President Susan Hockfield announced today that she has appointed Professor L. Rafael Reif as provost of MIT, succeeding Robert A. Brown, who is leaving MIT to become president of Boston University. Reif's appointment will be effective Aug. 1.
In making the announcement, Hockfield said, "Professor Reif has held leadership positions at MIT for much of his 25 years on the faculty and is widely regarded as a deeply thoughtful, collaborative leader. His early championing of MIT's engagement in micro- and nanotechnologies, his concern for the broader impact of those technologies on society, his engagement with industry and government on both technical and policy matters in this country and abroad, his guidance on a wide range of policy matters at the school and Institute level, and his outstanding teaching and student mentorship all promise to serve MIT very well. I am delighted that he has agreed to take on this new responsibility and look forward to working with him to increase MIT's great strengths."