History, Volunteerism on Display at ALC 2012

More than 400 Institute volunteers returned to campus on Friday, Sept. 21, for the 2012 Alumni Leadership Conference, a weekend of networking, celebration, and MIT history.

The conference was highlighted by the inauguration of L. Rafael Reif as MIT's 17^th president—the first time an inaugural ceremony coincided with ALC. The ceremony included an address from Harvard President Drew Faust—who presented Reif with a framed photograph of Harvard Yard's John Harvard statue decorated in MIT apparel—and musical performances from Institute Professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison, the Institute’s Rambax drumming ensemble, the student a cappella group the Chorallaries, and the MIT Ceremonial Brass.

During his address, Reif stressed that MIT is embracing the oncoming dramatic changes in higher education, and that the Institute is working to make learning more widely available throughout the globe—citing the edX online platform—and developing more effective means of on-campus learning. [ Watch the inaugural address.]

ALC-related activities commenced with the two-part "Inaugural Celebration Symposium: The Future of Education." Held in the near-capacity Kresge Auditorium, the symposium discussed recent changes in higher education and how MIT is adapting its teaching approaches towards the millennial generation of students. Speakers included:

• Professor Anant Agarwal, edX president,who discussed the role of instant feedback in online learning, calling it a "game-changer."
• Association Professor Eric Klopfer, who introduced the idea of incorporating gaming principles into online learning and described learning-through-gaming as "hard fun."
• Professor Catherine L. Drennan, who presented interactive learning methods that have encouraged classroom engagement in women.
• D-Lab founder Amy B. Smith, who shared real-world research from recent D-Lab students that blend technology and international development. [Watch the Symposium webcast.]

Day two of ALC featured updates from Alumni Association leadership—including a 2011-2012 annual report video—and graduate student panel moderated by Dean Christine Ortiz. The panel described their journey to MIT, the graduate student experience, current research, and future professional goals.

Attendees partook in specialized events and networking socials throughout the weekend, including reunion committee training and an educational counselor workshop. Sessions included "Maximizing Your MIT Network Capital," "An Interview is Worth a Thousand Words," and a finances and fundraising update from Institute administration.

The conference closed with the annual Leadership Awards Celebration, where the Association honored 20 individuals and six groups—including Bronze Beaver Award winners Douglas G. Bailey '72, SM '74, ME '75, Charles W. Johnson BE '55, and Philip C. Kwok '61—for their outstanding volunteer service.