David Ahlgren Appointed Hallden Professor

Professor David Ahlgren has been named the Karl W. Hallden Professor of Engineering. The Hallden Professorship, established in 1955, is made possible through funding provided by Karl William Hallden, Class of 1909. Following his graduation from Trinity, Hallden began a successful career as an engineer, inventor, and industrialist. In 1916, he founded the Connecticut-based Hallden Machine Company.

A devoted servant of his alma mater, Hallden was a key player in the creation of the Department of Engineering at Trinity. Beginning in 1946, he made a series of gifts to construct and enlarge the engineering laboratory that bears his name. He also endowed several scholarship funds and contributed generously to the construction of the original Mather Student Center. A life trustee of the College from 1950 until his death in 1970, Hallden was awarded two honorary degrees and, in 1954, received the Eigenbrodt Trophy, one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed on a Trinity alumnus.

The previous Hallden professors were Harold J. Lockwood, 1955-1960, Edwin Nye, 1961-1983, and August Sapega, 1984-1993.

Professor Ahlgren, who completed his undergraduate studies at Trinity in 1964, joined the College faculty in 1973 as a lecturer in the engineering department and was named a full professor in 1988. He served as chair of the Department of Engineering and Computer Science from 1990 to 1995, and as chair of the Department of Engineering from 1995 to 1999. Instrumental in the success of the annual robotics contest, Ahlgren has published extensively and received numerous awards for his teaching and scholarship.

Professor Ahlgren will deliver his inaugural lecture, “Engineering Design: Robotics and Learning,” in the Life Sciences Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. The lecture will be preceded by a reception in the Life Sciences Lobby.
 

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