Infinite Mile Award

Page Contents:01.About the Award02.Award Process03.Previous Recipients

About the Infinite Mile Award

The SHASS Infinite Mile Awards honor those who have gone “the extra mile” in their contributions to the school. These colleagues exemplify the spirit of going above and beyond in their roles and work on a regular basis, supporting their teams’ mission in diverse initiatives throughout the school.

Award process

Nominating staff

There are no restrictions on who may nominate a member of our staff for an Infinite Mile Award. Nominations can be made by individuals or teams.

To nominate someone, you can either use our form (when are nominations open), or email your nomination to shass-recognition@mit.edu. In your email, include:

  • Your name and academic unit.
  • The nominee’s name and academic unit.
  • Your letter of nomination.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, candidates should:

  • Have been in their current position for at least one year.
  • Not be under any disciplinary action during the award period.
  • Not have won an Infinite Mile Award in the past five years. To see past recipients, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Important dates

Here are the important dates for the Infinite Mile Award:

  • February 5: Nominations open.
  • March 8: Submission deadline.
  • April: Selection Committee meets to discuss nominations and determine award recipients.
  • May: Recipients are notified.

Additional guidelines

Nominating someone? Here are tips to writing a high-quality nomination:

  • Give concrete examples of how the nominee goes above and beyond normal responsibilities.
  • Cite specific examples/anecdotes of what the nominee accomplished.
  • Focus on examples from the past year.
  • Provide context for the nominee’s role.
  • Consider multiple nomination letters or quotes from various colleagues (to give a fuller picture of how a nominee interacts with those in their DLC/community).

Previous recipients of the Infinite Mile Award

2024
  • Joseph Borkowski, Systems Administrator & Instructional Technologist, Global Languages
  • Carolyn Carlson, Academic Administrator, Anthropology
  • Erin Graeber, Research Policy Manager,J-PAL North America
  • Katherine Hoss, Academic Administrator, Political Science
  • Laura Kerwin, Assistant Director, Security Studies Program, CIS
  • Aprille Knox, Senior Policy Manager, J-PAL Global
2023
  • Matthew Burt, CIS/MISTI
  • Maria DiMauro, Political Science
  • Mary Grenham, Linguistics and Philosophy
  • Sarah Margolis, J-PAL North America
  • Joyce Roberge, Global Languages
2022
  • Lisa Hickler, Global Languages
  • Julia Martyn-Shah, Economics
  • Christine Pilcavage, Center for International Studies
  • Jennifer Purdy, Linguistic and Philosophy
  • Jessica TranVo, Literature
  • Andy Wilds, Music and Theater Arts
2021
  • Liam Brenner, Global Languages
  • Eryn Heying, Economics
  • Deborah Jamiol, Economics
  • Rosabelli Coelho-Keyssar, MIT Brazil Program, Center for International Studies, Department of Political Science
  • Sarah Orzalli, JPAL North America
  • Susan Twarog, Political Science
2020
  • Brittany Bradley, J-PAL
  • Alicia Goldstein Raun, MISTI
  • Fatih Basaga, Center for International Studies
  • Miguel Flores, Music and Theater Arts
  • Zina Queen, Political Science
  • Belinda Yung, Literature
2019
  • Victor Belanger, Music and Theater Arts
  • Mala Ghosh, Madeline Smith, and Maria Segala, Center for International Studies
  • Paula Kreutzer, Political Science
  • Emily Neill and Sophia Hasenfus, Women and Gender Studies
2018
  • Thomas Dattilo, Economics
  • Alicia Mackin, Literature
  • Nicole Paschal, Music and Theater Arts
  • Meghan Pepin, History
  • Kalina Schloneger,, Music and Theater Arts
  • Andrea Wirth, Office of the Dean, MIT SHASS
2017
  • Barbara Keller, Anthropology
  • Luis “Cuco” Daglio, Music and Theater Arts
  • Ana Ludwig, Office of the Dean, MIT SHASS
  • Albert Wang and Daniel Irvine, Office of the Dean, MIT SHASS
2016
  • Hannah Carpenter, Music and Theater Arts
  • Griselda Gomez, Center for International Studies
  • Joli Divon Saraf, Center for International Studies
  • Janine Sazinsky, Political Science

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