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Rose-Hulman President Branam Dies After 'Medical Emergency'

Matt Branam, president of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, died Friday morning after suffering an unspecified "medical emergency" in his office, a statement on the college's website says.

In an e-mail, Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees chairman Bill Feniglio says Branam died shortly after arriving at the hospital. He was 58.

The Terre Haute native earned his civil engineering degree from Rose-Hulman in 1979.

"He was very well thought of, he was an alum of this place," says Rose-Hulman spokesperson Dale Long. "He was setting a course of leadership to make Rose-Hulman from a 'best of class' institution' to a 'great' institution.'"

Branam worked for more than 24 years at UPS, designing and constructing the logistics and delivery company's distribution network. In 1996, he became the first-ever chief operating officer of the American Red Cross. He became Rose-Hulman president in 2009.

This story will be updated.