CEPS ALUMNI Recognized at UNH Commencement May 19
DURHAM, N.H. – Joining the distinguished company of former presidents George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton are UNH College of Engineering and Physical Sciences akumni John LaMattina ‘75 and James Thomson ’67. The UNH Honorary Degrees and Awards Committee (a faculty and student group) recommended LaMattina and Thomson based upon their distinguished service in public policy. On May 19th, 2007 LaMattina and Thomson received an Honorary Doctor of Science in front of a crowd of more than 22,000 graduates, alumni, family and friends.
During a reception provided by the UNH Chemistry Department in his honor, Dr. John LaMattina did not say much about his own significant accomplishments and contributions to society. Rather with energy and a sparkle in his eye he elaborated on what a great thrill it was to return to UNH and meet up with his faculty advisor, mentor and biggest influence, UNH Chemistry Professor Emeriti Bob Lyle. LaMattina continued, “Professor Lyle kindly and generously treats students like grownups, allowing remarkable freedom along with providing remarkable guidance. His door actually was open and we his students knew it was open at all times throughout our lives. Just look at tonight where he came all the way from San Antonio Texas to be here! It has been my life work to emulate Dr. Lyle’s example.”
Dr. John L. LaMattina is Senior Vice President, Pfizer Inc and President, Pfizer Global Research and Development. In this role, Dr. LaMattina oversees the drug discovery and development efforts of over 13,000 colleagues in the United States, Europe and Asia. LaMattina graduated cum laude from Boston College in 1971 with a B.S. in Chemistry. He attended UNH working with Professor Robert E. Lyle and received a Ph.D. from UNH in Organic Chemistry in 1975. He then moved on to Princeton University as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor E. C. Taylor.
In a separate physics luncheon held in honor of James A. Thomson, President and Chief Executive Officer, RAND Corporation, Thomson noted that, “Building things and making them work during my early lab experiments while here as an undergrad at UNH sparked my interest in the pursuit of a graduate degree in physics.” Dr. Thomson holds a B.S. in physics from UNH (1967) and an M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from Purdue University. He was a postdoctoral research associate in physics (1972) and did basic research in experimental nuclear physics (1972-1974) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
UNH Physics Professor Emeriti Bob Houston commented that, “Jim was one of those outstanding students in whom we as faculty recognized a special greatness. There are few brilliant technical individuals who are also gifted communicators. Jim’s skills were and are a powerful combination.” With the political science classes taken as an undergrad at UNH and a strong foundation in arms controls from Madison, Thomson went straight from being a post doc to the Pentagon.
Today Dr. Thomson is an internationally known expert on defense and arms control issues. He has played a leading role in initiating and directing analyses that later led to the intermediate range missile treaty which began the de-escalation of the nuclear arms deployment in Europe. At RAND he continues to meet weekly with research teams retaining the content in the area of arms controls that he is so passionate about.
Honorary Degrees are awarded to individuals of national and/or international importance whose contributions have enhanced society as a whole, or who have otherwise brought significant enrichment or benefit to particular groups. Nominees may include (but are not limited to) alumni, university benefactors, and citizens of the State of New Hampshire.