MIT Tech Connection

An MIT Alumni Association Publication

June 2024

Sheila Xu stands with her arms crossed wearing sunglasses and a flight suit that has patches of the American flag and a rocket ship. She is shown from the waist up. The fuselage of a plane is visible behind her. A red play button is overlayed at center.

Sky Is No Limit for Deaf Pilot

Sheila Xu ’14 likes to break down barriers. So, when she discovered she could get her pilot’s license, she was all in. She is now one of only about 200 deaf pilots out of the more than half a million people licensed to fly in the United States.

A man in a black T-shirt takes a selfie with Tim the Beaver. Some people are visible in the dark background.

Thousands Celebrate Tech Reunions

Tech Reunions 2024 drew more than 3,300 alumni and guests to campus to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and celebrate all things MIT.

Jeff Tedmori is shown in closeup peering between large lobster claws held in each hand.

E-Fish CEO on “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars”

Did you get a chance to see Jeff Tedmori MBA ’20 on “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars”? Learn how the founder of a seafood startup ended up on reality TV.
 

Kimberly Dinh is shown on a golf course holding a large trophy.

Engineer Makes It to US Women’s Open

An associate research scientist at Dow, Kimberly Dinh SM ’17, PhD ’20 shares how she earned a spot in one of the most prestigious tournaments in golf.

A photo illustration shows rows of wooden school desks apparently viewed through chain link fencing.

Lawyer Advocates for School, not Prison

Michele (Gershman) Scavongelli ’79 was a successful executive in her 50s when she decided to go to law school. Now she works to shut down the school-to-prison pipeline.

A photo of MIT alum Dara Norman with both hands holding a strip of material over her eyes while gazing up into the sky, with grass and a tent behind her.

At MIT, She Fell in Love with Stars

Dara Norman ’88 was at MIT when she first looked into a telescope and saw Jupiter. Quickly hooked on astronomy, she now shares her love of the field with others.

An assortment of apparent Polaroid photos shows, from left, a document with the words "Pirate Certificate," a sailboat, a woman in the Muddy Charles pub, Tim the Beaver posing with two people, the Alchemist sculpture, and glassblowing. A red play button appears at center.

An MIT Bucket List

What’s one thing all students should do before they leave MIT? Learn what alums said.

Save the Date: Alumni Leadership Conference

MIT will welcome alumni volunteers, as well as those interested in volunteering, to campus September 27–28, for a rich program of training, networking, and celebration. Registration opens next month. Visit the ALC website for more information.

Support Tomorrow’s Advances Today

From AI-guided satellites to sustainable supercapacitors and more, transformative progress is happening every day at MIT. Support the hardworking students, faculty, and staff behind it all by making your gift today—before the fiscal year ends tomorrow, June 30.
 

AROUND THE INSTITUTE

About Tech Connection

Tech Connection, a monthly digest for alumni and friends of MIT published by the MIT Alumni Association, is available in HTML and online. Please email mitalum@mit.edu to subscribe.

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June 2024