Presidential Fellowship Moves Innovation and Research Forward

A young African American woman in a black suit sits on a conference table, smiling broadly. Next to her, standing on the floor, is a robot whose torso and arms are uncovered mechanics, but whose head has been crafted with a smooth mask with movable eyes, eyebrows, and chin.

Prestigious MIT program celebrates 25th anniversary

Pamela Ferdinand

March 27, 2025

In fields as varied as computer architecture, behavioral economics, data activism, and planetary science, MIT Presidential Fellowship recipients and alumni credit the prestigious award with improving their research, expanding their opportunities, and broadening their academic network.

The donor-supported program, administered by the Office of Graduate Education in coordination with the Office of the Provost, provides fellows with tuition, a monthly stipend, and medical insurance for their first academic year at MIT.

Raechel Walker SM ’23, a PhD candidate in the MIT Media Lab’s Media Arts and Sciences program working in the Personal Robots Group, says the Presidential Fellowship has helped her build on a passion for increasing diversity in computing through her Data Activism Program for African American high school and college students. During her master’s thesis, Walker introduced the concept of “liberatory computing,” which ensures African American students use their computing skills for societal transformation.