Anantha P. Chandrakasan, MIT’s Provost, has been selected for the Committed to Caring program, recognizing his exceptional mentorship of graduate students and his impact on the next generation of innovators.
Anantha P. Chandrakasan, the Provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has been honored with a selection to the institute’s Committed to Caring (C2C) program. This initiative recognizes outstanding mentorship among faculty members, particularly in nurturing resilience, curiosity, and compassion in graduate students.
In an era marked by rapid advancements, from artificial intelligence breakthroughs to evolving global research landscapes, the C2C program highlights professors who make a significant impact on students’ academic and personal journeys. The latest cohort of honorees exemplifies these values, showcasing the profound influence that dedicated faculty can have on the next generation of innovators.
Since its inception in 2014, the C2C program has been a student-driven initiative celebrating exceptional mentorship. This year, 18 MIT professors have been awarded the C2C honor for the 2025-27 cycle, joining nearly 100 previous recipients. The nomination process places students at the forefront, inviting them to submit letters recognizing faculty members whose mentorship has left a lasting impression on their lives.
A selection committee, comprised of both graduate students and staff, reviews these nominations to identify those who have significantly strengthened the graduate community at MIT.
Chandrakasan, an Indian American, previously served as the Dean of MIT’s School of Engineering from July 2017 to June 2025 and held the position of the Institute’s inaugural Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer from January 2024 to June 2025. As Provost, he acts as the chief academic and budget officer for the Institute, overseeing the MIT Office of Innovation and Strategy (OIS).
In addition to his role as Provost, Chandrakasan leads MIT HEALS and MGAIC and co-chairs MITHIC. He is also involved with the MIT-GE Vernova Energy and Climate Alliance, serving as co-chair. Furthermore, he is the Senior Executive Advisor to the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium (MCSC) and co-chairs the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab and the Tata-MIT Alliance, both of which he founded.
Chandrakasan’s academic journey began at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1989, followed by a master’s in 1990 and a doctoral degree in 1994, all in electrical engineering and computer sciences. He joined the MIT faculty in September 1994 and served as the director of the MIT Microsystems Technology Laboratories from July 2006 to June 2011. From July 2011 to June 2017, he was head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS).
During his tenure as dean, Chandrakasan implemented various interdisciplinary programs, creating innovative models for collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate research. As MIT’s first Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, he worked closely with stakeholders across the Institute and external partners to launch initiatives aligned with MIT’s strategic priorities. In 2025, he also took on an interim role overseeing strategy and operations for MIT’s Climate Project.
Chandrakasan has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the field, including the 2019 Solid-State Circuit Society’s Distinguished Service Award, the 2013 IEEE Donald O. Pederson Award in Solid-State Circuits, the 2009 Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) University Researcher Award, and the 2022 IEEE Mildred Dresselhaus Medal.
A fellow of the IEEE, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2015, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2019, and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 2020. Currently, he serves on the board of Natcast, a non-profit organization established to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) under the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Chandrakasan’s selection for the Committed to Caring program underscores his commitment to fostering a supportive and innovative environment for graduate students at MIT, further solidifying his legacy as a mentor and leader in the academic community, according to MIT.