Innovation in Education
Awards
 

 

MIT offers several awards for excellence in education, and SHASS faculty are regularly among the recipients of these accolades. Some of the major awards are listed in the gallery below, along with recent SHASS recipients, and links to information about those for whom the awards are named.   
 

                     Levitan Award for Excellence in Teaching

                     Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award

                     James R. Killian Award and Lecture Series

                     Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellows Program     

                     Everett Moore Baker Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching    

                     Arthur C. Smith Award

                     Other Helpful Resources

   

 
 
 

About James A. and Ruth Levitan

Levitan Award for Excellence in Teaching


Recipients of the James A. ('48) and Ruth Levitan Award for Excellence in Teaching in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, are among the finest teachers at the Institute. This prize honors those instructors in our School who have demonstrated outstanding success in teaching our undergraduate and graduate students. These great educators, who are nominated by students themselves, represent the very best academic leadership in the School.


Gallery of Levitan Teaching Award Recipients
 
 
 


Harold E. Edgerton, 1903-1990

Photograph by Harold "Doc" Edgerton, courtesy of the MIT Museum
About


Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award

 

Each year the Harold E. Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award Selection Committee chooses one individual from among the junior members of the MIT faculty to be awarded the Harold E. Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award.

The award, resulting from contributions by faculty during the Leadership Campaign, was established in the fall of 1982 as a permanent tribute to Institute Professor Emeritus Harold E. Edgerton for his great and enduring support for younger faculty members over the years. The purpose of the award is to recognize exceptional distinction in teaching, research, and scholarship. T

 

Previous SHASS Recipients


2013 | Graham Jones | Anthropology
2008 | Jay Scheib | Theater Arts
2006 | David Kaiser | Science, Technology, and Society
2005 | Emma Teng | GSL, History, and WGS
1996 | Anne McCants | History
 
 

James Rhyne Killian, 1904-1988
Photograph courtesy of the MIT Museum
About

James R. Killian Award and Lecture Series

 

The James R. Killian, Jr. Faculty Achievement Award was established in the spring of 1971 as a permanent tribute to Dr. James R. Killian, Jr., former MIT president (1948–1959) and chairman of the Corporation (1959–1971). The purpose of the award is to recognize extraordinary professional achievement by MIT faculty members and to communicate their accomplishments to members of the Institute community. The recipient of the Killian Award holds the title of Killian Award Lecturer for the following academic year and presents, during that time, one or more lectures to the MIT community on his or her own professional activities.
 

Previous SHASS Recipients

 

2019 | Susan Silbey | Anthropology
2008 | John Dower | History
2004 | Peter Diamond | Economics
1999 | Pauline Maier | History
1995 | John Harbison | Music
1992 | Noam Chomsky | Linguistics
 

Lecture Archive


Margaret L.A. MacVicar, 1943-1991
Photocredit: Georgia Litwack
About

Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellows Program 

 

The MacVicar Faculty Fellows Program recognizes MIT faculty who have made exemplary and sustained contributions to the teaching and education of undergraduates at the Institute. Together the Fellows form a small academy of scholars committed to exceptional instruction and innovation in education.

The Program is named to honor the life and contributions of the late Margaret MacVicar, Professor of Physical Science and Dean for Undergraduate Education.

New MacVicar Faculty Fellows are selected annually and honored at MacVicar Day events each March. MacVicar Day also features a program focused on undergraduate education, which is open to the entire MIT community.
 

Current SHASS Fellows
 

2023 | Marah Gubar | Literature

2020 | Mary Fuller | Literature
2019 | Graham Jones | Anthropology
2019 | T.L. Taylor | Media Studies
2018 | David Autor | Economics
2018 | Christopher Capozzola | History
2018 | Shankar Raman | Literature 
2018 | Merritt Roe Smith | Science, Technology, and Society
2017 | Caspar Hare | Philosophy
2016 | Patricia Tang | Music and Theater Arts
2015 | Arthur Bahr | Literature
2014 | Heather Paxson | Anthropology
2013 | Emma Teng | GSL, History, and WGS
2012 | William Broadhead | History
2012 | David Kaiser | Science, Technology, and Society
2012 | Nancy Lin Rose | Economics
2010 | Norvin Richards | Linguistics
2009 | Diana Henderson | Literature
2009 | David Jones | Science, Technology, and Society
2008 | Stephen Tapscott | Literature
2007 | Jonathan Gruber | Economics
2005 | Ruth Perry | Literature
2005 | David Pesetsky | Linguistics and Philosophy
 

Former Fellows | Nominations
 

 

Everett Moore Baker, 1901-1950
About

Everett Moore Baker Award for Excellence
in Undergraduate Teaching 

 

The Everett Moore Baker Foundation serves to perpetuate the memory and ideals of Everett Moore Baker, Dean of Students from 1947 to 1950. In continuing his pursuit to improve student life, the Foundation recognizes a faculty member each year for excellence in undergraduate teaching. The Baker Teaching Award is presented at the annual Awards Convocation. 

The Everett Moore Baker Memorial Foundation reviews nominations from undergraduates. This is the only institute-wide teaching award selected and awarded solely by students.
 

Past SHASS Winners
 

2008 | Heather Paxson | Anthropology
2005 | Diana Henderson | Literature
1996 | Janet Sonenberg | Theater Arts
1995 | Elena Ruehr | Music
1991 | Margery Resnick | Literature and GSL
 

Nominations

 
 

Arthur C. Smith, 1929-2010
About

Arthur C. Smith Award

 

The Arthur C. Smith Award was established in 1996 on the occasion of Dean Smith’s retirement from the position of Dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Affairs. The award honors his service and is presented to a member of the MIT faculty for meaningful contributions and devotion to undergraduate student life and learning at MIT.
 

Past SHASS Winners

 

2014 | Anne McCants | History
2009 | Charles Stewart | Political Science
 

Nominations

 

 

 
 

 

Other Helpful Resources

 

The Office of Educational Innovation and Technology works with faculty, staff and students to enable and promote the development and dissemination of innovative uses of technology in teaching and learning.

Office of Educational Innovation and Technology