91¿´Æ¬

October 3, 2025

On Founder’s Day—Friday, October 3, 2025—several staff, faculty, and alumni were presented with awards for their outstanding service and dedication to 91¿´Æ¬ and its students.

The recipients were recognized for carrying on the traditions of our founder Lydia Moss Bradley.

 

ALUMNI AWARDS

Centurion Society Inductees

David Burritt ’77
A former Bradley baseball standout, Burritt spent 32 years at Caterpillar before becoming President and CEO of U.S. Steel in 2017. He led the company through transformative milestones, including the Big River Steel acquisition. A Lockheed Martin board member, he credits Bradley with shaping his leadership.

Scott Racine ’72
Racine built a trailblazing career in tax law, advising icons like Bob Dylan and Elton John as well as corporations such as Goldman Sachs and Nike. Former head of Akin Gump’s Los Angeles tax department, he has also given generously of his time and resources to Bradley. For his impact, Racine also received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

David Ulmer ’69
Ulmer spent 32 years shaping aviation before co-founding JetBlue Airways, where he helped secure $140 million in startup capital and served as vice president of planning. Ulmer has generously supported an annual economics scholarship, ensuring future Bradley students have access to the same analytical foundation that contributed to his success.Ìý

Tana Utley ’86
Utley built a remarkable 38-year career at Caterpillar, retiring as Vice President of Large Power Systems after 15 years as a corporate officer. While serving as Chief Technology Officer, she led the company’s largest-ever R&D effort, slashing diesel emissions by 98%. An MIT graduate, Trustee, and honorary doctorate recipient, she remains a passionate Bradley supporter.

Distinguished Alumni Award

• Scott Racine ’72

Lydia Moss Bradley Award

• Elmo E. Roach, Professor of History, Emeritus

Outstanding Young Graduate Award

• Caleb Aeschliman ’16

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FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS

Advance BU Award for Inclusive Excellence

• Family & Consumer Sciences Department

Caterpillar Faculty Achievement Award for Scholarship

• Anant Deshwal, Assistant Professor, Biology

Caterpillar Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching

• Kate Lipovsky, Assistant Professor, Biology

First Year Faculty Award

• (2024), Lavanya Mandava, Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Information Systems
• (2025), Aria Dines, Assistant Professor, Interactive Media Animation

Francis C. Mergen Award for Public Service

• Suzanne Thompson, Administrative Services Coordinator for the Caterpillar College of Engineering and the Foster College of Business

Putnam Award for Excellence in Teaching

• James Muncy, Professor, Marketing

Samuel Rothberg Professional Excellence Award

• Heather Brammeier, Professor, Painting

Staff Excellence Awards:

• Michelle Riggio Rarick, Executive Director of Continuing Education and Professional Development
• Ching Zedric, Digital Media Preservationist in Special Collections

William Rainey Harper Award for Departmental Excellence

• Turner School of Entrepreneurship & Innovation