Institute Advancement hires recent RPI grads

RPI has hired four recent graduates to work within the Office of Institute Advancement. The program, which began this summer, is a brand new one for the Institute.

Daniel Belber ’08, Abder Benghanem ’08, Brooke Thompson ’08, and Brendon Woodworth ’08 will be working on building relationships with alumni. Director of Regional Development Ian Farrell said that the role of the graduates “is not predominately on solicitation, but on forming ties with alumni who might not have been on campus since they graduated.” They will meet with a significant number of alumni, mostly from the east coast and Midwest.

The concept of hiring young alumni was started at Georgetown University. When RPI heard the idea, the Office of Institute Advancement decided to implement such a program as well.

“They have already been met with a good reception,” said Farrell. “They can provide a unique view as well as campus updates to our alumni. It’s a unique and impactive way for them to give back to Rensselaer.”

Former dean of Lally School passes away

Former Dean of the Lally School of Management Robert G. Hawkins died suddenly at his home Friday. Hawkins received his Ph.D. in economics in 1966 from New York University and he went on to become an economics and international business professor at NYU. He also held several roles, including chairman of International Business and chairman of the Finance Department, and served as vice-dean of the Faculty of Business Administration.

Hawkins later served as dean of the Lally School for eight years and then moved onto Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a professor emeritus and dean of the Ivan Alan College of Management.

In addition to academia, Hawkins also served as a consultant to many organizations throughout his career, such as the U.S. Treasury, the Port Authority of New York, General Electric, IBM, and Morgan Guaranty.

Hawkins is survived by his wife, Estelle; sons, Paul and Kenneth; their wives, Andrea and Kristen; two grandchildren, Henry and Amelia; and his sister, Rae Marie Hastings.

No service is planned, at Hawkins’ request. Those who wish to remember him may send donations to the American Parkinson’s Associate or charity of their choice.

Heart Walk dedicated to RPI employee

RPI has dedicated its Heart Walk this year to Dennis Monty, an operations associate in RPI’s purchasing department. The 2008 Start! Heart Walk is Saturday, October 18 at the Harriman State Park in Albany.

Monty has been working at RPI since 1974, and suffered his first heart attack in 1998. RPI Safety Systems Technician and volunteer fireman Paul Denio rushed Monty to Samaritan Hospital. The doctors told him that, with only 17 percent heart function, Monty needed a heart transplant as soon as possible. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and had his first transplant on September 29, 1998. Monty also underwent a second transplant in 2007 when his body rejected the first heart.

Members of the RPI community can join Monty by donating to the American Heart Association Start! Heart Walk or becoming a member of one of the teams. Donations will fund heart disease and stroke research, public education and community service in the Capital Region. For more information, please contact Patti Mugrace at mugrap@rpi.edu or 276-2874.