Celebrating MIT’s Volunteer Leaders

Edie is a role model, skilled leader, and a tremendous advocate for the Institute and its community. As an MIT undergraduate, she joined the varsity fencing team and the MIT Sailing Club, and developed a growing curiosity and life-long interest in political science that carried into her volunteerism. In 1992, she became a member of the Corporation Visiting Committee for Political Science and was subsequently elected to the MIT Corporation, which she became a life member of in 2003 and a life member emeritus in 2020. Edie chaired the Visiting Committee for Political Science for twelve years, and Corporation Visiting Committee for Linguistics and Philosophy for ten years . She also served as a member of the Visiting Committee for Political Science, the Visiting Committee for the Dean for Undergraduate Education, The Visiting Committee for the Libraries and the Visiting Committee for Chemistry. This unique breadth and depth of service to the Corporation and its visiting committees, and commitment to enriching the MIT community, distinguish her as an exceptional volunteer and representative for the Institute.

Charlene has been a dedicated and effective volunteer and an excellent advocate for MIT for many years. After becoming a member of her reunion gift committee, she went on to serve the Corporation Development Committee for nearly 20 years now. She was also a member of the Annual Fund Board from 2004 to 2007 and subsequently sat on reunion gift committees. Her service, still today, on the Visiting Committee for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science dates back to 1998. She chairs that committee today She was later asked to join the Corporation Nominating Committee, where as chair in 2013 she provided insight and nominated other female members. In 2013, she became a life member of the Corporation. She served on the Association’s Board of Directors and became president in 2020, leading in a most difficult year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Charlene’s sustained volunteer excellence and combination of strategic thinking, genuine desire to support the Institute, and steady humble services distinguishes her from her peers.

Over the past 45 years, Ted has thrived in numerous volunteer roles, through service to his class, the MIT Clubs of Boston and Palm Beach, the Educational Council, and as chair emeritus of the Cardinal & Gray Society (C&G Society) from 2009 to 2019. Under Ted’s leadership, C&G Society outreach expanded across the country, and his expertise led to the development of successful programming that continues to attract robust crowds today. As a long-time member of his class reunion committees and chair for the all-important 50th reunion, he has advocated for combining tradition with innovation while accommodating traditional class activities.He formed a collaborative relationship with the Alumni Association to strengthen marketing and outreach efforts to his classmates, which led to record-breaking individual event attendance for the MIT Class of 1956. As a leader in the MIT Club of Palm Beach, he continues to develop strong and popular programming. He is a long-time educational counselor who truly enjoys being part of and welcoming others into the MIT community, epitomizing all that the Bronze Beaver represents.