Celebrating a Legacy. Fueling the Future of the Practice School.
The MIT community came together on November 1, 2025, at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston to celebrate Professor Alan Hatton and his extraordinary 36-year leadership of the David H. Koch School of Chemical Engineering Practice. Alumni, students, colleagues, and family filled the room to honor the lasting impact he has had on generations of MIT chemical engineers.
T. Alan Hatton Practice School Fund
Department Head Kristala Jones Prather and Mariah Mandt CH ’08, MSCEP ’12 announced a new endowed fund created to secure the Practice School’s future and expand what the program can offer to our graduate students and industry collaborators.
The T. Alan Hatton Practice School Fund will:
- Support station director salaries
- Cover student housing and travel
- Lower barriers for industry collaborators
- Create opportunities in emerging technology sectors
Why It Matters Now
The Practice School stands as one of MIT’s defining educational experiences. Students step into real industry challenges early, build judgment through hands-on problem-solving, and develop at a pace traditional programs can’t match. Yet rising costs now strain a model funded entirely by host companies, limiting student opportunities and slowing growth when demand has never been higher.
Your support changes the equation. The Hatton Fund will keep this experience within reach, strengthen vital industry connections, and carry forward the vision Professor Hatton championed throughout his career. With your help, future generations of MIT chemical engineers will gain the real-world foundation that sets them—and the field—on a path to lasting impact.
Support the Practice School
Give today and help ensure this defining MIT experience remains strong for generations of chemical engineers.
To make a gift to T. Alan Hatton Practice School Fund, please go to MIT’s giving website.
To learn more about the T. Alan Hatton Practice School Fund and naming opportunities to support the Practice School, please contact Jale Okay, Senior Leadership Giving Officer, Department of Chemical Engineering.