Joseph Hartman: The next big thing for Massachusetts isn’t technology — it’s the people behind it (Viewpoint)

When people talk about the “next big thing” in Massachusetts, they usually point to technologies — artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, quantum systems, or the next biotech breakthrough.

But the real next big thing isn’t a single technology.

It’s the people prepared to power all of them.

Massachusetts has long been defined by the strength of its universities and the industries that grow around them. From life sciences to engineering to health care innovation, our economy depends on people who can translate discovery into practical impact. While economic cycles shift — as we are seeing today in parts of the biotechnology and information technology sectors — the long-term demand for highly skilled technical talent has not diminished.

If anything, it has become more urgent.

The challenge is not simply producing more graduates. It is preparing a workforce that is adaptable, industry-ready and capable of leading in rapidly evolving sectors.

Western New England University Prof. Hanieh Shabanian, Ph.D., will lead a team to develop a multi-sensor AI model for real-time defect detection and process optimization in metal additive manufacturing. Shabanian is an assistant professor of computer science and information technology. (Matthew Modoono photo / Northeastern University)The Republican

That requires a broader view of the talent pipeline — one that connects technical expertise with the human skills that allow innovation to translate into real-world impact.

It is not enough to spark student interest in science or engineering. We need a coordinated system that supports access, hands-on readiness and leadership development at every stage of a career.

Community colleges play a vital role in expanding entry points and widening opportunity. Universities extend that pathway by providing advanced facilities, upper-division specialization and graduate education and research tied directly to emerging industries. When these institutions function as a connected ecosystem, students move more efficiently from opportunity to impact.

Massachusetts benefits from exactly this kind of ecosystem. The question is how we continue strengthening it.

At Western New England University, our role is shaped by being a comprehensive institution with particular strengths in areas where the Commonwealth needs talent most: technology and health care. That responsibility begins with ensuring that talented students can enter and remain in the pipeline.

A Western New England University student works in the Delbridge building in October. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

A new $2 million National Science Foundation scholarship initiative supports academically strong engineering students who might otherwise be priced out of the field. Pairing financial access with mentorship and structured career engagement is not simply student aid — it is workforce strategy. Every capable student we keep in technical fields expands the Commonwealth’s long-term capacity to innovate.

We are also investing in frontier technologies. Our work in quantum systems places students in a field that is redefining computing, security, and engineering worldwide. Preparing graduates for technologies that are still emerging ensures Massachusetts remains competitive not just in today’s economy, but in tomorrow’s.

Linda Holeman and her emotional support dog, Daisy, are a campus fixture at the Western New England University in Springfield. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

At the same time, financial technology, or FinTech, is reshaping how businesses operate, manage risk and serve customers. Through our growing FinTech initiatives, students gain exposure to data analytics, cybersecurity, digital finance and the regulatory landscape that supports modern financial systems. These skills are increasingly essential across industries, not just in banking, and reflect how technology is transforming every sector of the economy.

Equally important is infrastructure. Our new advanced manufacturing center creates a hub where students, faculty and industry partners collaborate on real production challenges. Facilities like this connect education directly to economic development and demonstrate how universities can serve as engines of regional growth.

At the leadership level, our Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management prepares experienced professionals to scale innovation inside their organizations. These leaders sit at the intersection of technology, operations and strategy — the space where promising ideas become productive enterprises.

Paul Desmarais, director of educational technology at Western New England University in Springfield positions reporter Jim Kinney for a demonstration of a VR-based platform in early 2025. (Steven E. Nanton photo)Steven E. Nanton

Taken together, these efforts reflect a shift in how universities must view their missions. We are not only educating students; we are helping build the human infrastructure that sustains economic resilience.

None of this innovation happens in isolation from the human skills that make it meaningful. The arts and humanities remain foundational to the workforce we are building. Creativity, communication, ethical reasoning and design thinking are not separate from technical progress — they shape it. Engineers must explain complex systems. Scientists must collaborate across disciplines. Technologists must understand the human impact of the tools they design. A comprehensive education strengthens the very capabilities that allow technical expertise to translate into real-world solutions.

The next big thing for Massachusetts is not a single device, discovery, or platform. It is a generation of well-rounded critical thinkers; engineers, scientists, health care innovators and technical leaders ready to move our economy forward.

As I prepare to join the Western New England University community this June, I am energized by the opportunity to help strengthen that workforce and deepen the partnerships that make it possible.

That work is already underway in WNE’s classrooms, labs and collaborations across the Commonwealth — and its impact will define the next chapter of our economy.

Joseph C. Hartman is the incoming president of Western New England University.

Joseph C. Hartman will be the seventh president of Western New England University, taking over June 1, 2026.The Republican