Appointment of dean for undergraduate education

Dear Members of the MIT Community,

I am pleased to announce that Professor Dennis Freeman, Professor of Electrical Engineering, has agreed to serve as MIT's next Dean for Undergraduate Education. Denny has been a member of EECS since 1995. He has served as the department's Education Officer, and is currently the EECS Undergraduate Officer.

Throughout his tenure at MIT, Denny has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to undergraduate education. He has won numerous teaching awards, including selection as a MacVicar Faculty Fellow in 2006, and has on three occasions been the students' selection as the best academic advisor in EECS. In recent years, he has been a key contributor to the development and teaching of 6.01 (Introduction to EECS I), and last fall worked with Professor Anantha Chandrakasan to launch the new SuperUROP program.

Denny will begin his time as Dean at a significant moment in shaping the future of MIT's model of residential education. In February President Reif charged the Task Force on the Future of MIT Education to examine MIT's current educational model and to formulate ideas for leveraging technological advancements to help shape the Institute's future. Denny will serve on the Task Force and will play a central role in bringing its recommendations for the residential student experience to fruition. Denny will also work with colleagues in DUE and across the Institute to improve student advising. At the May Institute Faculty Meeting, the faculty approved a motion calling for every MIT freshman to be paired with a faculty mentor or advisor. Denny will be key in leading this charge.

I extend my gratitude to Professor Daniel Hastings for his exceptional leadership of DUE and his tireless support of MIT's undergraduate student body over the past seven-and-a-half years. I also thank the search committee, led by Professor Graham Walker, for helping to identify Denny as Dan's successor.

Please join me in congratulating Denny and welcoming him to his new role effective July 1, 2013.

Sincerely,

W. Eric Grimson
Chancellor