Dimitris Bertsimas, PhD ’88, has been appointed as the Vice Provost for Open Learning at MIT, effective September 1. In this pivotal position, Bertsimas, who holds the title of Boeing Leaders for Global Operations Professor of Management at MIT, will collaborate with various partners across the Institute to revolutionize the teaching and learning experience both on and off campus.
This notable appointment was announced today via email by Provost Cynthia Barnhart to the MIT community.
“Dimitris will be instrumental as the Vice Provost for Open Learning, collaborating with faculty and staff across MIT to shape the future of Open Learning,” Barnhart emphasized. “As a member of my leadership team and the Academic Council, he will closely engage with school and college deans, alongside faculty, to propel research into the science of learning, focusing on innovating, studying, and enhancing digital technologies for the benefit of our global community.”
Barnhart expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I am thrilled that Dimitris has accepted this important role within our Institute.”
Bertsimas transitions to MIT Open Learning from his role as associate dean for the Master of Business Analytics program at the MIT Sloan School of Management. A faculty member since 1988, following his PhD in operations research and applied mathematics from MIT, Bertsimas specializes in optimization and machine learning and their far-reaching applications in fields such as healthcare and medicine. Additionally, he launched MIT’s MBA program and has successfully led it as the inaugural faculty director since 2013, with the program consistently recognized as the world leader in analytics each year since its inception. His passion for teaching, research, and entrepreneurship aligns him perfectly with the mission of MIT Open Learning, where he developed 15.071 (The Analytics Edge), a course available on MITx that has attracted hundreds of thousands of learners since 2013.
In his new capacity, Bertsimas will oversee a wide array of MIT Open Learning products—including OpenCourseWare, MITx courses, MicroMasters programs, xPRO courses, MIT Horizon, Jameel World Education Lab, and MIT pK-12, among others—as well as the operational, financial, and infrastructural aspects of Open Learning.
“I am eager to lead Open Learning and to further its mission,” expressed Bertsimas. “I have a keen interest in introducing students of all ages and backgrounds—from science and engineering to humanities and arts—to the transformative potential of AI and its applications across various fields.”
A distinguished member of the National Academy of Engineering and recipient of numerous research and teaching accolades, including the prestigious John von Neumann Theory Prize from INFORMS, Bertsimas recognizes MIT Open Learning as integral to the Institute’s overarching mission.
Bertsimas replaces Eric Grimson, PhD ’80, who served as the interim vice president for open learning for two years. Grimson, a professor of Medical Engineering and Computer Science, will continue his contributions to MIT as Chancellor for Academic Advancement.
Grimson’s involvement with Open Learning dates back to 2012, when he co-taught some of the earliest courses on MITx, including two of the platform’s most popular offerings: 6.00.1x (Introduction to Computer Science and Programming in Python) and 6.00.2x (Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science).
During his tenure as interim vice president for open learning, Grimson expanded outreach efforts to MIT’s school councils, providing valuable resources to faculty interested in utilizing Open Learning offerings. He also spearheaded research exploring AI’s influence on education, including the development of AI-based tutoring solutions for introductory online courses. Furthermore, he oversaw the advancement of MITx Online, a platform dedicated to delivering MITx‘s digital courses, and the upcoming development of a unified portal for global access to MIT’s online educational content.
“When former MIT President Rafael Reif launched Open Learning, his goals were to educate millions worldwide, transform campus teaching methods, and leverage findings from educational research to innovate our teaching strategies,” shared Grimson. “I endorse that vision and have taken pride in being part of Open Learning as it seeks to revolutionize education, both within MIT and beyond. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness MIT’s global impact by providing easy access to exceptional educational experiences.”
Bertsimas’s appointment follows an internal search that commenced in January, led by Duane Boning, the Clarence J. LeBel Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The advisory group gathered insights from current and past leaders of Open Learning, faculty advisory committees, MIT deans, and other leaders in online education from various universities.
“Dimitris is a remarkable leader with an exceptional background and unwavering commitment to MIT. He is poised to achieve significant progress on behalf of Open Learning and the wider MIT community during this exciting time, as learning technologies rapidly evolve and present tremendous educational opportunities,” said Boning.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Euronews
