Date June 10, 2025
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Celebrating 65 years of Hazeltine

The engineering community came together to celebrate Professor Hazeltine’s long tenure of teaching and mentorship at Brown.

Beloved, legendary, inspirational—that’s how alumni and students describe Barrett Hazeltine. At 93 years old, he continues to teach and mentor students at Brown, now officially as Professor Emeritus since his “retirement” in 1997. 

Perhaps what Hazeltine is best known for is teaching ENGN 9 for over 50 years—since 1974, when he helped establish it in collaboration with Joe Martino and Jamie Kiernan, who were both seniors at the time. An extremely popular engineering course that focuses on entrepreneurship and management, ENGN 9 has been described as a Brown classic. 

Hazeltine’s rock star status has made his name a familiar one on campus. The Hazeltine Commons—a community gathering space within the Engineering Research Center—was named after him. And there are various awards named in his honor—like the Barrett Hazeltine Prize in Entrepreneurial Mentorship, the Hazeltine Innovation Awards, and the Hazeltine Grants in Engineering. 

“ I believe from the bottom of my heart that there is not a single person, faculty member or otherwise, who has had a bigger impact on the lives of Brown students than Barrett Hazeltine. ”

Thano Chaltas '87 P'24 Professor of the practice, School of Engineering

Reflecting on and celebrating a teaching career that has impacted generations 

Faculty, students, staff, and alumni recently came together in—where else?—Hazeltine Commons to mark Hazeltine’s 65th year of teaching and present him with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the engineering department. 

Thano Chaltas '87 P'24, professor of the practice at the School of Engineering, and once a student and teaching assistant of Hazeltine himself, gave remarks, touching on the professor’s enduring legacy.

“I believe from the bottom of my heart that there is not a single person, faculty member or otherwise, who has had a bigger impact on the lives of Brown students than Barrett Hazeltine,” said Chaltas. “He has made generations of students feel capable of accomplishing something great. I’ve heard from hundreds of alumni, ‘He believed in me before I believed in myself.’” 

Hazeltine surrounded by others at his celebration
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Hazeltine was celebrated by faculty, students, staff, and alumni, and was joined by members of his family.

A student signs the giant card for Hazeltine
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Attendees signed a giant card for Hazeltine, filling it with heartfelt messages of thanks.

Attendees celebrated with a cake for Hazeltine
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At the well-attended party, Hazeltine cut a cake that said “Thanks for 65 years!”

Someone holding up the t-shirt with Hazeltine's phrase
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A t-shirt that features one of Hazeltine’s famous phrases, “Everybody OK?”

Hazeltine sits with a group of undergraduate students.
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Hazeltine sits with a group of undergraduate students.

Buttons were made in Hazeltine’s honor for those at the May celebration.
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Buttons were made in Hazeltine’s honor for those at the May celebration.

Jon Cohen '87, adjunct lecturer in engineering, also once studied under Hazeltine and now sees first-hand how he continues to inspire and support students today. 

“His insights are timeless,” said Cohen. “To have someone who is as wise as he is, and as kind as he is, offer tangible support at a very available level—that may be the thing that gets you started. That's his gift.”

Current students in attendance lined up to sign a giant card for the professor, writing notes of thanks for his teaching and mentorship. 

“Professor Hazeltine is a legend in our community,” said Julia Stepanenko ’26, a student who helped organize the event. “He dedicated two-thirds of his life to Brown. He created the most iconic course. He’s inspired many generations of students and people.”

Brown alumni from around the world have chimed in on social media in recent months, recounting memories from ENGN 9 and expressing gratitude for Hazeltine’s kindness and approachability. And alumni had a chance to reconnect with the renowned professor during Reunion Weekend 2025.

Jerome Vascellaro '74, P'07, former vice chancellor of the Corporation of Brown University, sent in remarks to be read during the May celebration. “Thank you for all you have done for me and generations of Brown students,” he wrote to Hazeltine. “Sixty-five years—extraordinary. You’re a singular treasure.”

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