Randy Pausch, professor of Human Computer Interaction and Computer Science, died Friday, July 25, of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 47.

Randy invented the programming environment, Alice, which made it possible for students from middle school to college to learn to program while telling their stories with animated characters. He created the course, Building Virtual Worlds, in which students learned to work in interdisciplinary teams to create interactive worlds. He went on to co-found the Entertainment Technology Center, and through his work there inspired his students and colleagues to combine technology and art to create new processes, tools, and vision for storytelling and entertainment. His research with colleagues in cognitive science, perception, and Human Computer Interaction broke new ground in understanding people's interactions with technology. Randy earned worldwide fame for his inspirational “Last Lecture.” [News release]