Early Life
Patrick M. Hanrahan was born on May 8, 1955, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He developed an early interest in science and technology. Hanrahan earned a B.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1977 and a Ph.D. in biophysics in 1985.
Rise to Success
Hanrahan's career includes foundational contributions at Pixar Animation Studios from 1986 to 1989, where he worked on the RenderMan Interface Specification and the RenderMan Shading Language. He then joined the faculty of Princeton University in 1989 and later moved to Stanford University in 1995. In 2003, he co-founded Tableau Software, a data visualization company.
Key Business Strategies
Hanrahan's key business strategy involves his dedication to computer graphics and data visualization. He is known for developing rendering algorithms and shading languages. His work at Pixar and later at Tableau Software has revolutionized the way data is visualized and analyzed.
Philanthropy
In 2018, Hanrahan co-founded the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation with his wife, Delle Maxwell. The foundation supports various initiatives, including those in field-based science, art and craft, teaching, and environmental protection. The foundation's support includes providing grants for youth development in water skills through the Outdoor Afro's Making Waves program.