Karl Reid ’84, SM ’85 named Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Reid previously served as Associate Dean of undergraduate education at MIT
In a statement to the MIT community, President Sally Kornbluth announced that Karl Reid ’84, SM ’85 will become the new vice president for equity and inclusion (VPEI) beginning March 3rd. Reid currently serves as Senior Vice Provost and Chief Inclusion Officer at Northeastern University. Professor Daniel Hastings SM ’78, PhD ’80 served as the interim Institute community and equity officer following the departure of John Dozier in June of 2023.
Kornbluth described Reid’s role as “engaging our faculty, students, and staff in a comprehensive assessment of the structures and programs, in his purview, to make sure they are effectively serving campus needs.”
Kornbluth reflected on the importance of campus inclusivity, describing it as “essential to maintaining our preeminence in pushing the boundaries of knowledge, inventing solutions to the most vexing problems of our time, and educating the next generation of leaders.” Kornbluth stated that Reid will report directly to the Office of the President.
Reid has a long history at the Institute, both as a student and an administrator. Kornbluth stated that Reid is “deeply grounded in the Institute’s culture and values.”
Reid graduated with two degrees in Materials Science and Engineering as a Tau Beta Pi Scholar and received the Institute’s highest student honor, the Karl Taylor Compton Award.
After earning his SM in 1985, Reid worked in product management and consulting at IBM for over a decade before returning to MIT as the director of engineering outreach programs. Reid eventually became Associate Dean of undergraduate education and served as Director of the Office of Minority Education in 1988.
Reid received his doctorate in education from Harvard. He also served as senior vice president for research, innovation, and member college engagement at the United Negro College Fund and as executive director of the National Society of Black Engineers.