|
|
|
|
Saturday September 27, 2025
Noon to 2PM
Location TBA and Online
REGISTER
The BAMIT Annual Meeting will include discussion of current topics affecting Black students at the Institute as well as a brief overview of current successes and future plans. Register so we know you are coming whether online or in person.
The Annual Meeting is held during the MIT Alumni Association Alumni Leadership Conference (ALC), beginning on Friday September 26th. It is a weekend packed with volunteer training and engagement opportunities. The MITAA staff works with alumni volunteers to make each of these training sessions unique, relevant and engaging. The Leadership Awards Celebration is held on Friday evening where several Black alumni will be receiving awards. Click here to get more details and to register for ALC.
Note: For those of you on Campus for the Chocolate City 50th Reunion, we hope you plan to attend the BAMIT Annual Meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday August 17 - 30, 2025
BLACK ALUMS OF MIT HAVE IMPACTED LIVES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS
You have either been the recipient of BAMIT’s successes or the avenue of such. With your support and engagement, some of the accomplishments this year were:
- Providing guidance and financial contributions to our students to plan events and activities and hosted Family Meetings, for them to voice their needs and concerns.
- Celebrating their achievements at the Black Graduate Celebration and gifting them Kente stoles for graduation.
- Expanding the MIT Gospel Choir, helping build student membership and community through workshops.
We are not finished yet!
The current national climate reminds us that our success requires continual diligence, commitment, awareness, persistence, and financial support. If we forget, we are forgotten.
As we begin our 2025 Fundraising Campaign to raise $30,000, we ask you for only 2 things:
-
DONATE $250 but any amount would be appreciated
-
ASK other Black Alums to donate
We value your time and want you to be successful. Your asking is structured to ensure it’s manageable and offers you success:
-
A minimum of 3 hours at your convenience, which includes:
-
30 minutes for training and selecting donors to connect with. (We’ll provide you with scripts, contact details, and everything you need to feel confident)
-
2 hours of reaching out to potential donors via calls and emails
-
30 minutes to report your results and celebrate your contributions
Please respond by replying to [email protected] with your availability between August 17th and August 30th.
Let’s make this campaign a resounding success!
BAMIT Fundraising Committee
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday September 26 - 28, 2025
REGISTER
Come to the Chocolate City 50th Reunion and celebrate 50 years of brotherhood and service to the MIT and global community. The weekend will feature a formal gala, meaningful discussions between brothers past and present, and unforgettable moments of connection. This is a milestone you won’t want to miss — see you there!
|
|
|
BE A BAMIT MENTOR AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THOSE WAITING FOR YOU!!!
Shape the Future: Become a Virtual Mentor for Our MIT Undergraduates
As a BAMIT Alum, you know the transformative power of guidance, encouragement, and expertise. Now, we invite you to share your experience and insight with the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and global leaders.
Our Virtual Mentorship Program connects undergraduate students with accomplished alumni like you—professionals who have navigated the challenges of academic study, launched careers, and forged meaningful paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and a range of related, globally impactful disciplines (e.g., education, health, management, medicine, music, etc.).
How It Works
-
Flexible Engagement - You’ll be matched with a student in your field of expertise who can reach out to you for occasional virtual consultations—at times that work for both of you.
-
Year-Round Access - Students can seek your advice throughout the year, as needs and opportunities arise.
-
Tailored Connections - If a student’s needs or interests evolve, they’ll have the option to change mentors—ensuring each match is meaningful and productive.
-
Your Commitment - There are no rigid schedules. In fact, you can determine how long, or how often, you can be accessible as a BAMIT mentor --- one semester, one year, once a month, twice a month, etc.). Your role is to offer professional perspective, academic guidance, and encouragement when it’s needed most. And your relevant experience at the ‘Tute makes it more meaningful for the student!
Why Your Voice Matters
For many students, speaking with someone who’s “been there” can open doors to new possibilities, demystify career paths, and inspire confidence. Your insight could help a young engineer land their first internship, guide a budding scientist toward a breakthrough research opportunity, encourage a future tech entrepreneur to take that bold first step, ignite the student in a career in education, or even propel the student towards that medical and/or management career path!
Joining is simple:
-
Complete the BAMIT MENTOR FORM
- Share your background (your discipline, areas of expertise, years active in your discipline, geographic location and contact information) so we can match you with a student whose goals align with your expertise.
- Begin the conversation and watch your impact grow
We’re moving to launch the BAMIT Mentor Program this Fall, 2025, and need your participation to be acknowledged and available when we meet with the students at the end of September. Please submit the BAMIT MENTOR FORM as soon as possible by September 1, 2025!
Your journey didn’t end at graduation --- it simply evolved. Now you can extend that journey by helping students chart their own paths --- with someone who cared enough to listen and guide them with wise counsel and care.
Be the BAMIT mentor you once needed. Be the BAMIT connection they can count on.
For more information, contact the BAMIT Outreach and Engagement Committee at [email protected]
|
|
|
Advancing BAMIT's Mission |
As we look to build on BAMIT's successes and further our mission, we are calling on our talented and dedicated members to step forward and consider taking a leadership role within our organization.
BAMIT will be seeking nominations to the Board of Directors for next election in the spring of 2026. The officers for the BAMIT Board are selected from the Directors and consist of the Chair, Vice Chair, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian and Clerk. The Board consists of 16 Directors; there are currently vacancies and we invite anyone interested to consider joining now.
We also invite all members to actively engage in the work of our committees. Here are the monthly meeting times for our committees, where your involvement can make a real difference:
-
Outreach & Engagement Committee: Last Monday of the Month 8pm ET
-
K-12 STEM Committee: 3rd Monday of the Month 8pm ET
-
Programming Committee: 1st Thursday of the Month 7pm ET
-
External Nominations Committee: Ad Hoc
-
Membership Committee: 1st Tuesday of the Month 6 PM ET
-
Travel Committee: 1st Tuesday of the Month 7pm ET
-
Communications Committee: 2nd Wednesday of the Month 7pm ET
-
Finance Committee: Last Thursday of the Month at 6pm ET
-
Governance Committee: 4th Thursday of the Month at 7pm ET
-
Advocacy Committee: Ad Hoc
These meetings are a great way to connect with fellow members, contribute to ongoing projects, and share your insights and expertise. Whether you are ready to lead as a Director, Committee Chair, or simply want to get involved in a specific committee, there is a place for you within BAMIT. If you are interested in becoming a Board Member, Committee Chair or attending committee meetings, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] with your availability, interest, or any questions you may have. We’d be delighted to discuss how you can play a pivotal role in advancing BAMIT’s mission.
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to BAMIT.
Together, we can achieve great things for our members and the broader community.
Warm regards.
Patrick F. Gerdes, '84
BAMIT Chair
|
|
|
BAMIT/NSBE JR. Research Superday
WE DID IT! AND IT WORKED!!!
Yes, BAMIT, we did it! The BAMIT/NSBE JR. Research Superday took place on Saturday morning, May 3, 2025, for two hours, via Zoom, and the excitement was high! For the first time in BAMIT history, our alums came face-to-face with the sharp, NSBE Jr. students – South Shore Chapter of Massachusetts, with their tough questions for BAMIT!
NSBE Jr. is the pre-collegiate initiative of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), created to inspire and support students in grades 3–12 in exploring STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
The NSBE Jr South Shore Chapter, established in 2021, has 20 members in grades 6-12. The students attend both public schools (e.g., Cambridge Rindge and Latin and Milton High School) and independent schools (e.g., Boston College High School, Milton Academy, and Beaver Country Day) across the greater Boston area. Their goal is to help students build the skills and confidence to pursue careers in engineering, technology, and related fields.
The students asked their questions and our 5 esteemed BAMIT and student Judges, Dr. Grey Batie '14, Roderick Bayliss '20, MNG '21, Dr. Stewart Isaacs SM '19, PD '24, PhD '24, Ronald Demon '99 and UROP Student, Vieyiti Kouadio '27, responded, as well as provided timely guidance and advisement along with their responses. The program concluded with other online alums “weighing in” with their appreciation for the discussion, as well as the opportunity to hear from the eager NSBE Jr. collective of students! The culmination of this Research Superday morning was the challenge to each student to submit a brief video presentation of a research topic of their choosing, to BAMIT within the following 2 weeks, to determine whose presentation would be selected for the best pitch! Later that month, we had not one, but two winners!
CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Ms. Niama Schopf-Malone, Cambridge School of Weston, 1st Prize Winner, and Ms. Simara Glemaud, Canton High School, 2nd Prize Winner! Each of them received a monetary award and congratulatory letter from BAMIT for their insightful video presentations!
Thank you, BAMIT, for your annual contributions that help to make a difference in the lives of these high school students, who are so excited that they want to do more of this with us! We’re looking forward to doing this again in 2026 and will be looking for additional judges when the time comes! BAMIT Volunteers are welcome. Will YOU be ready to serve then?
Special thanks to BAMIT Alums and others who helped make this happen: Beverly Ross Denny, Chapter Advisor and Managing Director, NSBE Jr.; Toluwanlyin Ojo-Osagie '27, Patrick Gerdes '84 , BAMIT Board Chair; Debra Carlton '75, BAMIT Program Committee
|
|
|
BAMIT Black Graduate Celebration Honors the Class of 2025 |
|
|
The Black Alumni(ae) of MIT (BAMIT) were proud to invite the entire MIT community to our annual Black Graduate Celebration, held this April to honor the achievements of the Class of 2025. We recognized the accomplishments of all graduating Black undergraduate and graduate students, joined by an audience of fellow students, newly admitted students, faculty, staff, and alumni(ae) in a powerful gathering of community and pride.
Under the theme “Rooted in Legacy, Rising with Purpose,” the celebration reflected on the resilience, brilliance, and boundless potential of our graduates. Each honoree received a hand-woven, embroidered Kente stole made in Ghana for this special occasion — a symbol of heritage, achievement, and the journey ahead.
BAMIT Board Chair Patrick Gerdes ’84 opened the program with words of inspiration, encouraging graduates to carry forward the legacy of innovation, leadership, and impact, while also lifting the voices of those yet to be heard. The evening also recognized the 2025 Ronald E. McNair Scholars, honoring the trailblazing MIT alum and astronaut’s enduring legacy.
It was an inspiring night of celebration, connection, and legacy-building — welcoming our newest alumni(ae) into the BAMIT family as they embark on the next chapter of their journey.
|
|
|
50th Annual Ebony Affair: Celebrating Five Decades of Black Excellence at MIT |
|
