity of all of those who support this powerful effort to expand opportunity, accelerate momentum, and strengthen Bryant’s ability to compete for exceptional students and faculty for many years to come. I encourage all members of the Bryant community to lean into Vision 2030 and find a pathway to your momentum in motion. It’s always a great day to be a Bulldog!”
To learn more about Momentum in Motion, visit momentum.bryant.edu.
About Bryant University
For 163 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, humanities, and health and behavioral sciences, while embedding applied artificial intelligence and experiential learning across the curriculum.
Located on a 465-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 41 states and 50 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top one percent national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and is highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, QS Stars, The Princeton Review, Poets&Quants, and College Factual. Bryant.edu