- Saturday, June 21, 2025
MIT names Prof Anantha Chandrakasan as its new provost, making him the first Indian-American to hold the prestigious post. Known for academic innovation, he aims to drive MIT’s global leadership in AI, quantum tech, and interdisciplinary research.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has named Professor Anantha Chandrakasan as its next provost, making him the first Indian-American to hold this prestigious academic leadership position. The announcement was made on June 16, 2025, with Chandrakasan set to assume his new role on July 1, 2025. He succeeds Cynthia Barnhart, who announced her decision to step down earlier this year.
The Role of the Provost
As provost, Chandrakasan will serve as MIT’s chief academic and budget officer. This role encompasses oversight of all educational programming, faculty affairs, financial strategy, and institutional planning. He will be responsible for establishing academic priorities, managing financial planning and research support, and overseeing MIT’s international engagements.
The provost also leads a team of vice provosts responsible for the arts, campus space management, faculty recruitment and promotion, international activities, and Open Learning.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth praised the appointment, stating, “Anantha brings to this post an exceptional record of shaping and leading important innovations for the Institute. We will be able to draw on Anantha’s depth and breadth of experience; his nimbleness, entrepreneurial spirit and boundless energy; his remarkable record in raising funds from outside sources for important ideas; and his profound commitment to MIT’s mission”.
Career of Research, Leadership, and Innovation
Chennai-born Chandrakasan has been a faculty member at MIT since 1994. He led the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)—MIT’s largest academic department—for six years before being named dean of the School of Engineering in 2017. In 2024, he became MIT’s inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer, tasked with advancing new research, education, and innovation initiatives.
During his tenure as dean, Chandrakasan played a pivotal role in launching major interdisciplinary programs such as the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium. He also spearheaded cross-disciplinary ventures like the MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium and the MIT Human Insight Collaborative. His research in energy-efficient circuits is widely recognized, and he has mentored 78 PhD students.
Vision for MIT’s Future
Reflecting on his new role, Chandrakasan emphasized his commitment to inclusive leadership and strategic collaboration, “I feel deeply honored to take on the role of provost. Looking ahead, I see myself as a key facilitator, enabling faculty, students, postdocs, and staff to continue making extraordinary contributions to the nation and the world”.
He outlined three core priorities for his tenure: understanding institutional needs and strategic financial planning, attracting and retaining top talent, and supporting cross-cutting research, education, and entrepreneurship programming.
“Recognizing that each school and other academic units operate within a unique context, I plan to engage deeply with their leaders to understand their challenges and aspirations. This will help me refine and set the priorities for the Office of the Provost,” Chandrakasan said.
Chandrakasan also highlighted MIT’s opportunity to lead in emerging fields, “there is a tremendous opportunity for MIT to be at the center of the innovations in areas where the United States wants to lead. It’s about AI. It’s about semiconductors. It’s about quantum, the biosecurity and biomanufacturing space — but not only that,” he said.
Recognition and Broader Impact
The Indian Consulate General in New York congratulated Chandrakasan on his appointment, noting:
“A distinguished academic and leader, Prof Chandrakasan has remained a strong advocate of India-USA technological & R&D collaboration; has been working with various Indian government and private sector stakeholders towards this objective. We wish him all success in this important responsibility”.
Chandrakasan holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering and computer sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. His work has been cited over 120,000 times, and he has launched initiatives like the Advanced Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (SuperUROP) and the Rising Stars Programme to support undergraduates and women postdoctoral researchers in engineering.
As MIT’s first Indian-American provost, Prof Anantha Chandrakasan brings a legacy of research excellence, visionary leadership, and a commitment to fostering innovation and inclusion. His appointment marks a significant milestone for MIT and sets the stage for a new era of academic and technological leadership
