A Legacy of Engineering Excellence: NAE Community Raises Over $5.3M in Honor of Wm. A. Wulf
Donor Stories
Last update May 7, 2024
Anita Jones and Bill Wulf
Without diversity, the life experiences we bring to an engineering problem are limited…As a consequence of a lack of diversity, we pay an opportunity cost, a cost in designs not thought of, in solutions not produced.
In the spring of 2023, the National Academy of Engineering lost a cherished leader, mentor, and friend.
Wm. A. “Bill” Wulf, former NAE President (1996-2007) and pioneering computer scientist, passed away on March 10, 2023, at the age of 83. Under his leadership and with the critical support of his wife and fellow NAE Member Anita Jones, the NAE grew into the institution that it is today.
“Bill brought creativity and thoughtfulness to the [NAE President] position. He brought strong guiding principles. He brought strategic thinking. And perhaps, most important, he brought vision.” – Norman R. Augustine (NAE ‘83, NAS ‘06)
Bill stepped in as interim president of the NAE at a time of institutional turmoil. Under his steady hand and wise statesmanship, and with the counsel of then NAE chairman Norman R. Augustine, the Academy emerged stronger in its mission, programs, and stature. His vital contributions to the stability, growth, programs, and reputation of the NAE earned him the abiding appreciation and gratitude of his peers.
“One trait that made Bill such an effective leader was his enthusiastic and positive approach. Instead of talking about what was wrong and needed fixing, he spoke about exciting opportunities and challenges, and sought ways to meet them.” – Dr. Susan L. Graham (NAE ‘93)
“Bill was committed to the idea that every member of the engineering community should be supportive of women and underrepresented minorities within the profession. To him, every talented person driven away from a career in engineering was a great loss because of both the injustice done to the individual and the loss of all the progress and value the individual would have made for our world.” – Dr. Edward D. Lazowska (NAE ‘01)
In honor of Bill’s lifelong commitment to the engineering and computer science community, NAE President John L. Anderson hosted a Celebration of Life at the 2023 Annual Meeting and announced a fundraising campaign for the Wm. A. Wulf Initiative for Engineering Excellence. This fund ensures that the programs Bill passionately advocated for that strengthen the engineering profession and emphasize diversity, ethics, and inclusion – such as EngineerGirl, the Center on Engineering Ethics and Society (now evolved into an initiative called Cultural, Ethical, Social, and Environmental Responsibilities in Engineering), and The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering – remain critical areas of the NAE’s work and grow in perpetuity.
“When Bill became NAE president in 1996…he spoke very effectively about how important diversity was to the engineering design process as a whole and the engineering outcomes that resulted … as a young pre-tenure woman faculty member, one of only 2 in a department of over 30, it was extraordinary to hear the NAE president speak in this way…it was really unheard of [at that time] and it changed how I felt about my department, my field and by being able to point to Bill’s words and invoke his way of presenting these ideas…we were able to change how our university and how many universities approached these issues too.” – Professor Margaret R. Martonosi (NAE ‘21)
The NAE community’s response to the announcement was enthusiastic. Section 5 members Susan Graham, Ed Lazowska, and Bob Sproull – affectionately dubbed “The Wulf Pack” – spearheaded the fundraising effort by galvanizing the support of the NAE family to reach over $5.3 million in contributions in memory of Bill in just five short months. NAE Members John Hennessy, Maxine Savitz, Vint Cerf, Janie Irwin, and Don Winter, among others, also provided critical support to reach this goal.
“In addition to being a major research contributor to our field…Bill was a transformative President of NAE…He led the creation of major programs in education, engineering ethics in society, inclusion, and the importance of engineering in the modern world.” – Dr. Robert F. Sproull (NAE ‘97)
In total, 177 donors provided direct support to the initiative, while 11 supporters made contributions to other NAE funds in honor of Bill. The highest engagement came from Bill’s fellow computer scientists; Section 5’s annual giving participation jumped from 22% in 2022 to an impressive 36% in 2023, becoming the NAE section with the highest annual participation rate.
“This incredible man left behind a bountiful legacy of knowledge and innovation, kindness and consideration. Bill will be remembered for all that he has accomplished and for the many lives that he touched.” - Dr. John L. Anderson (NAE ‘92)
It can be said that the NAE simply would not be the respected organization it is today were it not for Bill’s fearless leadership and vision. The generosity of NAE members and friends ensures Bill’s legacy will continue to impact future generations across the engineering profession for years to come.
