WALTHAM, Mass. – Professor Len Pepe, a senior lecturer in accounting at Bentley University, has received the Dr. Dave Landers Faculty Mentor Award from the Northeast-10 Conference.

Pepe, who is the Program Director of Master's of Science in Accounting at Bentley, received his award Sunday night when the conference held its annual year-end awards banquet at Pace University. A 2017 recipient of the Adamian Award for Teaching Excellence, Pepe is the second Bentley professor in three years to receive the honor, following Jim Pouliopoulos in 2021.

"I want to thank Professor Pepe for his contributions to the student-athlete experience at Bentley, and for his passion for mentoring our student-athletes," said Vaughn Williams, Director of Athletics. "One of the things I think that is most special about Bentley, and a difference maker for Bentley, is our faculty, and Professor Pepe fully embodies this."

At the banquet, Pepe was introduced by recent Bentley graduate and former football player John Destefanis.

"As a former baseball player at Holy Cross, Professor Pepe understands what it means to be a student-athlete, the values and commitment that it requires within the classroom and within our respective sport," said Destefanis, a linebacker from Weymouth.

"Pepe is the most passionate individual in our Bentley community, I would say," continued Destefanis. "He teaches because he loves his profession. He constantly serves as a role model and mentor for all athletes, including myself. He's allowed me to navigate my career aspirations and my life passions. As I finish up my master's program at Bentley this summer, I know for sure that Professor Pepe will always be there for me, as well as for my fellow student-athletes."
               "I'm not an academic. My profession was a partner in a public accounting firm for 45 years and I was fortunate enough, post-retirement, to get a job at Bentley University as an accounting professor," said Pepe. "It seems like at age 65, I found the true love of my life, besides my wife, of being a mentor and teacher of young people.

"When I was with Grant Thornton, I loved hiring athletes. I couldn't say that but I did. I loved the common goal achievement orientation that athletes had in their ability to work hard and their ability to perform. I'm absolutely humbled and appreciative of this great award" concluded the newest recipient of the Northeast-10's Dave Landers Faculty Mentor Award.