Recent News | Institute Community & Equity Office

MLK Luncheon speaker describes “dealing with scars nobody can see”

Exonerated Central Park Five member Kevin Richardson details his harrowing experiences and his hopeful vision for the future.

David L. Chandler MIT News Office February 13, 2020

John H. Dozier joins MIT as its new Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO). Dozier was previously at the University of South Carolina, where he has been serving as chief diversity officer and senior associate provost for inclusion. Image courtesy of John Dozier, edited by MIT News

John Dozier named Institute Community and Equity Officer

Experienced higher-education leader will develop and implement diversity and inclusion strategies for the Institute.

Peter Dizikes MIT News Office February 12, 2020

Democratizing the Lab

Five decades ago, Margaret MacVicar launched an experiment in inclusivity that became a cornerstone of MIT education.

Christina Couch, SM '15 Technology Review February 12, 2020

Tuskeegee Airmen: Connecting Flights at MIT

At the outset of WWII, MIT contributed to the training of African-American military pilots popularly known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

MIT Black History February 10, 2020

Singing for joy and service

After surgery to correct childhood hearing loss, Swarna Jeewajee discovered a desire to be a physician-scientist, and a love of a cappella music.

Shafaq Patel, MIT News correspondent MIT News Office February 2, 2020

Surveying the quality of life at MIT

A new survey of MIT students, faculty, and staff will inform initiatives to improve the work-life experience on campus and at Lincoln Laboratory.

Robyn Fizz, EVP Connect MIT News Office January 28, 2020

Candorful uses video conferencing to facilitate mock job interviews between volunteer coaches and military personnel to help prepare them for civilian job interviews. Image: Candorful

Helping military veterans nail that interview

Interview coaching startup Candorful helps veterans transitioning to civilian life prepare for job interviews.

Zach Winn MIT News Office January 28, 2020

MIT to donate to four nonprofits supporting survivors of sexual abuse

Institute’s Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response recommends recipients for $850,000 pledge.

David L. Chandler MIT News Office January 27, 2020

Left to right: MIT faculty members Anna Frebel, Wesley Harris, and Harry Tuller are recognized as “Committed to Caring.” Photos: Joseph Lee

Communicating respect for graduate students

Anna Frebel, Wesley Harris, and Harry Tuller honored by graduate students as “Committed to Caring.”

Courtney Lesoon, Office of Graduate Education MIT News Office January 27, 2020

The majority of U.S. college students spend hours each day on social media platforms, which can impact mental health and overall well-being.

Nine tips for healthy social media use

MindHandHeart is finding new ways to encourage healthy, positive social media use.

MindHandHeart MIT News Office January 23, 2020

Hacking life inside and outside the laboratory

Managing her own synthetic biology project helped graduate student Jesse Tordoff overcome imposter syndrome and hit her stride.

Bridget E. Begg, Office of Graduate Education MIT News Office January 21, 2020

Angelique Scarpa, an administrative assistant in the Department of Chemical Engineering, is encouraging MIT community members to spend time in nature. Photo: Maisie O'Brien

Reasons to go outside

A MindHandHeart Innovation Fund project spearheaded by staff member Angelique Scarpa is bringing elements of nature to MIT.

Maisie O’Brien, MindHandHeart MIT News Office January 21, 2020

Stick with me

A campaign to spread notes of kindness is coming to MIT, inspired by alumni Nick Demas and Jerry Wang.

Maisie O’Brien, MindHandHeart MIT News Office January 16, 2020

MindHandHeart announces a record 21 new Innovation Fund winners

The 10th round of MindHandHeart Innovation Fund projects is bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion, wellness, and community-building programming to campus.

Maisie O’Brien, MindHandHeart MIT News Office January 15, 2020

Brit d’Arbeloff and David Page (both seated) with Page lab postdoc Adrianna San Roman (left) and Sahin Naqvi PhD '19, a former Page lab grad student Photo: Whitehead Institute

Whitehead Institute receives $10 million to study sex chromosomes’ impact on women’s health

Gift establishes the Brit Jepson d’Arbeloff Center on Women's Health.

Whitehead Institute MIT News Office January 15, 2020

3 Questions: Maria Zuber on guidance for foreign nationals following recent Homeland Security memo

Vice president for research clarifies the memo’s intention and provides guidance.

MIT News Office January 14, 2020

"Lately I have been trying to think of African history from the perspective of goodness and basic human decency," says Kenda Mutongi, an MIT professor of history. "Of course, conflicts exist, and do a great deal of damage in our lives, and we must confront them — but we must also allow ourselves to appreciate basic goodness and kindness when we see it." Photo: Jon Sachs/MIT SHASS Communications

3 Questions: Professor Kenda Mutongi on Africa, women, power — and human decency

Mutongi discusses the connection between Kenyan widows and the #MeToo movement, myths of African entrepreneurship, and the wider implications of her research.

School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences MIT News Office January 14, 2020

K. Renee Horton, NASA scientist and past president of the National Society of Black Physicists, speaks with students at a recent physics conference. Due to a climate that has consistently excluded African-Americans from succeeding in physics and astronomy, a new task force report urges significant cultural changes in these fields. Image: American Institute of Physics

Making physics and astronomy more welcoming to African-American students

Report co-chaired by MIT professor cites need for “sweeping changes” in academic culture.

Jennifer Chu MIT News Office January 13, 2020

“She” goes missing from presidential language

Even when people believed Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election, they did not use “she” to refer to the next president.

Anne Trafton MIT News Office January 8, 2020

Bringing artificial intelligence and MIT to middle school classrooms

MIT researchers and collaborators have developed an open-source curriculum to teach young students about ethics and artificial intelligence.

Stefanie Koperniak, MIT Open Learning MIT News Office December 30, 2019