POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Today, the Marist College community gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Dyson Center, home to world-class student learning and collaboration spaces, as well as the College’s School of Management and School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting event marked the end of a two-year construction project that doubled the facility’s size, making it a standout building on Marist’s picturesque Poughkeepsie campus.

The new Dyson Center offers world-class educational facilities, including modern learning labs, experiential instructional spaces, and collaborative areas for students. Expansive common areas include an atrium with a soaring, sunlit ceiling, a student-run café, and ample seating.

Marist President Kevin Weinman called this an important moment for the College, as the facility emphasizes the three main priorities of the Marist 100 strategic plan: academic vibrancy, student centrality, and expansive community.

“Marist’s vision is to improve the world through education and this building, and more importantly the teaching and learning that will occur in it, will help us do just that,” said President Weinman. “Students in our Schools of Management and Social Behavioral Sciences will learn in classrooms and labs that emphasize teamwork collaboration and experiential learning.”

This project was supported by a lead gift from the Dyson Foundation. Robert Dyson, The Foundation’s Chairman and a member of the Marist Board of Trustees, shared his excitement about the building’s potential to inspire generations of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

“It’s a tool for this College to start amplifying the academic offerings we have here and everywhere else,” said Dyson. “I’ve heard everyone being so enthusiastic, even though it’s only been a couple of weeks since the building opened, about what it has done for the people working and studying here. Now, that’s the base, and we’ve got to just keep going.”

A Reimagined Home for the Schools of Management Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Career Services
The new Dyson Center brings a wealth of new resources to Marist’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and School of Management. Within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, teacher education students now use a Teaching Methods Lab, with designated classrooms with science stations used to practice teaching STEM classes. Psychology, crime and justice studies, and pre-law students are
now using unique learning spaces.

One of the exciting new spaces in the Dyson Center is the Investment Center, a Wall Street-style trading floor with Bloomberg terminals that will provide experiential learning opportunities for finance students. Additionally, the new Marketing Lab will be a hub of innovation, providing hands-on learning with the latest technology and innovative research tools such as emotional response sensors for enhancing
marketing strategies.

“This state-of-the-art building will provide all who work in it with the best tools, flexible spaces, and the most up-to-date technology,” said Dr. Will Lamb, Dean of the School of Management. “Three examples for the School of Management include the new home for the Investment Center, the new Idea Lab, and the new Marketing Lab. These spaces will elevate the way we teach and provide students with workspaces that enable them to apply their knowledge every day.”

The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences will feature modern facilities of its own, including dedicated labs for cognition and brain research, and developmental psychology, and others.

“The excitement in the air among the students, faculty, and staff is palpable,” said Dr. Deborah Gatins, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “A mock courtroom, three distinct state-of-the-art psychology labs, a teaching methods lab that rivals any ordinary STEM classroom I have ever seen—we have arrived!”

The Dyson Center also offers numerous collaboration spaces, including the atrium on the ground floor, where students from all areas of the College can work and relax. Additionally, Saxbys, a fully student-run café, is set to open on September 24.

The many opportunities for students to study in groups, work together, and socialize in this new building make it a welcome campus addition.

“The open spaces and natural light provide ideal spots for collaboration,” added Sheridan Speight '25, Marist’s Student Body President. “Classrooms have beautiful campus views. Experiential learning spaces, such as the Investment Center, Mock Courtroom, and Teaching Methods Area, add that signature Marist hands-on aspect to the classroom experience.”

The Center for Career Services can now also be found there, using its new facilities to expand its offerings of career fairs, networking events, and employer visits.

The Dyson Center originally opened in 1990. The expansion and renovation, which began in 2022, were designed by the internationally recognized firm Annum Architects.

Find video and photos from the event available for media use, “Courtesy Marist University”.

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