Charles E. Hutchinson

Dean of Thayer School, Emeritus

John H. Krehbiel Sr. Professor for Emerging Technologies, Emeritus

Overview

"I don't ever intend to 'retire' retire. I've tried it four times—once from U. Mass, twice from Thayer School, and then from GlycoFi in 2006," said Charles Hutchinson ("Hutch," as he is known to the Dartmouth community). After 19 years with the electrical and computer engineering department of the University of Massachusetts, Hutch came to Dartmouth in 1984 at the encouragement of John Strohbehn, a Thayer School professor and classmate of Hutch's at Stanford. "He knew I had not been happy with the confining format of specialization in engineering education. He kept talking about the opportunity to expand Thayer School's interdisciplinary approach." It was a convincing argument, and Hutch came to Thayer School to stay.

Hutch served as dean from 1984 until 1994, and again from 1997 to 1998. While leading the effort to raise $40 million, he oversaw a major facilities renovation in the late 1980s. He also established the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program, with an innovative curriculum that immerses students in an integrated approach to the engineering design and technology management processes.

From 1998 to 2003, as Dean Emeritus and the John H. Krehbiel Sr. Professor for Emerging Technologies, Hutch directed the M.E.M. program and developed and taught courses in electrical engineering, design, total quality management, and emerging technologies. In 2000, with Professor of Engineering Tillman U. Gerngross, Hutchinson founded the biotechnology company GlycoFi Inc., which quickly became a leader in the field of yeast glycoengineering and optimization of biologic drug molecules. He served as CEO of GlycoFi Inc. until it was acquired by Merck in spring 2006.

Following the sale of GlycoFi, Hutch returned once again to Thayer School and—in collaboration with John Collier—developed a new course in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship for Dartmouth PhD Innovation Program students.

Most recently, he teamed up with three Thayer School PhD graduates—Dax Kepshire, Ben Bollinger, and Troy McBride—to co-found SustainX, a new venture in the cleantech arena.

Education

  • BS, Electrical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology 1957
  • MS, Electrical Engineering, Stanford University 1961
  • PhD, Electrical Engineering, Stanford University 1963

In the News

BloombergBusinessweek
Is Renewable Energy Ready for Takeoff?
Jun 16, 2014
The New York Times
A Storage Solution Is in the Air
Oct 04, 2012
The Economist
Packing some power
Mar 05, 2012
The Dartmouth
SustainX obtains first energy patent
Nov 01, 2011
The Boston Globe
Energy storage a key to wind, solar backup
Nov 01, 2011
CNET News
GE invests in storage unit innovation
Jul 29, 2011
VOX of Dartmouth
Endowed Chair Honors Former Thayer Dean
Mar 07, 2011
peHUB Reuters Forum
VCJ 20 Most Promising Startups
Mar 07, 2011
The Dartmouth
SustainX obtains first energy patent
Mar 07, 2011
Mass High Tech
NH energy storage startup SustainX lands $4M
Mar 07, 2011