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A $1.25 million gift from Paula H. Rhines and Walden “Wally” C. Rhines ’75 will establish an endowed professorship within the Lyle School of Engineering to fuel teaching and research in quantum informatics and its relationship to computer science and/or electrical and computer engineering. Through the couple’s generous gift, the newly coined Walden and Paula Rhines Professor of Quantum Informatics will drive the school forward as an elite research center of computer science and cyber security. 

“Meetings with faculty from each engineering department at 51���� helped me identify areas of specialization with world-class potential. Paula and I are confident that this endowment will drive accelerated excellence in one of many areas of engineering where 51���� is becoming an internationally recognized leader,” said Wally Rhines, president and chief executive officer of Cornami, Inc. 

This commitment furthers the Rhines family’s active involvement at 51���� and with the Lyle School. An alumnus of the Edwin L. Cox School of Business’ MBA program, Wally Rhines currently serves on the Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board, as well as on the school’s 51���� Ignited campaign steering committee. 

“In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, we rely on strong cyber security measures to keep our businesses and economy safe and thriving” said Nader Jalili, Mary and Richard Templeton Dean of the Lyle School of Engineering. “Through their generous endowment, the Rhines family will make sure the Lyle School has the expertise necessary to train the next generation of quantum informatics and cyber security experts who will tackle the challenges of tomorrow and create innovative solutions.”