History
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.
| 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 | MS 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. Center for Industrial Mathematics and Statistics (CIMS) was established. |
| 2001 | Professional Science 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 |
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, 2003-2013
- Luca Capogna, 2013-2020
- Sarah Olson, present (Ad Interim)
Stratton Hall
Stratton Hall, the home of WPI’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, was built in 1894 and named for WPI trustee Charles G. Stratton, Class of 1885. From 1943 to 1946, the building also served as quarters for seamen who were part of the U.S. Navy’s V-12 training program.