A Publication for West Coast Alumni and Friends
Vol. 2, No. 1 / December 2002

And Life, Silicon Valley Style

The Silicon Valley Project Center (SVPC) is quickly finding its place in the galaxy of opportunities that WPI offers students through its innovative curriculum. It points to the promise of practical value for our students and offers our West Coast alumni a meaningful way to serve as strong advocates for the comprehensive education whose essence we have captured in the university's new positioning statement: "The University of Science and Technology. And Life."

Those eight words, and all that they stand for, spring directly from the extensive research we conducted as we planned our new strategic marketing program. Now under way, the program's integrated components aim to achieve for WPI the high global visibility and superior reputation that match the range, depth and complexity of our teaching and learning.

The SVPC figures prominently in this edition of WPI West. Read about Pierre de Galbert '02 and the project he completed with his student partners at SRI International in Menlo Park, Calif. You'll also find a companion piece on Curt Carlson '67, SRI's president and CEO.

Gain insight into the work of Paul D. MacCready, the founder of AeroVironment Inc. in Monrovia and Simi Valley, Calif., who received an honorary doctorate from WPI in 1980 and the WPI Presidential Medal in November 2002. A few years ago, Time magazine made reference to his achievements in its issue on the 100 greatest minds of the 20th century.

Glimpse the multifaceted world of Patty Gray '98 (M.S.), '00 (M.B.A.), an executive at GeneMachines in San Carlos, Calif. She successfully fits together cash flow analyses, automation solutions for the biology community, ice hockey and ballroom dancing.

These West Coast success stories exemplify the outstanding products of our unique approach to education. There are many ways you can help us enhance the quality of our programs, most notably by becoming directly involved in the Silicon Valley Project Center. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you at wpiwest@wpi.edu.

With best wishes,

Edward Alton Parrish
President