History
Department Heads
- John E. Sinclair, 1868-1908
- Levi L. Conant, 1908-1916
- Arthur D. Butterfield, 1916-1917
- Raymond K. Morley, 1917-1955
- Harris Rice, 1955-1957
- Richard N. Cobb, 1957-1960
- Elliot L. Buell, 1960-1968
- John P. Van Alstyne, 1968-1971 (Acting)
- J. J. Malone, 1971-1978
- Paul W. Davis, 1978-1983
- Bruce C. McQuarrie, 1983-1986
- Gordon C. Branche, 1986-1987 (Interim)
- Samuel M. Rankin, III, 1987-1995
- Gordon C. Branche, 1995-1997 (Interim)
- Homer F. Walker, 1997-2002
- Bogdan Vernescu, 2003-present
The Department of Mathematical Sciences at WPI is as old as the university itself. The timeline below highlights key moments in the history of the department, its programs, and its home building, Stratton Hall, depicted above.
| 1868 | WPI opened its doors to the first incoming class Harriett Goodrich was the first to teach Mathematics at WPI |
|---|---|
| 1869 | John E. Sinclair succeeded Goodrich |
| 1870 | Thomas E. N. Eaton joined the faculty |
| 1894 | Stratton Hall completed |
| 1954 | 8 professors comprised the mathematics faculty |
| 1958 | Undergraduate major in mathematics first offered (first graduates in 1962) |
| 1962 | The department grew to 12 professors |
| 1963 | WPI received its first computer, housed in Stratton Hall |
| 1972 | The first woman to graduate from WPI, Leslie Small, earned her B.S. in Mathematics |
| 1979 | Name changed to Department of Mathematical Sciences |
| 1987 | Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences first offered (first graduates in 1989) |
| 1993 | Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences first offered (first graduate, Lucia Kimball in 1997) |
| 1997 | 27 faculty comprised the department |
| 2001 | Professional Master's degree programs first offered (first graduates in 2002 and 2003) |
| 2004 | The Board of Trustees elects as the 15th President of WPI, a mathematician Dennis Berkey |
| 2005 | Research and education funding reached 1.8 Million Dollars |
Last modified: October 25, 2007 14:27:12