Welcome to the “You Belong at MIT” Visit, taking place on March 17-19, 2025! This special event is designed to welcome students from all backgrounds, with an emphasis on those historically underserved in graduate education. It’s your chance to explore how MIT will support you throughout your graduate journey, no matter your background. During this visit, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other admitted students, faculty, staff, and current students from a variety of departments, building communities of academic, social, and professional support. Why just survive graduate school when you can thrive? We look forward to welcoming you to MIT!
Agenda
Agenda details are subject to change.
March 17, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Spring 2025 Karl Taylor Compton Lecture
Location: Samberg Conference Center, E62-7th Floor
Join the MIT community for a lecture by Ben Vinson III, President of Howard University, titled AI in an Age After Reason: A Discourse on Fundamental Human Questions.
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Welcome Reception
Location: Row 34 restaurant
Hosted by The Office of Graduate Education, GradDiversity
Denzil Streete, Senior Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Graduate Education
Noelle Wakefield, Interim Associate Dean of Diversity Initiatives
Maria Cervantes Gonzalez, Program Coordinator for Graduate Recruitment
March 18, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast Club
Location: R&D Commons, Bldg 32, 4th Floor
Connect with current graduate students over breakfast!
Hosted by The GradDiversity Graduate Community Fellows
Maranda Cherry, Graduate Student, Aeronautics and Astronautics
Juana De La O, Graduate Student, Biology
Kaitlyn Gee, Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM: Graduate Junction Tour and Housing 101
Location: 269 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA
Tour our new graduate housing and learn how to secure your spot!
Ashley Kennedy, Director of Communications & Marketing, Housing and Residential Services
Kendra Lowery, General Manager, Graduate Junction
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Navigating the Hidden Curriculum
Location: 3-133
Unlock the secrets to success with strategies for navigating the hidden curriculum.
Nandi Bynoe, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, School of Engineering & Schwarzman College of Computing
1:15 PM – 1:50 PM: Lunch
Location: 31-270
2:00 PM – 2:50 PM: Thriving at MIT
Location: 1-131
Explore the mental health, self-care, stress management, and the wide range of resources available for your well-being and support.
Suraiya Baluch, Associate Dean, Office of Graduate Education, GradSupport
Beth Marois, Assistant Dean, Office of Graduate Education, GradSupport
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: MIT Diverse Voices – Faculty of Color Panel
Location: 1-131
Panelists will share their narratives about navigating academia and offer some sage advice on excelling at MIT and beyond.
Professor Cullen Buie, Mechanical Engineering and Biological Engineering
Professor Wesley Harris, Aeronautics and Astronautics
Professor Francisco Sanchez-Rivera, Biology
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM: Research has No Bounds: Exploring the Depths of Interdisciplinary Research at MIT
Location: 1-131
Hear from 3 graduate students as they share their interdisciplinary research through lightning talks.
Juana De La O, Graduate Student, Biology
Eduardo Nombera Bueno, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering
Ayannah Lang, Graduate Student, Chemistry
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Strike Up Connections: Bowling with Current Grad Students
Location: King’s Bowling
Head into the city with current graduate students and enjoy a night of bowling!
Hosted by the You Belong at MIT Student Committee
Malik George, Graduate Student, Biological Engineering
Ozioma Ozor-Ilo, Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
March 19, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Breakfast
Location: 10-105
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Tour of MIT
Location: 10-105
Chad Galts, Director of Communications, Institute Community and Equity Office
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: You Belong at MIT
Location: 10-105
This session is designed to help you discover the wide range of resources available, learn how to thrive as a member of the Institute, and ask any last questions!
Denzil Streete, Senior Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Graduate Education
Travel & Accommodations
The Office of Graduate Education is pleased to cover 100% of your travel expenses within the U.S. to attend this event. Once you accept our invitation, you will receive detailed instructions on how to submit your travel information (flight, train, or car) for booking.
Lodging: You will be staying at the Boston Marriott Cambridge, just across the street from MIT in the vibrant heart of Kendall Square. Check-in is on Monday, March 17, and check-out is on Wednesday, March 19. If you choose to attend your departmental visit a few days before or after our event and stay in the Boston area to avoid back-to-back travel, the Office of Graduate Education will work directly with your department to cover any additional travel and lodging expenses.
Getting to MIT: MIT will provide prepaid transportation from Boston Logan International Airport (or your home for those local students) to MIT’s campus via Uber.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING UBER
- Please download the Uber App to your smart phone. Please visit the Uber website for download instructions.
- Once you have downloaded and activated your Uber account you are ready to request a ride from your starting location.
- Click on the link (https://r.uber.com/rObem9n2KMw) to claim your voucher. Note: This payment code will only work for Uber rides ending at MIT or the Boston Marriott Cambridge.
MIT Address: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA
Hotel Address: 50 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
Resources
Offices
Graduate Family House
graduatehousing@mit.edu | 617-253-2811
Resources for on and off campus housing.
Institute Discrimination & Harassment Response Office
idhr@mit.edu | W31-223
Supports community members who have experienced harm to access available resources and reporting options.
LBGTQ@MIT QTPOC
lbgt@mit.edu |617-253-5440
An intercultural resource for diverse gender, romantic, & sexual identities. Visit website for a list of LBGTQ grad student organizations.
OGE, Graduate Student Families
Sarah Galison | sgalison@mit.edu
Supports parenting graduate students with childbirth & parental accommodations, backup childcare, and financial support through grants
Office of Minority Education
ome@mit.edu | 617-253-5010
Promotes academic excellence, builds strong communities & develops professional mindsets among students of underrepresented minority groups.
Office of Religious, Spiritual & Ethical Life
askachaplain@mit.edu | 617-253-7707
Providing spiritual & personal support to the MIT community.
OGE, Fellowships
grad-fellowships@mit.edu | 3-107
Information on various fellowship aid resources is available from on the website. Individual departments may have additional information.
International Student Office
iso-help@mit.edu | 617-253-3795
Sponsors programs to help students adjust to life in the US & at MIT, & helps with immigration issues.
Mental Health and Counseling
E23-3rd Floor | 617-253-2916
Consult on cognitive/attention issues, disorganization, lack of motivation or personality changes.
OGE, GradSupport
gradsupport@mit.edu | 617-253-4860
Provide counsel on a variety of issues including faculty/student relationships, changing advisors, funding, academic progress, & interpersonal concerns.
Office of Multicultural Programs
omp@mit.edu | 617-253-1000
Provides students with advocacy, support services, trainings, workshops, leaderships, development & culturally based programs.
Student Disability Services
sds-all@mit.edu | 617-253-1674
Ensuring access to MIT’s programs, activities, & services.
Contact
Questions regarding the visit? Email graddiversity@mit.edu.
