MIT Museum director stepping down

Dear colleagues,

I write today on behalf of the MIT Museum to announce that John Durant will step down as the Mark R. Epstein (Class of 1963) Director of the MIT Museum on December 31, 2023. However, I am pleased to share that John has decided to remain at MIT and continue to serve as an adjunct professor in the Science, Technology, and Society Program. Work to conduct a national search for a new director of the MIT Museum will begin immediately.

John joined the MIT Museum in 2005 with a passion for its mission of showcasing and celebrating MIT’s rich history of research and innovation. Over the years, he has championed the organization within the MIT community and beyond, helping it to grow from a small second-floor office suite into a world-class museum at the gateway of the MIT campus in the heart of Kendall Square. The newly conceived and purpose-designed museum opened in October 2022 to critical acclaim and praise from leading publications, welcoming 80,000 visitors to date.

To learn more about John's impactful career, please read the MIT News article published today.

I am grateful for John’s visionary leadership and commitment over his 18-year tenure to make MIT’s artifacts of innovation accessible to the public. He leaves a museum poised for the future where open discourse and discovery will thrive for years to come. Please join me in thanking John for his ongoing service to the MIT community.   

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Barnhart
Provost