Bentley gift to support women's leadership programs

Globe Staff

Pam and Jack Cumming, executives at Hologic Inc., have donated $1.125 million gift to Bentley University to support programs focused on developing leadership skills in young women, said Bentley, a Waltham-based university that specializes in business courses.

The effort, which is mostly aimed at women undergraduates, will consider covering such topics such as developing the confidence to take risks and champion ideas, learning to balance all aspects of personal and professional life, and increasing women’s presence as executive officers and corporate directors.

Pam and Jack Cumming have a daughter who is a sophomore at Bentley and a son who plans to enter the school in the fall. Jack Cumming serves as chairman of Bedford-based Hologic, Pam Cumming as vice president for marketing. Hologic develops, manufactures, and supplies diagnostic products, medical imaging systems, and surgical products created specifically to address the health care needs of women.

The Cumming family has supported many initiatives to empower young women, including launching a Distinguished Women in International Affairs series at George Washington University, where their eldest daughter is a senior, Bentley said in a press release.