Building the Webb community; Progress and Future
In October 2020, the Webb Board of Trustees resolved that Webb’s commitment to excellence extends to a commitment to a diverse and inclusive campus community, and several Strategic Initiatives were begun to reinforce this vision. Now, over four years later, it is time to reflect on progress made and challenges encountered. We have traveled well down this road, but our journey is not complete.
Progress on Strategic Initiatives:
Recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups at Webb
- The admissions process now takes input from a wider group – students, faculty, and administration – for a holistic view of prospective candidates, with awareness training for potential bias.
- Our generous donors have substantially grown endowments that help alleviate room & board costs for those with financial need. Combined with foundation and government support and minimal student loans, over $300,000 has been made available annually, enabling students with need to attend Webb. This program has benefited up to 25% of our students and is a powerful recruiting tool for prospective students.
- The applicant pool has grown 32% since 2020 and diversity metrics have increased even more, with the number of first-generation-college applicants doubling. Our newly hired Assistant Director of Admissions will build on outreach initiatives trialed under this program to further broaden our applicant pool.
- Webb now has two on-call staff providing 24/7 support to students, helping them cope with academic and life pressures, contributing to improved retention and graduation rates.
A campus and community culture of equity and inclusion
- We have focused on initiatives that support dialog, collaboration, and trust on campus, starting with orientation week sessions, building through community participation events and activities, with support by student leadership who set annual goals on improving problem areas. Outside speakers from industry and academia have shared their views on these topics.
- Regular surveys measure a range of cultural issues, with interventions provided where appropriate. Student clubs – WoW (Women of Webb), CoGas (Coalition of Gays and Such), MEOW (Minority Establishment of Webb) – provide the opportunity for open communication channels for underrepresented communities.
- The ACT (Assistance and Care Team) now takes a more active, real-time role in engaging with community issues as they arise.
- The Webb Alumni Association initiated workshops at SNAME focusing on raising awareness of diversity challenges in the maritime industry. Webb’s 25% female population remains ahead of the industry at large. Change is taking place, but slowly.
The academic program, culture, and faculty/staff diversity
- The Humanities curriculum now includes a wider range of topics: alternative sources, cultural comparisons, viewpoint bias, logical fallacies, and ethics as seen through current events. A new course was introduced to enhance critical thinking and analysis skills.
- The faculty have kicked off a thorough curriculum review to ensure our curriculum provides the knowledge and skills necessary for our graduates to succeed in their careers and become valued members of a diverse society. After further internal development it will be reviewed with industry partners and students before implementation begins.
- Faculty orientation, mentorship, and professional development are part and parcel of delivering the best educational product to our students and in making Webb an inviting workplace. Initiatives in this area are ongoing and fully budgeted. Annual training on Title IX topics reinforces the importance of respect for each person on campus.
- Marketing of faculty and staff positions now reaches a wider audience, but we have a challenge with faculty recruiting. It has been difficult to attract a wide group of qualified candidates to teach in our predominant specialty-knowledge areas.
Communications and the Board
- The Board continually seeks to develop Trustee candidates who represent a diversity of views and backgrounds to further its important work of supporting Webb’s mission. The Board is significantly more diverse today; for example, women now constitute 25% of the Board.
- A designated committee, with student representation, reports on diversity and cultural awareness topics at every Board meeting. The full Board participated in a workshop on these topics most recently in May 2024.
Looking Forward: Webb Values
Our progress on these initiatives has laid the foundation for building on our achievements and addressing new challenges. The Board now broadens its objectives to integrate all values of the Webb community, including those highlighted in earlier initiatives, in an updated resolution.
Webb provides more than an engineering education. The Webb experience seeks to instill the all-important values of Excellence, Community, and Opportunity – values that will guide our students and graduates throughout their career and enable them to contribute to a better society. Working together, the Board, administration, faculty, and students identified how these values translate to behaviors and actions in our community. We invite the wider Webb community to comment on the results of our collaboration.
With best regards,
Mark Martecchini ’79, P’09, President
Webbies Triumph at Block Island and Newport-Bermuda Race
Webbies Zachary Doerr ’24 and John Feleciano ’25 have solidified their status as exceptional sailors with back-to-back victories in prestigious races, sailing NEKA Sailing’s Groupe 5.
In May, the duo braved the high seas and emerged victorious in the ORC Double-Handed Division at the 2024 Block Island Race. They skillfully navigated 186 nautical miles of light, shifty winds, overcoming strategic challenges and numerous lead changes to secure a welldeserved win at 4 AM.
Continuing their winning streak, Doerr and Feleciano recently achieved a historic victory in the Newport Bermuda Race, securing first place in their class and an impressive second in the Double-Handed Division. They crossed the finish line, completing the grueling 636-mile racecourse at Saint David’s Lighthouse after 3 days, 13 hours, 33 minutes, and 8 seconds.
Despite being the youngest crew in the entire race, the pair demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, missing the top spot by a mere four minutes. Reflecting on the experience, they described it as “the hardest thing we’ve ever done.”
“I think John and I did a good job of identifying the tactical factors that affected this race (the Newport Bermuda Race) and generally made good decisions. The race had a lot of short steep chop, which made it very psychologically challenging to continue pushing forward. In the end though, it was a huge sense of accomplishment to have finished so well, especially when sailing with a peer and not a coach or more experienced sailor,” said Zach Doerr.
“Seeing the lights of Bermuda breaking through the rain squalls on the final night was unforgettable. We saw conditions ranging from 0 to 30 knots, navigating lightning storms, torrential rains, the Gulf Stream, and a rough sea state the entire way. We were very happy with our result – showing that the hard work and months of preparation had paid off. We couldn’t have done it without the support of NEKA Sailing. We’re also thankful for the support of our families and the Webb community, motivating us to keep pushing through tough conditions,” stated John Feleciano.
Their success follows one of the missions of NEKA, or the North East Keelboat Alliance: to promote shorthanded offshore sailing to college students who without the program would not have access to this sport. NEKA provides opportunities to Webb students and other college students alike, giving a framework to learn the skills required to succeed at offshore sailing.
Offshore sailing is highly technical, requiring not just sailing skills, but also electrical, computer, engine, and structural knowledge. In addition, the sport promotes leadership, organization, and teamwork, helping to form well-rounded individuals. The Webb community is immensely proud of John’s and Zach’s remarkable achievements. Their consecutive wins are a testament to their dedication and talent, and to the spirit of Webb Institute. Congratulations to these outstanding sailors!
Webb Exchange | One Student’s Journey
I’m Lisandro Nicoletti, a Brazilian studying at the University of Southampton, UK. I chose to do a semester abroad so as to experience the excitement of my first day at university for a second time, and I chose to do this at Webb Intitule in order to become a part of its well-known alumni community.
As an exchange student, my journey has been full of new experiences. If I had to pick a favourite day at Webb, it would probably be when we hosted the Engineers Cup. We spent the whole day on the water sailing with other marine-engineering-related colleges and universities. And following the sailing, I organized a traditional Brazilian barbecue at the yacht club for everyone.
Lisandro with members of the Class of 2024 at a fellow classmate’s hockey game.
Beyond campus, Webb Institute sponsored me to attend many events, including the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) held in Houston, and Broadway shows organized by Webb’s Culture Club.
Looking back, I got to experience many things for the first time, from carving through the slopes of Vermont during the annual ski trip, to seeing an eclipse from a classmate’s hometown, and even scuba diving in the Dominican Republic during spring break. More recently, we as a class had the opportunity to go watch a classmate’s hockey game.
As the semester came to an end, I found myself looking back at all the lifelong memories and friendships, and all the invaluable professional experience I gained over my time at Webb. I can proudly say that in just one semester I gained the title of a “Webbie” – thank you Class of 2024.
Webb Institute Celebrates Historic First National Championship | Daniel Escudero ’25 Clinches College Singlehanded Sailing Title
Webb Institute is proud to announce a historic first in our school’s history. Daniel Escudero ’25 has secured the national title at the 2024 ICSA Open Singlehanded National Championships, earning Webb its first-ever national championship. Competing against elite sailors from universities with legacy sailing programs, including Harvard, Yale, and Brown, Daniel emerged as the men’s champion, securing the Glen S. Foster Trophy on November 10 in St. Petersburg, FL.
Daniel Escudero ’25 wins the Glen S. Foster Trophy – pictured with fellow sailors and competitors, Guthrie Braun ’26 (Brown) and Mathias Reimer ’27 (Yale).
The two-day competition hosted the top 18 sailors out of the 103 in the nation that raced in qualifying stages. Beginning with light, shifty winds on day one on Tampa Bay, the conditions tested each competitor’s adaptability and skill, as they navigated through eight races. Despite the challenging environment, Daniel ended the first day in second place, closely trailing Brown University’s Martins Atilla by only seven points.
On day two, as the breeze and sea state picked up, Daniel surged to the top of the leaderboard, using a strong third-place finish early in the day to gain momentum. With three races left in the series, he extended his lead and ultimately clinched the championship title.
Webb Institute President Mark Martecchini expressed great pride in Daniel’s accomplishment, noting,
This is a monumental moment for Webb. Daniel’s win represents not only his exceptional dedication and resilience but also Webb’s commitment to supporting our students in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. We couldn’t be prouder of his achievement; it’s an inspiration for our entire community.
Daniel, who balances a rigorous course load in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, has demonstrated remarkable tenacity both in the classroom and on the water.
Reflecting on his achievement, Daniel shared,
Winning this championship is a dream come true. A win like this doesn’t come often for Webb, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my school. Competing successfully against such talented sailors required a lot of dedication and support from those close to me, and I’m very proud to bring this victory home to Webb.
The 2024 College Sailing Open and Women’s Singlehanded National Championships saw Sophia Montgomery ’25 of Harvard University win the Women’s title, with competitors in both fleets facing a mix of variable and demanding conditions. Daniel’s triumph also follows his earlier success this year when he captured the ILCA 7 North American Championship, highlighting his standing as one of the most skilled sailors in the collegiate circuit.
Glen S. Foster Trophy – Men’s Championship Final Standings:
- Daniel Escudero ’25, Webb Institute
- Guthrie Braun ’26, Brown University
- Mathias Reimer ’27, Yale University
Photo Credit: Lexi Pline / College Sailing
Moving Forward
By Alyssa Caliguri | Director of Admissions and Student Affairs
As I step into this new role as the Director of Admissions and Student Affairs I am excited to see what is in store for Webb Institute. While I’m not new to Webb being the former Associate Director of Admissions and Student Affairs, this role is a new opportunity for me to bring my strengths into this role. This new position for me is not just a career advancement but an opportunity to help shape the future of Webb Institute for years to come. The former Director of Admissions and Student Affairs, Lauren Carballo set up Webb to be extremely successful during her tenure. My only hope is to continue to build upon the great foundation she laid out for the past 8 years during her time at Webb.
Getting to welcome a new class of 28 students to campus after we had the privilege to watch the seniors walk across the stage months prior is always an exciting time. Having the opportunity to see the perspective students turn into admitted students is always an incredible experience. From those shy interviews to getting them knowledgeable on everything Webb during Orientation Week, they truly start to become a family in such a short amount of time within their class. They really are an impressive group and very accomplished prior to Webb. With Webb’s top-notch education there is no doubt in my mind they will become the very best next generation of great leaders in the Maritime Industry. I cannot wait to see all that the Class of 2028 accomplishes during their collegiate career inside and out of the classroom.
Alyssa presenting during Webb’s Incoming Student Orientation.
As we look towards the Fall we will look to hire an Assistant Director of Admissions to grow our admissions department and continue to spread the word out about Webb being one of our top goals. Another goal of mine is to also grow our Student Affairs side of the department. Admissions and Student Affairs go hand in hand in my opinion. You often will see other institutions have an Admissions Department which gets students in and hands them off to the Student Affairs Departments but the unique thing about Webb is that you get to see them through during their whole collegiate career from before they are even admitted. My passion is about enhancing the student experience from the very first time they step onto Webb’s campus to take a tour to four years later when they walk across that stage as a Webb graduate. Webb has such a strong curriculum and outstanding faculty to teach them, I hope on my departments end we can help guide them holistically to be the best leader outside of the classroom as well. I hope to continue the strong collaboration among all faculty and staff to continue to improve Webb’s student experience.
As Higher Education continues to evolve day by day my hope is that by focusing on relationship-building, collaboration, staying knowledgeable with the ever so changing industry, strategic planning, and innovation, our department can achieve new heights of success when it comes to student experiences at Webb Institute.