Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society Chapter Installed at Wentworth

Following a seven-year effort to bring the nation's oldest engineering honor society to campus, Wentworth Institute of Technology officially installed its new Tau Beta Pi chapter, Massachusetts Lambda (MA L), this spring.

To mark the milestone, a physical monument of the society's symbol, the "bent," was installed on campus. The monument's base was masterfully designed over several months by Wentworth Professor of Industrial Design Simon Williamson.

The establishment of the society's 265th collegiate chapter represents a significant achievement for the Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering. The process originally began under the guidance of Dean of Engineering Ali Khabari and Vice Provost Joe Martel-Foley. The effort finally came to fruition this year with the valuable help of Marisha Rawlins, the Henry C. Lord Associate Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering programs.

In July of 2025, Tau Beta Pi leadership, including Secretary Henry Houh and Executive Director Curtis Gomulinski, visited Wentworth for an official campus inspection. After touring engineering labs and meeting with student organizations, the team lauded the university's active student body and the strength of its curriculum through the Co-op program. They soon after issued a unanimous recommendation for Wentworth to proceed with the initiation process.

The formal installation this March culminated in a banquet attended by Wentworth Executive Vice President and Provost Sophia Maggelakis. Joining Houh and Gomulinski to formally welcome the chapter were District 1 directors Michael C. Munsey and Scott M. Trocchia, along with committee members from several other Massachusetts chapters.

The new chapter underscores Wentworth's century-long commitment to preparing future engineers through hands-on learning and industry engagement, honoring the accomplishments of its students, faculty, and alumni.

About Tau Beta Pi

Founded in 1885 at Lehigh University, Tau Beta Pi is the second-oldest collegiate honor society in the United States and the oldest dedicated to all engineering disciplines. Its symbol, the "bent," is modeled after a trestle bridge. Just as the bent of a trestle gives a structure integrity, the symbol represents the integrity of its members in the engineering field. Upon initiation, each member is honored with a precast bent as a reminder of the organization's creed: "integrity and excellence in engineering."