programming set new standards among software developers,
will receive an Outstanding Alumni Award this fall.
reuse elements of software that have been written and tested,
making the software maintainable for long periods of time.
and Applications (OOPSLA) conference, while he was a student
at Northeastern. Representatives from IBM heard the talk and
were prompted to offer him a summer position at IBM Research,
and then to fund the remainder of his doctoral work.
says. "IBM wanted expertise and leadership in the area.
They wanted to use it more effectively."
years he stayed at the company, the Law of Demeter took on a
life of its own, becoming an industry standard and working its
way into college textbooks. When he applied for a position at
Kronos, his interviewer asked him to show that he understood
the principle, not knowing that he had actually invented it.
question," Holland says.
engineering at Kronos and an adjunct professor at CCIS.
says Karl Lieberherr, Holland's dissertation advisor. "He is
a very talented researcher and it was a privilege to have him
as a student."
bring honor to themselves and to the university," and is
Northeastern's highest alumni award. It will be presented
at the annual Homecoming Alumni Ball, Friday, October 14,
at the Boston Park Plaza.