Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Karl Reid to step down

Dear members of the MIT community,

I write to share the news that Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Karl Reid '84, SM '85 has informed me of his decision to step down from his position to dedicate himself to the broader project of building pathways for opportunity in STEM education across the United States. His last day with us will be February 28.

Karl returned to MIT last year during a critical period to help his alma mater increase community engagement and advance the Institute's commitment to inclusive excellence. At my request, he began a comprehensive assessment of the structures and programs in his purview to make sure they are effectively serving campus needs.

Karl dove into the work, conducting more than 100 listening sessions with students, faculty, staff and alumni and building connections with MIT leaders and others who work to strengthen our community. The assignment included refining the Institute Community and Equity Office’s (ICEO) mission, structure, programs and operational norms; launching, with Institutional Research, a comprehensive study of exceptional units to identify practices that improve community members' quality of life; and assembling leaders and researchers in dialogue to identify ways to scale the practice at MIT.

I'm grateful to Karl for his leadership of the ICEO and his engagement with a wide range of MIT staff, faculty, students and alumni to help our community navigate a very challenging time. Given his understanding of the landscape and his familiarity with MIT, he has kindly agreed to continue to be a resource for the Institute.

Obviously, this change comes at a time when colleges and universities are being scrutinized for how they manage and support their communities. MIT has thrived by attracting exceptionally talented people of every background and making sure we offer a welcoming environment where everyone can do their best work – and we will continue to do so. Building on the foundation Karl and his predecessors set for us, we will continue to assess what's working well and what's not, and determine the best ways to move forward.

I'll be back in touch when we have more information to share. For now, beginning March 1 and continuing through the summer, the ICEO staff will temporarily report to Vice Provost for Faculty Paula Hammond.

Sincerely,

Sally Kornbluth
President