Charlie Baker Returns to Boston for College Leaders’ Luncheon

The former governor of Massachusetts and current head of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will be back in Boston this week. He is scheduled to speak at a luncheon hosted by the Boston College Chief Executives Club on Thursday. The event will feature a casual conversation with Sam Kennedy, the president and chief executive officer of the Boston Red Sox. Baker’s career spans public office and private enterprise. He served two terms as governor from 2015 to 2023, when he became the first Republican to hold the position in many years. After leaving state office, he was elected as the sixth president of the NCAA, where he oversees more than 550, 000 student athletes in over a thousand schools nationwide. His leadership has come at a time of significant legal challenges to the organization’s traditional power.During his governorship, Baker worked closely with Democrats to address a budget shortfall and cut taxes. He also broke party norms by supporting large renewable‑energy projects toward the end of his term. Before politics, he held senior roles at General Catalyst Partners, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and the administration of former Governor Bill Weld. The Boston College luncheon will begin at noon, with the main program starting at 1 p. m. Participants can expect a relaxed setting where leaders share insights and discuss the future of higher education and athletics. Outside Boston, activists in Burlington have organized a protest on Patriots’ Day. The group “Fix ICE” will hold a rally at the ICE detention center to highlight concerns about conditions, resources, and access to services for detained immigrants. The event will feature music, a speaker, and opportunities for personal testimonies from attendees. In local business news, Boston’s public relations scene has seen a new figure at the helm. George Regan IV, son of PR executive George K. Regan Jr. , has begun taking on responsibilities in his family’s communications firm, bringing fresh energy to the company.