SEPTEMBER 2024

FROM THE BSU

Affirmative Action and Admissions Town Hall

September 23, 2024

6 PM ET

MIT 10-250 or Zoom

REGISTER

I would like to invite you all to a town hall meeting hosted by Black Students' Union and Black Graduates' Students Association in collaboration with LCC, LGSA, NAIA, AISES, and IS4J about affirmative action, the admissions process, and the class of 2028 demographics.

Panelists:

  • Melissa Nobles, Chancellor and Professor of Political Science
  • Stu Schmill, Dean of Admissions and Financial Services
  • Dan Hastings, Interim Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education and Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Suzy Nelson, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Student Life
  • Karl Reid, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
  • Chris Peterson ("Petey"), Admissions Officer

There will also be an open discussion portion for members of the audience to raise questions or concerns.

If any of you are in the Boston area, your presence would be greatly appreciated.

Food will be provided. Click here to register to let us know you are coming or to receive the Zoom link.

Thank you.

Jade Personna '26, BSU Political Action Chair

EVENTS

Fundraising Campaign

We have met our $30,000 goal.

We appreciate those who have risen to the cause.

We thank you for your support to continue making an impact in the community and beyond.

To learn more about BAMIT and our recent activities, download the pdf:

BAMIT Overview 2024

DONATE NOW

BAMIT Annual Meeting During ALC

September 28, 2024

11:30 AM- 1:15 PM ET

MIT Campus or Virtually

The BAMIT Annual Meeting this year will be held in person with an option to participate virtually during the Alumni Leadership Conference (ALC). You will need to register to receive the Zoom link to participate virtually, and to receive details of the in-person option. 

At the BAMIT Annual Meeting, in addition to the installation of Board Officers, we will present the summary of this year's accomplishments and plans for next year. We will also discuss the decrease in 2024 Black student enrollment as well as the proposed changes to OME.

Join the BAMIT Board and other fellow Black Alums for dinner, Saturday evening, September 28 at 6 PM, location TBA. Each guest will be responsible for the cost of their meal and beverages.

The BAMIT Annual Meeting is open to all MIT alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Register here for the BAMIT Annual Meeting and the BAMIT Dinner so we know to expect you. Please indicate whether you will be joining us for dinner when you register.

If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting but would like to join us for dinner only, register here for the BAMIT Dinner Only.

Note that registering for the BAMIT Annual Meeting does not mean you are registered for the Alumni Leadership Conference. If you want to register for ALC, you will need to register separately.

Class of 1975 50th Reunion

June 2025

Next year the Class of 1975 will be celebrating 50 years since we graduated from the Institute. Time to celebrate and lead the march at commencement in our Red Jackets!

We are planning a dinner as part of our celebration. If you have any ideas or thoughts of what you would like to occur or if you would like to help plan, please let us know.

Stay tuned for a meeting in late October where we will meet to catch up and share the plans for the Tech Reunion weekend.

Debra Carlton [email protected]

Rosita Parker [email protected]

CELEBRATING OUR BAMIT COMMUNITY

Alumni Association Leadership

Willard Stanback ’85

Enoch Ellis ’26

Meet the new alumni leadership. Representing nearly 149,000 living MIT alumni, the MIT Alumni Association Board of Directors guides the work of the Alumni Association and operates within the larger policies put forth by MIT. Joining the leadership are Willard Stanback '85 former BAMIT Director and Enoch Ellis '26 President of the Undergraduate Association. Read more here.

Author, Bruke Kifle

Bruke Kifle '19, MNG '20 recently coauthored and published a book on Artificial Intelligence, now available through MIT Press.

While most books on artificial intelligence (AI) focus on a single functional building block, such as machine learning or human-machine teaming. Artificial Intelligence takes a more holistic approach, addressing AI from the view of systems engineering. The book centers on the people-process-technology triad that is critical to the successful development of AI products and services. It is available on Amazon here.

BAMIT TRAVEL PROGRAM

Ghana 2024

Exploring Ghana: A Journey of Culture, Collaboration, and Cross-Cultural Connections

This summer, a group of 14 MIT alumni and their guests embarked on a transformative 12-day journey to Ghana. The trip was more than just a cultural immersion—it was an opportunity to foster cross-cultural understanding, explore potential collaborations, and gain valuable insights that could enhance organizational strategies.

A Cultural and Educational Exploration

Our journey began in the bustling capital of Accra, where we dove headfirst into the vibrant culture and history of Ghana. Visits to iconic landmarks like the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum, the Presidential Palace, and the Kwame Nkrumah National Park and Mausoleum offered deep insights into the country’s rich heritage and the legacy of its leaders.

Engagement with educational institutions was a central focus of our trip. We visited local schools, conversed with students and administrators, and gained a profound understanding of Ghana’s educational landscape. These interactions laid the groundwork for potential partnerships and collaborations, particularly with Ghanaian MIT alumni eager to form a local BAMIT (Black Alumni of MIT) chapter.

Building Bridges and Memories

Throughout the trip, we had the privilege of networking with MIT alumni in the African diaspora, creating lasting memories while bridging cultural gaps. One of the most poignant moments was our visit to the Cape Coast, where we toured the historic Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle.

These fortresses, which once held enslaved people in dungeons before their forced journey across the Atlantic, served as powerful reminders of our shared history. A visit to the Assin Manso River, where enslaved people took their last “bath” before marching to Cape Coast, added an emotional depth to our experience.

Immersed in Tradition and Nature

Our journey took us beyond the cities and into the heart of Ghanaian tradition. In the city of Kumasi, we toured the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, renowned for its cutting-edge research and academic excellence.

One of the trip’s highlights was a traditional naming ceremony in the village of Bonwire, famed for its Kente cloth weaving. Here, each of us received an African name, symbolizing our connection to the land and its people. We also embarked on a hike to a breathtaking waterfall, experiencing Ghana’s natural beauty up close.

Our adventure concluded at the serene Zaina Lodge, where we visited a local Muslim village and embarked on a safari. These final days were a fitting end to a trip filled with discovery, reflection, and the forging of new relationships.

A Future of Collaboration and Connection

The Ghana trip was a resounding success, achieving its primary objectives of fostering cross-cultural understanding, identifying collaboration opportunities, and enhancing organizational strategies. The connections made and the experiences shared will undoubtedly enrich BAMIT members and their guests, paving the way for future initiatives that bridge cultures and build lasting partnerships. As we look to the future, the formation of a Ghana BAMIT chapter seems not only possible but inevitable, fueled by the enthusiasm and commitment of the alumni we met along the way.

South Africa 2025

After our two Ghana trips, we are headed to South Africa - July 5, 2025 - July 20, 2025.

We will tour Cape Town and Johannesburg with visits to Robben Island, the Apartheid Museum, and safari game drives at Kruger National Park. The trip will include township experiences covering traditional and modern culture and local markets and shops. We will also network with South African Alumni and meet with Black-owned and minority businesses as well as engage with students and faculty in secondary schools and universities. The trip concludes with a visit to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

For questions, contact: Holly Carter PhD '77

IN MEMORIAM

We are sad to announce the passing of Dr. Alisa-Lynette (Zenzele Maru) Colbert-Bowman.

Dr. Colbert has served as a valuable member of the BAMIT K12 STEM committee since 2020, helping to form important connections to local science fairs and NSBE. She was a distinguished engineer, educator, performer, and activist whose contributions left an indelible mark on both her field and the communities she served.

She graduated as the valedictorian of Cass Technical High School before pursuing higher education at Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology earning her undergraduate, master's and Ph.D. respectively. Her career in chemical, environmental, and materials engineering was marked by her leadership in research and her dedication to advancing STEM education and social justice. She led research teams at universities in the U.S. and internationally, including Australia, Canada, the UK, China, and Africa. Her passion for addressing educational inequalities led her to create and support STEAM initiatives in four U.S. cities and three countries in Africa.

Dr. Colbert's work extended beyond academia, impacting countless lives through her advocacy and commitment to educational equity.

Dr. Colbert was also known for her poetry, receiving numerous awards, and having her work featured in the Mass Poetry Walk of Poetry in Boston in 2023. An active member of organizations such as the NAACP, MIT Solve, MASS Poetry, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, AWIS, NSBE, SWE, and AMS, she was deeply involved in her church community and performed with the Boston Pops Choir.

Dr. Colbert’s legacy of excellence, compassion, and advocacy will continue to inspire and uplift those she touched.

GROWING BAMIT

Volunteer for BAMIT

Help assist BAMIT's mission to support the professional and personal development of the Black community at MIT and amplify the voice of all Black alumni who are committed to leadership, innovation, and positive social transformation. Please let us know where you would like to become more involved by providing the information below. We welcome your ideas, energy, and collaboration.

Review the list of currently available BAMIT volunteer opportunities via the link below or proceed directly to complete the survey.

Volunteer Opportunities Descriptions

BAMIT Volunteer Signup

COMMUNITY READS

Hope, optimism, and inspiration abound in Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. In her inspiring, intimate memoir, the first Black woman to ever be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States chronicles her extraordinary life story.

With this unflinching account, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson invites readers into her life and world, tracing her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation.

Order from your local Black-owned bookstore (the source of this list is the African American Literature Book Club AALBC.com) or you can go here for more information.

Have news about you or another Black Alum? We'd like to hear from you. We welcome items about our Alumni to publish in the BAMIT newsletter. Contact us at [email protected].