New York: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has appointed Indian-American academic leader Anantha Chandrakasan as the next provost.
As provost, he will become MIT’s senior academic and budget officer, responsible for academic priorities, faculty recruitment and promotion, and international engagements.
Chandrakasan, a distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science, has been a faculty member since 1994, and he currently serves as MIT’s dean of engineering and its inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer.
MIT president Sally Kornbluth praised Chandrakasan's appointment, noting his entrepreneurial spirit. “I am particularly grateful that we will be able to draw on Anantha’s depth and breadth of experience; his nimbleness, entrepreneurial spirit and boundless energy; his remarkable record in raising funds from outside sources for important ideas; and his profound commitment to MIT’s mission,” Kornbluth said.
Reflecting on his new role, Chandrakasan emphasized inclusive leadership and strategic collaboration across MIT’s diverse academic landscape. “Looking ahead, I see myself as a key facilitator, enabling faculty, students, postdocs, and staff to continue making extraordinary contributions to the nation and the world,” he said.
A faculty member since 1994, Chandrakasan led the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), which is MIT's largest academic department, for six years before being named dean of School of Engineering in 2017.
His appointment as MIT's first chief innovation and strategy officer came in 2024, tasked with driving forward new research, education, and innovation initiatives.
Throughout his administrative tenure, Chandrakasan played a significant role in establishing key interdisciplinary programs, which include the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium, among several others that aim to bridge the gap between academics and industry.
He outlined priorities for his tenure which include identifying institutional needs and planning strategically, retaining and attracting top talent, and supporting cross-disciplinary initiatives in research and education. My goal is to continue to facilitate excellence at MIT at all levels. There is a tremendous opportunity for MIT to be at the center of the innovations... It’s about AI. It’s about semiconductors. It’s about quantum, the biosecurity and biomanufacturing space — but not only that," Chandrakasan said.
"We need students who can do more than just code or design or build. We really need students who understand the human perspective and human insights," he added, emphasizing the importance of integrating STEM fields with the humanities and social sciences.
