News
Being Yourself in Public Speaking
I teach a public speaking seminar to all of our 9th graders. The classes are relatively small, since we’ve divided up the group into trimester cohorts. It’s a fun way for me to get to know our new students and for them to get some practice with an important set of skills. But something else is happening too. The first assignment is for each student to prepare and deliver a 3-minute personal narrative – an experience that they learned something from or that helped shape them in some way. Ninth graders in this fall cohort are understandably just getting to know one another, figuring out who their friends are, and finding their place at the school. Given that, it’s been striking that so many of the students have shared stories that are deeply personal and have allowed themselves to be vulnerable: the experience of feeling isolated and invisible; overcoming a long-standing... More
BUA Honors Dan Bear ’06 with the 2025-2026 Distinguished Alumni Award
BUA is delighted to present the 2025-2026 Distinguished Alumni Award to Dan Bear '06 for his pioneering work at the intersection of AI and immunotherapy. This annual award, launched in 2022, goes to an alumnus/a who best exemplifies the values of BUA and has used those qualities to make an impact on the community and world around them. Recipients are nominated and selected by the BUA Alumni Council. Dan Bear graduated from BUA in 2006, and went on to receive his BA in cellular and molecular biology and his PhD in neuroscience, both from Harvard. He completed a postdoc at Stanford. Dan is currently Director of AI Research at NOETIK, an AI-native biotech company harnessing self-supervised learning to discover better precision immunotherapies. He’s also founder and CEO of a stealth SSL startup. Dan has been described as “a genius who has made a significant impact on AI research while remaining humble.” We are... More
Holding Doors in a Hurry
Yesterday morning, I stood outside the school’s entrance – like I do most days – greeting students as they arrived. At 8:29, I saw a student standing alone across the street dutifully waiting for the walk signal at the crosswalk. When the signal changed, she rushed across the street, presumably eager to get to her 8:30 class. We walked into the building together, and, despite her rush, she took the time to hold the door for me as we entered the lobby. She then raced to the staircase and stopped on the first step, noticing another student approaching the side door. She pivoted and opened the door for that student before continuing on her way. Holding a door is a kindness. When repeated, it becomes habit. Habits in turn build character. We celebrate moments like these because we embrace our duty to help students build character in this critical developmental period. More
Smart is Cool
Every August, I meet with the family of each new student by Zoom. I ask about the parents’ stories, their child’s path, and their hopes and concerns about their child’s BUA experience. One parent shared something I hear from quite a few new families: they really wanted for their child to be in a place where engaging in class conversation, asking questions, and being interested in learning is the norm – a place where being smart is cool. The parent worried that in the past few years of their child’s education in middle school, the culture had shifted; there was less room for those questions and a growing sense of social risk from jumping in too eagerly into class discussion. There were even early signs of their child beginning to disengage. I’ve been walking the halls as classes get into swing, and I happened to walk by this student’s English class. More
“Hey, do you want to join us?”
I’m writing from Camp Burgess, our annual outdoor orientation trip for 9th and 10th graders. Days are filled with kayaking and swimming in the lake, high-ropes courses, zip lines, farm tours, group puzzle challenges, and rock-wall climbs. The evenings have featured night hikes, board games, a talent show by the campfire, and a sing-a-long. All throughout, there has been plenty of down time for kids to be together and make friends – what this trip is all about. Yesterday, between activities, I walked past a few new 9th graders sitting together playing cards. One of them noticed a classmate standing on their own in the periphery. In a casual, comfortable way, one of the kids at the table turned to that classmate and said, “Hey, do you want to join us?” “Sure,” the other said, sat down, and integrated right in. It was simple, subtle, and beautiful – exactly what we... More
On Being There: Head of School Chris Kolovos Delivers Opening-of-Term Address
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Boston University Academy Head of School Chris Kolovos welcomed students, faculty, and staff back to school with opening remarks entitled "On Being There." Read the full text of his ASM talk below. Good morning. On behalf of the faculty and staff, welcome to the 33rd year of Boston University Academy. I hope the summer has been a good one for you and your families. To our new ninth-grade and to you new students in the 10th and 11th grades, we are so glad you are with us. You will make us better, not just with your individual talents, but with the curiosity and kindness that binds you to all of us. Welcome. To the Class of 2026, welcome back. Seniors set the tone for the community. You all are a big reason why I am so confident that this will be a great year. In a few... More
BUA Building Undergoes Historical Restoration
Not one to miss out on wellness trends, Boston University Academy is getting a glow-up. Beneath the scaffolding and plywood, the exterior of our building at One University Road is undergoing a transformation. Over nearly a century of Boston winters, the adhesive bonding the building’s concrete façade to the substructure began to detach, impacting the safety and stability of the structure. The renovation project currently underway will reinforce the façade and replace the decorative panels with identical replicas of the originals. The results of this historical restoration – like the best of facelifts – will be subtle but apparent, strengthening the structural integrity of the façade and highlighting the natural beauty of our historic Art Deco building. Constructed in 1931 and designed by the architect Gilbert Miles Ramsey, the building at One University Road was the original home of the Shell Oil Company, part of Commonwealth Avenue’s historic auto mile. The hard-to-miss... More
BUA Milestone: Celebrating Nick Dent’s 20th Year
This year, longtime math teacher Nick Dent celebrates his 20th year at BUA. In the classroom, as an advisor, on the ultimate field, and everywhere in between, Mr. Dent’s deep care for his subject and his students – along with his signature brand of sarcasm and his puzzle prowess – have become fixtures of the BUA community. To honor this milestone, we asked alumni to share their favorite Mr. Dent memories and gratitudes. Of the many, many submissions we received, here are some of the highlights: “I still remember when you were first introduced as the young new teacher at BUA. It was almost a shock to see someone who hadn't been at BUA since the ‘90s. Seeing you now as one of the senior leaders at the school is a testament to how much the school has grown around you. It's been great to come back to BUA events and see... More
Saoirse Killion ’21 Featured in BU’s Department of World Languages and Literatures Journal
Saoirse (BUA'21) graduated this spring from Boston University with a BA in Comparative Literature and a BFA in Painting. While at BU, her comic Ukifune was featured in Alexandria, a student-led journal within BU's Department of World Language and Literatures. View Saoirse's comic below and read more about Ukifune, along with insights into its origins, meaning, and the creative techniques. Ukifune, a comic based on the last ten Uji chapters of Murasaki Shikibu’s early 11th century novel The Tale of Genji visualizes castaway Princess Ukifune’s experiences with beauty, social class, and femininity as she writes about her past, fraught relationships with two handsome but overbearing suitors. Murasaki Shikibu was a lady-in-waiting for Empress Shōshi during Japan’s Heian period (794 - 1195) and an accomplished writer who, in her masterpiece often considered the world’s first novel, depicted the personal lives of high courtiers in the Heian capital. Ukifune’s source text is British sinologist Arthur Waley’s... More
Rising Junior’s Research on the Role of Black Women in WWII Featured in “Celebrating Juneteenth” Showcase
Rising junior Dora M. 27's research project, entitled "Chasing Justice: Rights and Responsibility of African American Women in WWII,” was featured in National History Day Massachusetts 2025 “Celebrating Juneteenth” virtual showcase. Dora's project was selected from over 700 entries as an outstanding example of research highlighting stories of African American history, culture, achievement, and freedom. Dora's exhibit explores the role of Black American women across WWII, from the Black Rosies to the Red Cross to the 6888th Battalion, and their fight to fulfill their responsibilities and gain equal rights both in the military and society at large. The project was inspired by a film about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit in the Women's Army Corps (WAC). Dora elaborates: "I give credit to the trailer for WAC’s 6888th Battalion— this video initially captured my attention and kindled my interest for rights and responsibilities in World War II. More