Chennai-Born Professor Anantha Chandrakasan Appointed MIT's First Indian-American Provost
Professor Anantha Chandrakasan, currently MIT's chief innovation and strategy officer and Dean of Engineering, has been appointed as the new Provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, effective July 1. The Chennai-born academic will be the first Indian-American to hold this key leadership position, overseeing the institute's academic and budget affairs, faculty, educational enterprise, and strategic planning. His appointment is seen as crucial during a challenging period for higher education and global talent.
Unpacked:
Professor Chandrakasan served as Dean of MIT’s School of Engineering since 2017 and was MIT’s inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer. He has chaired several major research initiatives, including the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium and the MIT AI Hardware Program, and co-chaired the MIT–IBM Watson AI Lab. He is known for successfully raising funds and driving innovation at MIT.
The MIT provost is the chief academic and budget officer, responsible for overseeing faculty affairs, educational programming, financial strategy, institutional planning, and several affiliated institutes and units. The provost leads a team of vice provosts handling the arts, campus space management, international activities, and Open Learning.
Chandrakasan’s appointment is seen as significant because higher education faces challenges such as global talent competition, evolving research priorities, financial pressures, and the need for institutional innovation. His expertise in strategic planning, innovation, and fundraising is expected to help MIT navigate these complexities and maintain its leadership position.
Professor Chandrakasan succeeded Cynthia Barnhart, who announced her decision to step down as MIT’s provost in February 2025. The transition created an opportunity for a new leader to guide MIT’s academic and strategic direction.