[bioundgrd] department head news

[Alan D Grossman]

Dear members of the MIT biology community,

I'm writing to share the news that I have decided to step down as department head, likely sometime over the summer (hopefully not later!), when there is a successor identified by Dean Mavalvala. When Mike Sipser (the previous Dean) asked me about three years ago to stay on for a second five-year term, I said that I would commit to 2-3 more years, but not beyond that. This summer will be eight years, and the two pandemic years have been, shall we say, challenging….

That said, it has truly been a privilege to serve as head of this department with all its talented and dedicated members. I am continually awed by the passion, motivation, commitment, and creativity of our community. I've been able to work with and learn from so many in the department and throughout the Institute.

Anything that has been accomplished during my term as department head was made possible by the creativity, dedication, and hard work of so many of you. From the search committees who identified the amazing new faculty that have recently (or will shortly) join the department, to the online education team who helped us pivot all our teaching online back in March 2020, to the staff who keep all aspects of what we do running so smoothly, to those who work tirelessly on our outreach and DEI efforts, to all of our students and postdocs and those involved in teaching, advising, mentoring, and supporting them, to those who have generously donated or were involved in raising funds to support our students and research endeavors, and so many more – we rely on each other to build, maintain, and evolve everything that we do.

The pandemic has been difficult for us all and I hope, as it winds down, that we can focus on any positives that have resulted and appreciate that we have experienced a remarkable time in history.

I am so grateful to have been able to serve the department as its head for the last eight years, and I am confident that the next department head will have all the support necessary to successfully guide us through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

My sincerest thanks to all who make our department the special place that it is and strive to continually make it better.

With my very best wishes,

Alan


Alan D. Grossman
Professor and Head
Department of Biology
Building 68-530
M.I.T.
Cambridge, MA   02139

adg at mit.edu<mailto:adg at mit.edu>
(617) 253-1515
Zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/my/alandgrossman

Please note: There is no need to respond to my emails outside of traditional work hours.







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