Boston University President Melissa Gilliam delivered her first annual presidential address Wednesday afternoon at the Tsai Performance Center, announcing efforts to further BU’s reputation as a leading research institution through continued support of interdisciplinary initiatives.
“Boston University will be the global destination of discovery, education and human connection — an epicenter where disciplines, communities and realities merge and visionary thinkers unite to create transformative experiences and solutions for the world’s greatest challenges,” Gilliam said.
She detailed the University’s eight areas of priority pertaining to convergent research — merging disciplines to create new fields of study — which span topics including health, environment, youth wellbeing and education, artificial intelligence and economic opportunity.
“Convergence — it is our past, it is our present, it is our future,” Gilliam said, drawing on BU’s history of interdisciplinary research, such as former BU President Robert Brown’s construction of The Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences.
To fulfill her supposed “north star vision,” Gilliam said BU has partnered up with Boston Medical Center CEO Alistair Bell to strengthen the relationship between the two institutions.
“With Dr. Bell’s help, we have already begun the work of streamlining, educating our medical workforce,” Gilliam said. “Together we can enhance our standard of care and invest in a role we both take seriously, to care for Boston’s underserved communities.”
One component of the partnership is BEACON, an initiative using AI to study and report “emerging biological threats” to people, animals, plants and the environment, according to a press release issued by BU last year.
In an interview, BU spokesperson Colin Riley said Gilliam is “on a roll” staying on track with the goals she promised when first inaugurated in 2024.
“Getting us to this transition is very, very difficult, but I think she’s got her legs under her, and she’s learned a lot, and she’s made a big impression here,” Riley said.
Riley said Gilliam has also had success navigating financial issues.
“It has been a challenging time,” Riley said. “She’s done a terrific job getting through it, her and the senior administration.”
Dr. Lindsey Butler, attendee, executive director of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission and inaugural graduate of BU’s URBAN Program — a graduate program focused on preparing students to discover urban environmental solutions by working across departments and sectors — said she believes that climate action falls into all the eight convergence categories.
“[I’m] thrilled to hear about that framework, and to hear from some of the leaders across the city and beyond that we’re going to be partnering with in the future,” Butler said.
Jennifer King, another attendee and a BU associate university librarian for academic engagement and special collections, said Gilliam’s speech helped her to understand the direction BU will take in the future.
“For me, I think it’s inspiring that she is helping all of us at the University understand Boston University’s long tale of history, and it helps me envision not just the immediate next five years and next decade, but I can imagine the next century,” King said.
The Associate Vice President for Planning, Design & Construction at BU, Michelle Maheu, attended the event and said she was excited by the work already done on Gilliam’s research initiatives.
“The more I hear President Gilliam talk about the north star [vision] and give examples of it, the better I can deliver potential solutions for the future of BU and helping to shape the future of this physical campus is such an exciting role to be in,” Maheu said.
Lisa Wendt, Chair of the University Advisory Board, said Gilliam is “unflappable in the face of everything going on right now” with higher education and that her energy and enthusiasm is needed.
“I think outside partnerships are going to continue to be increasingly important going forward, especially in this new landscape of higher education,” Wendt said.
