A case study in leaving your mark

An impactful mentor

Like Vascellaro, entrepreneurs Tom First ’89, P’23 and Tom Scott ’89, co-founders of Nantucket Nectars, have returned to Brown many times as guest speakers in ENGN 9/90. The two Toms, or “the juice guys,” as they introduced themselves in their famous TV and radio ads, grew a homebased start-up that mixed and sold juices in recycled wine bottles into a multi-million-dollar brand in the 1990s.

“Part of starting a business is struggle, and one of the things you look for are people who believe in you, who think what you’re doing might be worthwhile and might work out. Barrett was one of those people really early on,” said First. “Barrett believes in you. That’s so important at a young age, when you’re learning, to have your professor believe in you. And that’s what he gives to everyone.”

A highlight of the event was an extended trailer of a film called ENGNius: The Invention of the Modern Business Mind, produced by the Nantucket Project—a non-profit incubator for thought-leadership, storytelling, and cultural exchange—and Chaltas. In introducing the film, an emotional Scott spoke directly to Hazeline from the podium, “We love you, Dean,” he said. “And we love this school.” He described making the film as a powerful experience. “To go on the road and meet so many people and hear the things they had to say. I feel very fortunate to have had that experience.”

Directed by Daniel Honan ’00, the film captures the essence of Hazeltine’s infectious positivism and the power of the case study approach to learning about business leadership and entrepreneurship. Along with archival classroom photos and footage of Hazeltine through the years, the film features interviews with Brown students, faculty, and senior administrators, including President Christina H. Paxson; Chancellor Brian Moynihan '81, P'14, P'19; Theresia Gouw '90, P'28; Chris Berman '77 LHD'07 hon., P'08, P'09; Julia Stepanenko ’26; Carson Peterson ’27; and others. 

After the film was presented, Michael Hazeltine P’09, Professor Hazeltine’s son, read a few words that his father had written for the occasion. “Brown has been a part of my life for over 65 years. With the support of the administration, we were able to grow a program that has enriched many students and given them an opportunity to explore new fields and allow them to launch careers and professions. I consider myself lucky to have been able to spend my career at Brown.”

Honoring a remarkable legacy

Now 94 years old, Hazeltine taught an estimated 30,000 students during his 65-year tenure at Brown. In 2024, he told the Brown Alumni Magazine, “Each case is a liberal arts example because it involves people, objectives, strategy, and an understanding of the culture.”

To honor Hazeltine’s singular legacy, Brown University has established a pooled fund to support undergraduate teaching assistants at the School of Engineering.

Undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs) have played a key role in the enduring success of ENGN 9/90. They partner with faculty to collaborate on lesson planning, facilitate learning, and evaluate course content. Alumni who served as TAs often cite the job as a highlight of their time at Brown, an opportunity that provided them with the experience and the confidence critical to future success.

The TAs lead small group discussions where all students have the opportunity to share and develop their voices and opinions. Students learn from their TAs—and each other—as they work through the case studies, Chaltas says.

“TAs get the opportunity to lead a group of their peers—sometimes for the first time,” says Chaltas. “As they teach, they learn to engage and dive deeper into the course materials. They become more fully immersed in Professor Hazeltine’s spirit of support and encouragement.”

Gifts to the Barrett Hazeltine Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship Fund will help to support stipends for two head TAs for the entire academic year, 53 TAs who support approximately 400 students during the fall semester, and 25 TAs who support approximately 200 students during the spring semester.

The fund was created to give members of the community an opportunity to provide support for undergraduate students collaborating with faculty on research and teaching projects in the School of Engineering. Gifts of any size can be made to honor the teaching legacy of Barrett Hazeltine. A legacy that carries on.