Muskingum News

Muskingum University held its 2011 undergraduate commencement exercises on May 7, featuring an address by 1966 alumnus Marshall C. Phelps, Jr. The baccalaureate address was delivered by 1963 alumnus Glenn R. Hodges, M.D. Both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees were conferred, including the first class of those receiving the bachelor of science in nursing degree.

In recognition of their achievements, both Mr. Phelps and Dr. Hodges were granted the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters.

Marshall C. Phelps, Jr. ‘66

Marshall C. Phelps, Jr. has created an eminent global legacy in the field of intellectual property policy in the information age.  His pioneering licensing strategies have reshaped the landscape of intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and innovation and have generated unprecedented economic development.

His distinguished career began with IBM, where he served for twenty-eight years. As Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing during the 1990s, he oversaw a portfolio of more than 40,000 patents and trademarks, and applied innovative licensing strategies to transform what had historically been a costly legal overhead function into a $2 billion annual profit center. He also served IBM as Director of Government Relations in Washington, DC and as Vice President of Asia Pacific Operations in Tokyo.

Mr. Phelps served Microsoft Corporation for eight years as Corporate Vice President of Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy.  Under his leadership, Microsoft emerged as one of the world’s largest intellectual property companies, with more than 60,000 patents and applications and extensive copyright holdings and trademarks.

Currently, Mr. Phelps is an Executive Consultant to enterprises around the globe and advises the National Academy of Science as a member of its university-related intellectual property committee.  He is a founding partner of Intellectual Ventures, the largest acquirer of patents worldwide, and serves on five corporate boards of directors.

His critically-acclaimed book, Burning the Ships: Intellectual Property and the Transformation of Microsoft (2009), focuses on the ways intellectual property generates new business opportunities. He has shared his expertise as a visiting professor at leading business, law, and engineering schools including those of Cornell University, Duke University, the University of North Carolina, and the University of California at Berkeley.

Mr. Phelps has received many honors and awards, including election to the inaugural class of the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame in 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum, a Master of Science degree in Advanced Management from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a Juris Doctor degree from Cornell University School of Law.

Glenn R. Hodges ’63, M.D.

Dr. Glenn R. Hodges is an eminent physician and community volunteer who has changed the lives of others through his service and leadership. 

He established a distinguished practice as an infectious disease specialist and was on the faculty of the University of Kansas Medical School for more than thirty years. He served the Kansas City Veterans Administration Hospital with distinction for twenty-two years, including nine years as Chief of Staff.  

Upon retirement, he joined the Health Partnership Clinic of Johnson County as a volunteer physician, extending medical care to those in need in his community.

Dr. Hodges helps lead the innovative social service program offered by the Cross-Lines Community Outreach. He has served as President of the Board of Directors and he established the Cross-Lines Garden which provides fresh produce for the food pantry. 

He graduated with his Muskingum Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and was the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant to study microbial genetics at the University of Chicago. He earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine and a Master of Science degree from The Ohio State University, where he completed a National Institutes of Health Special Research Fellowship in Internal Medicine.

A dedicated alumnus, he encourages Muskingum students to pursue research explorations and seek new ways of thinking, healing, and improving human life.

Dr. Hodges and his wife, Carolyn Read Hodges ’64, are both master gardeners and leaders of the Kansas City Rose Society and the Johnson County Rose Society.  They are the parents of Diane, Cheryl, Kristine, and Janice.