Bulldog statue with leaves in the background.
The year in news: Bryant’s top 10 articles of 2024
Jan 02, 2025, by Emma Bartlett

2024 was a dynamic year for the Bryant community. From the opening of the university’s new Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Center to compelling faculty-driven thought leadership, here are Bryant News’ top 10 articles from the last year:

1. Is Ozempic a weight-loss miracle drug or too good to be true?

Ozempic injection bottle.
In March, School of Health and Behavioral Sciences’ Director Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D., and School of Health and Behavioral Sciences Associate Director and Psychology Professor Joseph Trunzo, Ph.D., added their voices to the national conversation on the use of the drug Ozempic for losing weight. While the treatment has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for type 2 diabetes, it has not been approved for weight loss — despite its use for that purpose. The two Bryant experts broke down the science behind the trend and discussed holistic approaches to slimming down.

 

2. COVID-19 crash course: What to know about the latest variants

Syringe being entered into a bottle of clear liquid.
As the world geared up for the fall and winter, Hokeness shared intel on the latest COVID-19 variants making their rounds. From reminding individuals of the ideal timeframe to get their COVID-19 shot to explaining how the new strains formed, she equipped readers with the tools needed to make informed health decisions. In addition to her COVID-19 crash course, Hokeness also spent the fall answering pressing questions about the flu and common cold — including differences between the two, why people get congested, and how individuals can ease coughing fits.

 

3. Are anti-aging NAD+ supplements safe? Bryant expert unpacks science behind rising trend

Bottle of NAD+
We can’t age in reverse like Benjamin Button or drink the spring water found in Tuck Everlasting, but that’s not stopping companies from developing anti-aging products in an attempt to keep us looking young. Hokeness examined the role that popular NAD+ supplements play and what they can do. Since no regulatory body evaluates the safety or efficacy of these supplements before they are sold to consumers, Hokeness reminded individuals to do their research, focus on reviews, and ask their medical provider’s opinion.

 

4. ‘Perfect storm’ of factors driving auto insurance rate hikes

Toy car on top of coins.
Auto rates rose to 21 percent year-over-year, according to Consumer Price Index data released in March. Mathematics Professor Rick Gorvett, Ph.D., who teaches in the College of Arts and Sciences, shared how supply chain issues, social inflation, vehicle repair costs, and more caused the spikes. From exploring how consumers could make their policies more affordable to comparing the rate hike with what was seen in other insurance sectors, Gorvett provided readers with valuable insights that helped them to stay up to date on a complex and evolving issue — and save a few dollars along the way.

 

5. Bryant 3.0: A transformational Master Plan takes shape

Rendering of Bryant's AI lab space.
From a stadium fieldhouse that will support Bryant’s athletics teams and revolutionize the gameday experience to a new residence hall designed to accommodate more than 200 juniors and seniors, Bryant shared news regarding upcoming and ongoing high-impact projects that are launching the university into a new era. Students are already reaping the benefits of this transformation in the form of the university’s new Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Center (BELC). Since its opening day at the start of the academic year, students have taken advantage of its wide range of new labs and centers, including the Frank ’81 and Marion ’81 Hauck Sales Performance Lab, Data Science Lab, Data Visualization Lab, Financial Markets Center, Digital Marketing Lab, and Ellen Wilson Leadership Center.

 

6. Bryant recognized among top 5 percent of U.S. colleges by The Wall Street Journal 

Students walking out of building.
In September, Bryant was recognized among the top 5 percent of higher education institutions in the nation, according to The Wall Street Journal, in collaboration with College Pulse and Statista. The “America’s Best Colleges” 2025 rankings also revealed that Bryant rose 37 places from its position last year. Bryant received several other prestigious accolades in 2024 as well, including being named the 6th best regional college in the Northeast by U.S. News & World Report, placing 16th in the nation for the university’s Online MBA program according to Poets&Quants, and ranking among the top 25 for most active student government, best college library, and love for school teams in The Princeton Review’s rankings.

 

7. Highest earnings ever: Bryant Class of 2023 breaks university record for starting salary

Seniors walk at graduation.
Data compiled by the university’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategy revealed a record-breaking starting salary for Bryant’s Class of 2023. Within the first six months of graduation, the recent grads had earned a median starting salary of $72,500; a 6.6 percent increase from the previous year’s record-breaking earnings of $68,000. From one alum who leveraged his liberal arts education within Fidelity Investments' Emerging Leader Program to another who’s working as an actuarial analyst for Uber, Bryant’s 2023 alums used their education to reach new heights.

 

8. Bryant University announces Commencement speakers, honorary degree recipients

Four headshots of Commencement speakers and honorary degree reciepients
It’s not every day that you get the chance to learn life lessons from the chief executive officer of one of the world’s leading companies, so it was a unique opportunity when Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health, shared advice with graduating seniors during her undergraduate commencement speech in May. Also participating in the annual festivities were Edmund Shallcross III, the president and chief executive officer of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, who spoke at the graduate school ceremony, and Tsitsi Masiyiwa P'17 and David Weinstein who received honorary degrees alongside Lynch.

 

9. Bryant University names new Dean of College of Business

Headshot of Todd Alessandri.
In July, Bryant welcomed Todd Alessandri, Ph.D., as the university’s new College of Business Dean.  Alessandri, who came to Bryant from Northeastern University, has expertise in developing challenging, future forward curricula and experiential learning opportunities — a perfect complement to the university’s focus on real-world-focused learning. Whether he’s getting involved in the Bryant community by volunteering with the Service Squad or sharing his vision for the college, Alessandri is already making his mark as a Bulldog and helping students prepare for success.

 

10. From nature to your nervous system: A deep dive into the psychological effects of Lyme disease

Person walking in woods.
More and more deer ticks are surviving the winter months due to the milder weather. Therefore, once summer hits, it seems as though these menacing insects — which can carry Lyme disease — are everywhere. Trunzo, a practicing clinical psychologist who wrote the book Living Beyond Lyme and has treated individuals with chronic Lyme, unpacked how the illness could cause psychological issues such as overstimulated anxiety, cognitive problems, and mood difficulties. 
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