News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 5/17/03   Click on image for publication quality photo TECHNOLOGY THEN AND NOW – As he delivers the keynote address at Southeastern Louisiana University's commencement exercises Saturday (May 17), IMB vice president Albert Kuhn, a Ponchatoula native and 1965 Southeastern graduate, shows members of spring 2003 graduating class the slide rule he used as a student. Kuhn displayed the slide rule to illustrate one of his three recommendations -- continuing education -- to the new graduates. "This was ‘technology' when I was in school," he said. He also advised them to appreciate the importance of teamwork, and to be passionate about and committed to their work. KUHN TELLS GRADS TO EYE TECHNOLOGY, TEAMWORK, ENTHUSIASM       HAMMOND -- IBM Vice President Albert Kuhn, a 1965 Southeastern Louisiana University graduate, gave his alma mater’s spring graduating class three recommendations for success on Saturday.       As keynote speaker for the 10 a.m. commencement ceremonies at the University Center arena, Kuhn advised students to stay abreast of changing technology in their chosen fields, appreciate the importance of teamwork, and be passionate about and committed to their work.        To illustrate his point about technology, then and now, the Ponchatoula native who today heads a $4 billion Global Delivery Project between the IBM and American Express  displayed the leather-encased slide rule he toted from class to class as a Southeastern student.        “This was ‘technology’ when I was in school,” he said. “You could tell the physics, math and chemistry students, because we all carried these around. We were the ‘techies’ before they were even called that.”       While computer science was in its infancy at Southeastern in those days and the computer generation’s future impact was unknown, Kuhn said his post-graduation career in the aerospace industry continually brought home the fact that “what is state of the art one day is old the next.”       As an employee of Boeing, Computer Sciences Corporation, McDonnal Douglas, and IBM, Kuhn was involved in the Apollo, space shuttle and Space Station Freedom programs, and worked on missile defense. Approximately ten years ago, he switched his career focus at IBM to information technology. He joined IBM's Global Services Division in 1996 and was named vice president and Global Delivery Project executive for the American Express Account in 2002. That same year he was named Southeastern's Alumnus of the Year.        “I have seen technology advances in many areas,” Kuhn said. “The challenge has been to keep up with the pace of change or fall behind in my career.        “Technology is affecting all the fields that you are going into – education, coaching, mathematics, business, marketing, computer science,” Kuhn said. He urged the graduates to keep up with change through self-education, on the job training or college courses.        Kuhn also left the more than 900 students with a challenge.       Although he admitted he has no memory of his own graduation speaker 38 years ago, Kuhn said, “I challenge you to identify a career goal. That goal is to, at some time in the future, be up here in front of a future graduating class and telling them your ideas on how to succeed....Your career is now in your hands.” Return to News Releases