Gregory Olsen’s Generosity to Be Honored, Gildart/Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering to Be Dedicated
On Wednesday, May 3, the University community will honor the generosity of alumnus and Board of Trustees member Gregory Olsen, BS’66, BSEE’68, MS’68 (Metro), who has made a $5 million commitment to FDU — the largest contribution in the University’s 64-year history — celebrating two retired FDU faculty members, Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase (see below), who had a profound impact on Olsen’s life and career
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Gregory Olsen |
In recognition of Olsen’s commitment, the University will dedicate the Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering. The school is part of University College: Arts • Sciences • Professional Studies.
The dedication ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m., in Wilson Auditorium, Dickinson Hall, Metropolitan Campus. A reception will follow on the Dickinson Hall Lawn. R.S.V.P. to Clorinda De Salvo, assistant to the senior vice president, University advancement (Metro), at 201-692-7018 or desalvo@fdu.edu.
About Greg Olsen
Greg Olsen was the third private citizen to orbit the Earth on the International Space Station (ISS). After completing training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, near Moscow, he was launched into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket TMA-7 on October 1, 2005, and returned to earth on Soyuz TMA-6 on October 11. During his 10-day voyage, he orbited the Earth more than 150 times and logged almost four million miles of weightless travel.
After an illustrious career as a research scientist and entrepreneur, Olsen is now president of GHO Ventures in Princeton, N.J., where he manages his “angel” investments, a South African winery and a Montana ranch, and speaks at numerous engagements to encourage children — especially minorities and females — to consider careers in science and engineering.
Olsen began his career in 1972 as a research scientist at RCA Laboratories in Princeton. At RCA, he developed numerous innovations in the field of optoelectronics, including the commercialization of indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) photodetectors and lasers.
In 1984, he co-founded EPITAXX Inc., a fiber-optic detector manufacturer. It was sold in 1990 for $12 million. He then co-founded Sensors Unlimited, a near-infrared camera manufacturer in 1992. It was ultimately sold to Goodrich, Corp. in 2005 for $60 million.
Olsen holds 12 patents, has written more than 100 technical papers, co-authored several book chapters and has given numerous invited lectures to both technical and trade journal audiences. He is an IEEE LEOS (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Laser and Electro-Optics Society) Fellow and the first recipient of the prestigious IEEE Aron Kressel award.
Olsen is active in many civic organizations including Trenton Big Brothers and Sisters, Trenton Boys and Girls Club, Trenton Soup Kitchen, Princeton Historical Society, Custer Battlefield Preservation Committee, Fairleigh Dickinson University and the University of Virginia.
Olsen earned his bachelor’s degree in physics, a BSEE and a master’s degree in physics (magna cum laude) from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was awarded a PhD in materials science from the University of Virginia.
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Lee Gildart, left, and Oswald Haase |
About Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase
Arriving at Fairleigh Dickinson University during the 1960s, Professors Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase made significant contributions to their areas of study and to the stature of the physics department which was located in what was then known as the College of Science and Engineering. They made learning exciting for their students. To this day, University faculty, staff and alumni revere their hands-on approach to teaching physics.
Haase was known by colleagues as a “very serious” scientist who spent most of his time in his laboratory focusing on his specialty: electron and X-ray defraction. Gildart’s specialty was working with semiconductor materials. He was also known for his interest in social issues of the day.
Both professors are world travelers. During his tenure at FDU, Gildart took sabbaticals and traveled to locations such as Indonesia where he taught students about physics as a visiting professor. Haase still travels today, dividing his time between his home in Germany and trips to New Jersey and Mexico.
top of this page table of contents for this issue
April/May 2006
| · | Commencement Scheduled for May 16 |
| · | Gregory Olsen’s Generosity to Be Honored, Gildart/Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering to Be Dedicated |
| · | Middle States Re-accreditation Process Approaches Final Steps |
| · | Grant Seekers to Be Recognized |
| · | Strigl to Be Honored at Charter Day, PINNACLE Society to Induct Five Alumni |
| · | Faculty Authors Featured |
| · | Knights Win 2006 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship |
| · | Summer Study Travels Abroad |
| · | Global Learning Priorities Announced |
| · | Antoinette Petrocelli Named to Board of Trustees |
| · | Emergency Response Teams Prepare for Potential Crisis |
| · | Faculty/Staff — Update, In Memoriam, Announcing, Welcome |
| · | College Happenings |
| · | Spotlight — Boroszvich, Coan, Kenny, Steiner |
| · | This & That |
| · | Photo Stories — Graduation Salute, Communication Career Day, Wellness Week. |
View text only for this complete issue.
Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.
Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.
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Inside FDU on the Web is published by the Office of Communications and Marketing. Newsletter Staff: Carol Black, editor; Mary Ann Bautista, Bill Blanchard, Mariellen Brown, Angelo Carfagna, Kim Cucinotta, Scott Giglio, Howard Gilman, Gretchen Johnson, William Kennedy, Lillian Lukac, Rebecca Maxon, Art Petrosemolo, Beth Reuse, Janette Shurdom.