Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) announced today the election of three new members to its Board of Trustees, including two WPI alumni. Natalia Pavlova and Jim Polewaczyk ‘85 started their five-year terms on November 1, and Greg Tucker ‘92 will begin serving as a board member on May 1, 2025.
“As WPI continues to be widely recognized for its leadership in innovation and impact, these new leaders will expand our collective perspective, and we are eager to benefit from their insight,” said Bill Fitzgerald ’83, board chair. “They bring an array of experiences that will contribute to the strategic growth and innovative vision of WPI, and they will help to ensure that the university remains at the forefront of higher education and research.”
Stephen Rusckowski ‘79, chair of the nominations and governance committee adds, “These exceptional individuals bring decades of service and leadership in their respective fields. We are honored to have them join the board in our collective work to advance the mission of WPI.”
Natalia Pavlova is a director of the VPG Foundation, a family foundation supporting the philanthropic endeavors of Valentin P. Gapontsev, the founder of IPG Photonics and a pioneer in the fiber laser industry. Gapontsev, who passed away in 2021, built his legacy in Central Massachusetts, growing IPG into a world leader in laser technology. Pavlova joined IPG’s Board of Directors in 2021 and has a background in sales, marketing, and non-profit art institutions in the Worcester area.
Jim Polewaczyk ’85 is the recently retired Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of IDEXX, an S&P 500 company and global leader in pet healthcare innovation. He was a Corporate Officer at IDEXX for over 17 years and in addition to his commercial responsibilities led multiple businesses during his tenure, including reference lab and telemedicine services, as well as point-of-care and digital imaging diagnostics. Before IDEXX, Polewaczyk held leadership positions at Philips Medical Systems and Hewlett-Packard in healthcare and technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from WPI and an MBA from Boston University, serves on the board of Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine, and consults on leadership and organizational development.
Greg Tucker ’92 is the Founder, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ProAmpac, a global leader in sustainable flexible packaging with over $2.5 billion in annual revenues. Previously, Tucker held CEO and executive roles at BE Aerospace, TSI Group, Thermo Fisher, Praxair, and GE. He and his wife founded two charitable foundations, and he serves on the UNH Athletics and Northeast Passage boards. Tucker holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from WPI. In May 2024, he served as speaker for WPI’s Graduate Commencement Exercises and received an honorary doctoral degree.
“We are delighted to welcome Natalia, Jim, and Greg to WPI’s Board of Trustees,” said Grace Wang, President of WPI. “Their unique perspectives and experiences will further strengthen WPI’s mission as a leader in transformative, project-based STEM education—an approach that is increasingly essential in today’s society to tackle complex global challenges.”
