VOLUME 12, NO. 3     MAY 1999

Present, future stars shine at Commencement

Eric Hahn

ne of WPI's shining stars will return to campus on May 22 as the Commencement speaker. Eric Hahn '80, who until recently was chief technology officer for Netscape Communications, will also receive an honorary doctorate in science.

After earning his B.S. in computer science, Hahn went on to found a series of highly successful software and computer technology companies-including, most recently, Inventures Group, an investment firm that encourages and supports start-up technology companies. Hahn began his career at Bolt, Beranek and Newman, a computer company based in Cambridge, Mass., where he helped develop ARPANET, the nationwide computer network that evolved into the Internet. Two years later he was recruited to help start Convergent Technologies, which he served as vice president and general manager of the Sever Products Division before assuming the post of vice president (later general manager) of cc:Mail. In 1993 he founded Collabra Software Inc., whose flagship product, Collabra Share, won numerous awards in the computer industry before the company was acquired by Netscape in 1995.

WPI honored Hahn in 1995 with its Ichabod Washburn Young Alumni Award for Professional Achievement. He and his wife, Elaine, live in Palo Alto, Calif., with their sons, Evan and Jeremy.

WPI will confer 638 bachelor's degrees, 251 master's degrees, and 22 Ph.D.s at its 131st Commencement. Four individuals will be presented with honorary doctor of engineering degrees in recognition of their contributions to society, higher education or industry.

This year's honorees are Hahn; Douglas G. Noiles '44 of New Canaan, Conn., an award-winning pioneer in the development of artificial knees and hips; Paul J. Severino, chairman and CEO of NetCentric Corp. of Bedford, Mass.; and Bruce R. Bond, chairman, CEO and president of PictureTel Corp. of Andover, Mass. T .S. Lin, chairman of Tatung Company, principal of Tatung Senior High School, and president of Tatung Institute of Technology, received an honorary degree from President Parrish at a ceremony in Taiwan in November that marked the first time WPI presented an honorary degree at an event in another country.

This issue went to press before Commencement. Photos and text of the event may be viewed at www.wpi.edu/News/Commence.