Past Presidents
Harry C. Bentley • 1917 to 1953
Education was a lifelong passion for Harry Bentley. In fact, he established his first academic institution at age 21: a bookkeeping school located near his Connecticut home. Later, Mr. Bentley would hold teaching and administrative posts at Simmons College, the School of Commerce and Finance of the Boston YMCA (precursor to Northeastern University) and Boston University School of Business Administration. His books — particularly Corporate Finance and Accounting and The Science of Accounts — established him as a leader in the accountancy field. In 1917, soon after Mr. Bentley left Boston University, 29 of his former students asked to continue their studies with him. Two decades later, enrollment at the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance school reached 3,100. The founder’s intellect, drive and vision were instrumental in placing Bentley at the forefront of professional business education.
Maurice M. Lindsay • 1953 to 1961
A noted authority on the complex laws of taxation, Maurice Lindsay joined the Bentley faculty in 1920. He went on to serve as dean of faculty, treasurer and vice president. An abiding concern for students and a keen dedication to educational quality marked his tenure as president. Himself a Bentley graduate, President Lindsay firmly believed that schools should prepare students not only to earn a living but to lead a well-rounded life. The commitment to academic excellence inspired President Lindsay to spearhead early efforts to seek collegiate status for Bentley. In retirement, Maurice Lindsay launched a career as an artist and became a leading advocate for post-professional endeavors.
Thomas L. Morison • 1961 to 1970
Tom Morison arrived at Bentley in 1946 to teach accounting and management. He held subsequent positions as corporate secretary, secretary–treasurer, and executive vice president before assuming the presidency in 1961. That same year, the school petitioned successfully to award its first baccalaureate degree: a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. Full accreditation by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools would be granted in 1966. With characteristic vision, President Morison collaborated closely with other Bentley leaders to oversee the college’s move from Boston to suburban Waltham in 1968. His longtime commitment to the accounting profession included serving as president, vice president, and Executive Committee member for the National Association of Accountants.
Gregory H. Adamian • 1970 to 1991
An accomplished lawyer, Gregory Adamian joined the Bentley faculty in 1955. He was named chair of the Law Department in 1968. His appointment as president ushered in a period of tremendous growth at the college. Academic offerings expanded from a single bachelor’s degree to undergraduate programs in eight business and four liberal arts disciplines, and master’s degrees in six fields. In 1989, the national organization charged with evaluating business programs placed Bentley in the select 20 percent of schools to receive accreditation. The years brought similarly dramatic gains to the college’s endowment and the physical plant. President Adamian’s many accolades include receiving the Humanity Award from Facing History and Ourselves; an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Boston University; and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for lifetime contributions to education, business, law, and cultural and civic life in America. Upon retirement, he was named Bentley chancellor and president emeritus.
Joseph M. Cronin • 1991 to 1997
Joseph Cronin assumed the Bentley presidency after more than three decades as a teacher, author, and school board official. The theme of his inauguration — internationalism — would become an organizing principle of leadership, as President Cronin worked to expand study abroad programs and increase the number of Bentley students from other countries. He also promoted the value of community service through service–learning programs and supported initiatives to encourage students’ appreciation for the arts. Academic programs grew to include mathematical sciences, management of technology, and personal financial planning. Throughout his tenure, President Cronin published widely on school finance, student aid, cultural diversity, and other topics with a far-reaching impact on higher education.
Joseph G. Morone • 1997 to 2005
With deep experience in business and academia, Joseph Morone enhanced the Bentley reputation on many fronts. The former executive at General Electric and dean at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute led a groundbreaking integration of information technology into the core business curriculum. Other milestones were gains in student quality and selectivity; distinctive additions to arts and sciences offerings; renewed emphasis on faculty scholarship; and development of hands-on labs with state-of-the-art tools for studying accountancy, finance, marketing, information design, and other business specialties. These years also brought the most successful fund drive in Bentley history, raising $107 million and inspiring pride among alumni, trustees, and other supporters. The achievements were instrumental in raising the college’s place in international rankings of academic institutions.
