On June 1, Gloucester formally welcomed Endicott College with the opening of the school’s satellite campus on Commercial Street. This entrepreneurial college shares the can-do spirit of Gloucester. We are so excited that it has chosen to team up with us and believe it is a terrific partner that will contribute to the ongoing success of the city.
Endicott is a great fit for us as we double-down on our efforts to foster a diverse and robust maritime economy. We learned last year during the city’s first Maritime Summit that the marine science and technology economic sector is worth $1.5 billion in Massachusetts alone. The North Shore is second only to the Boston area in generating venture capital and obtaining patents in this sector.
Endicott recognizes the importance of this economic sector, and starting this winter, Endicott’s Van Loan School of Graduate and Professional Studies will offer a one-of-a-kind Master of Business Administration program which will have a concentration in maritime economics. Gloucester is the perfect place for this innovative program, not only as America’s oldest seaport, but as a community that is serious about advancing a broad-based maritime economy.
This unique MBA program will have a focus on global, national, regional and local maritime economic issues. The college sees the program as a developer of thought leaders who not only will contribute to the ongoing growth of our harbor economy, but as an exporter of talent that will help define the globe’s largest economic frontier — the ocean economy.
Gloucester also offers Endicott a unique educational opportunity for its students. Endicott students are already engaging in internships as a supplement to classroom studies. Its program offers students hands-on learning experiences in the community, including work on the waterfront to study life sciences and environmental sciences. It is inspiring to see that already many Endicott graduate and undergraduate students have immersed themselves in Gloucester’s vibrant culture. University officials report that students are visiting the Rocky Neck Art Colony to study art, taking strolls on the HarborWalk to inspire creative writing, and visiting local institutions such as the Cape Ann Museum, Hammond Castle and Maritime Gloucester.
As the student body becomes accustomed to its new surroundings, we can look forward to the benefits that will arise from having a college presence in the city. The college already enjoys a strong reputation in the city thanks to the Endicott Center of Leadership, which has provided corporate training to several Gloucester companies over the years. The new campus in Gloucester has already gotten off to a great start by hosting the Marine and Oceanographic Technology Network (MOTN) forum — the first ever held on the North Shore — and a regional panel discussion led by municipal officials about the state’s Designated Port Areas. These are the type of events Endicott has in mind for an ongoing lecture series that will take shape in the months ahead.
It is especially poignant that Endicott College President Richard E. Wiley has longstanding ties to the community. Dr. Wiley, who began his teaching career here in Gloucester, envisions a seamless integration for Endicott into the community.
Endicott College aspires to shape the outlook of students based on the wealth of opportunity found in the maritime economy and fuel their passion for life by the sea. The success of Endicott’s exciting venture is sure to provide benefits for city residents and businesses for decades to come. Welcome Endicott. Together, we will help the community learn, grow and prosper.
Carolyn Kirk is the mayor of Gloucester.
