SHASS 75th Anniversary Symposium
Since 1950, SHASS has advanced a human-centered approach to research, teaching, and innovation.
The SHASS 75th Anniversary Symposium was a two-day celebration held September 24-25, 2026 in the Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building’s Thomas Tull Concert Hall (Building W18).
The symposium featured topical faculty panel discussions, music and theater arts performances, and alumni talks. Between sessions, attendees connected and networked. View and download the Symposium program to learn more.
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Learn more about the speakers, moderators, and performers at the symposium.
SHASS 75th Anniversary Organizing Committee
David Kaiser, Chair
Joseph Borkowski
Michael Brindley
Benjamin Daniel
Amy Finkelstein
Anne Marie Michel
Robin Palazzolo
Heather Paxson
Carly Soll
Hanley Valentin
Thursday, September 24
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.: Welcome and introductions
- Welcome video: Sally Kornbluth, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Anantha Chandrakasan, Provost, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Melissa Nobles, Chancellor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Agustín Rayo PhD ’01, Kenan Sahin Dean, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
- David Kaiser, Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science,
Program in Science, Technology, and Society, and Professor of Physics
9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Session 1 – Democratic Participation and Processes
Panelists:
- Bailey Flanigan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, holding an MIT Schwarzman College of Computing shared position with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
- Rebekah Larsen, Old Dominion Career Development Assistant Professor, Comparative Media Studies/Writing
- Tanalis Padilla, Professor of History; Leverett Howell Cutten ’07 and William King Cutten ’39 Professorship
- Charles Stewart III, Kenan Sahin (1963) Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Founding Director, MIT Election Data and Science Lab
Moderator
- Brian Hedden PhD ’12, Professor, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy holding an MIT Schwarzman College of Computing shared position with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Coffee break
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Session 2 – Teaching and Learning Innovations
Panelists:
- Takako Aikawa, Senior Lecturer in Japanese, Global Languages
- Suzanne Berger, Institute Professor, Department of Political Science
- Sara Ellison, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics
- Eric Klopfer, Professor, Comparative Media Studies/Writing; Director, Scheller Teacher Education Program
- Norvin Richards, Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Linguistics
- Stephanie Seed, Associate Professor, Literature
Moderator
- Will Broadhead, Associate Professor of History
12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.: Lunch (not provided)
2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Session 3 – Computing, Self, and Society
Panelists:
- David Autor, the Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor; Head, Department of Economics
- D. Fox Harrell, Professor of Digital Media, Computing, & AI; Comparative Media Studies, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), and Institute for Data Systems, and Society (IDSS)
- Sendhil Mullainathan, Professor, Department of Economics and the Peter de Florez Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
- Sherry Turkle, the Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, Program in Science, Technology, and Society
Moderator
- Bernardo Zacka ’05, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Coffee break
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Session 4 – MIT Music & Theater Arts Performance Showcase
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Welcome and opening remarks by Jay Scheib, Class of 1949 Professor and Section Head, Music and Theater Arts
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Theater introduction by Blythe de Oliveira Foster, Director of Performance Programs and Lecturer in the MIT Theater Arts Program
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A Dream Like a Dream by Stan Lai (b. 1954)
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Selected scenes directed Blythe de Oliveira Foster with video and projection design by Joshua Higgason, lighting design by Kevin Fulton, based on the production directed by by Jay Scheib, with Xinyu Xu
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Performed by Daina August ‘28, Jolie Han ‘28, Audrey Zhu ‘29, camera operation Yanyi Liu (G), and video and lighting design assistance by MIT alumna Xinyu Xu ’25
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Dance introduction by Dan Safer, Director of Dance Programs and Senior Lecturer in Dance/Theater
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Variations On The Theme of SHASS 75; choreographed by Dan Safer, music by Christian Frederickson, viola and laptop, lighting design by Kevin Fulton. Performed by Monica Petulla (G), Sophie Li ‘28, Megan Yamoah (G)
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Music introduction by Frederick Harris, Jr.
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Prelude by Lamine Touré and members of Rambax MIT
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Madrigal by Keeril Makan (b. 1972)
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Natalie Lin Douglas, solo violin, Alexis MacAvoy ’27, Maureen Min, ’30, Jingjing Wu, ‘29, Justin Yamaguchi ’28, violin
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Priez pour paix (Prayer for Peace) by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
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Mi-Eun Kim, piano; Hyo Sun Park (G), soprano
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O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (1895-1982)
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MIT Concert Choir, Ryan Turner, conductor; Yukiko Oba, piano
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Spain by Chick Corea (1941-2021), arr. Andrew Li, Emily Jin, and Coleman Gliddon
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MIT All-Star Jazz Combo, Laura Grill Jaye, vocals, Andrew Li ’24, Matthew Michalek (G), Alex Jin ’27, Coleman Gliddon (G), Tejus Deo-Dixit 29, Brandon Vu (G)
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5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Reception
Friday, September 25
9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Session 5 – Human and Environmental Health
Panelists:
- Tom Levenson, Professor, Comparative Media Studies/Writing
- Amy Moran-Thomas, Andrew W. Mellon Associate Professor of Anthropology
- Jacob Moscona PhD ’21, 3M Career Development Assistant Professor of Economics
- Robin Wolfe Scheffler, Associate Professor, Program in Science, Technology, and Society
Moderator
- Amy Finkelstein PhD ’01, John & Jennie S. MacDonald Professor of Economics
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Coffee break
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: SHASS Alumni Lightning Talks
- Marc Aidinoff, PhD ’22, Assistant Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University
- Jessica Coon, PhD ’10, Professor of Linguistics, McGill University
- Eran Egozy ’95, MEng ’95, Professor of the Practice in Music Technology, MIT Music and Theater Arts
- Jonathan Gruber ’87, Ford Professor of Economics, MIT
- Ankita Reddy ’19, MD/PhD student at University of Pennsylvania
Moderator
- Heather Paxson, Associate Dean for Faculty, MIT School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Anthropology
12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Lunch (not provided)
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Session 7 – Perception, Cognition, and Expression
Panelists:
- Sandy Alexandre, Associate Professor, Literature
- Elise Newman ’16, PhD ’21, Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy
- Justin Khoo, Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy
- Jay Scheib, Class of 1949 Professor and Section Head, Music and Theater Arts
Moderator
- Angela Saini, Assistant Professor, Comparative Media Studies/Writing
6 p.m.: Closing Reception and Party, MIT Museum
Philip Tan ’01, SM ’03, creative director of the MIT Game Lab, will DJ the evening.