Gifts At Work

Powering the Engines

The impact of Robert J. Shillman’s decision to endow a faculty chair in entrepreneurship will be felt for decades to come as generation after generation of Northeastern risk-takers and entrepreneurs are inspired to introduce their innovations to the world.

“At the core, the essence of Northeastern, and every other educational institution, is its faculty.  By investing in the faculty, I am helping to ensure that Northeastern’s students will get the best possible education,” says Shillman, who is widely known as “Doctor Bob.”

The inaugural holder of the Robert J. Shillman Professor of Entrepreneurship is Dr. Marc H. Meyer, a prominent scholar in technological innovation and entrepreneurship, who will play a leadership role in the School of Technological Entrepreneurship at Northeastern, in research, teaching, and outreach to the business community.

“I love America and our free-enterprise system, and I want to do whatever I can to preserve it. By supporting entrepreneurs, I am supporting the engines that drive the American economy and keep it vibrant,” says Shillman, who adds the most fulfilling part of his philanthropy is the relationships he has developed with Northeastern’s faculty, staff, and fellow donors.

He also has supported Legacy Scholarships for outstanding engineering students, established the Robert J. Shillman Fellowship in electrical and computer engineering, and made a leadership gift to the state-of-the-art classroom building, Shillman Hall, which bears his name.

Shillman founded Cognex Corporation (NASDQ: CGNX) and remains its CEO and Chairman. Under his guidance it has become the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems.