POTSDAM -- The chief executive officer of GE and the inventor of the Roomba floor sweeper are among the people to be awarded honorary degrees at Clarkson University’s 2017 commencement.

Jeffrey R. Immelt is the ninth chairman of GE, a post he has held since 2001. Since starting at GE in 1982, he has held leadership positions in the company’s plastics, appliances, and health care businesses. Immelt has been named one of the "World's Best CEOs" three times by Barron's. He is a member of The American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Helen Greiner, a robotics entrepreneur, co-founded and for 18 years served as chairman and president of iRobot Corporation, which revolutionized cleaning with the introduction and sale of the Roomba Vacuuming Robot, and also delivered the first robots to remediate IEDs in combat, which were credited by the Army with saving the lives of hundreds of soldiers and thousands of civilians. In 2016, Greiner founded CyPhy Works, a drone company delivering persistent drones that fly for many hours, days, weeks at a time autonomously.

Also receiving honorary degrees from Clarkson will be David Reh, a 1962 CU graduate, owner and managing partner of Ravenwood Golf Club; and Jan D. Achenbach of Northwestern University, a recipient of the National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology, both awarded by the president of the United States.

Achenbach, Immelt and Reh will be awarded their degrees during commencement exercises on Clarkson's main campus in Potsdam on May 13. Greiner will receive her degree at Clarkson's Capital Region Campus commencement on June 9 in Schenectady.