Alumnus Richard L. Conn has left Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology a gift of $1.1 million.
Specifically, the bequest will help the institute’s department of computer science and software engineering.
The gift will assist Rose-Hulman in meeting several of its strategic goals regarding computer science and software engineering, including improving diversity among the student body and faculty, the institute said in a news release.
Other initiatives include expanding interdisciplinary and global experiences, developing course curriculum that addresses emerging technical areas and addressing societal needs for more college graduates with computer science and software engineering skills.
“Rick’s gift will be transformative for our department and Rose-Hulman,” said J.P. Mellor, head of the department. “Rick was very interested in emerging technology, regularly attending the Consumer Electronics Show just to see what was coming next. He also was passionate about education, and developing the next generation of computer scientists and software engineers.”
Conn, a 1976 computer science graduate with cum laude academic honors, had a long and varied career assisting in research projects as a computer programmer and software specialist for the U.S. Army, Texas Instruments Inc., General Electric Co., Lockheed Martin Corp., Microsoft Corp. and The MITRE Corp.
He also had been an assistant professor of software engineering at Monmouth University (N.J.), and an adjunct faculty member at the Air Force Institute of Technology and University of Cincinnati in Ohio, as well as Southern Polytechnic State University and Kennesaw State University in Georgia. He died late in 2016.
Cary Laxer, former departmental chair, said Conn liked mentoring students on a variety of design projects — many sponsored by industry — and started a STEM scholarship at Rose-Hulman. Conn also served on the department’s advisory board for nearly 15 years.
“Rick was the most sincere, helpful man I have ever met. He always took an interest in what was best for Rose-Hulman, the computer science department and our students,” Laxer said. “I’m not surprised by his generosity in giving back to support a department that he took great pride in having graduated from.”
Mellor added, “Rick believed so deeply in Rose-Hulman and the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering that he left the bulk of his estate to support computer science and software engineering. Through this exceptionally generous gift, Rick’s legacy will live on and enable us to enhance our students’ educational experience.”
Rose-Hulman established a computer science major in 1968 and computer science became a separate academic department in 1981. The department also offers majors in software engineering and international computer science.