Last week, Rensselaer announced the honorary degree recipients at the 2001 Commencement taking place May 12 at Pepsi Arena in Albany. The more well known of the two among technophiles is Vinton G. Cerf, a man who many consider one of the fathers of the Internet. Dr. Cerf is the Senior Vice President for Internet Architecture and Technology at Worldcom. His resume of technical and management achievements is a long one, as can be seen on his Worldcom Web Site called Cerf's Up.

Also receiving an honorary degree at this year's commencement is William J. Wilson, a renown sociologist. Dr. Wilson is the Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor at Harvard University and the director of the Joblessness and Urban Poverty Research Program.

These two honorary degree recipients join Dr. Bill Cosby, previously announced as the main commencement speaker.