Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite has been appointed the ninth president of Bentley University, becoming the first Black president in the university’s 104-year history.
Dr. Chrite previously served a the president at Bethune-Cookman University, an HBCU, and the former dean of the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business.
The news comes a week after it was reported that Chrite “abruptly resigned” from Bethune-Cookman.
“The Board of Trustees of Bethune-Cookman University has learned that current president, Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite, announced his resignation this morning to members of his cabinet during a regularly scheduled meeting,” a press release sent to the media announced.
Chrite is looking forward to his new position at Bentley.
“I believe the beauty of business lies in its ability to create solutions to human problems,” said Dr. Chrite in a statement. “A Bentley University education weaves together business skills with the arts and sciences and empowers students to transform business, society and their communities. I’m excited to join Bentley and build upon this mission.”
Bentley offers undergraduate, master’s degrees and Ph.D. programs. Its enrollment includes 4,000 undergraduate students and 1,000 graduate students.
“Brent Chrite shares our vision and passion for educating ethical leaders who make business a force for positive change,” said Paul Condrin, interim president and chair of the Bentley University board of trustees. “He has dedicated his career to improving business education and expanding economic opportunities across the country and around the world, and I know he will lead Bentley University to greater heights in the years to come.”
Chrite has more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education and has spent much of his career working to strengthen economic conditions and improve business education opportunities for residents around the world, including in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Namibia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and for the Tohono O’odhom Nation on the Sells Reservation in Arizona.
