The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has announced the election of 10 term members and 2 life members to its Corporation board, bringing in expertise across technology, healthcare, aerospace, and finance to guide the institution's strategic direction.
The MIT Corporation, the Institute's board of trustees, has announced the election of 10 new term members who will each serve five-year terms, along with two new life members. Corporation Chair Mark P. Gorenberg '76 revealed the election results, with the new members joining as of July 1, 2026. This expansion of MIT's governing board brings together distinguished leaders from diverse sectors including technology, healthcare, aerospace, finance, and biotechnology.
"The MIT Corporation plays a crucial role in guiding the Institute's strategic direction and ensuring MIT continues to advance knowledge and educate students in service to the nation and the world," said Gorenberg, who was also re-elected as Corporation chair. "These new members bring exceptional expertise and perspectives that will be invaluable as MIT addresses the complex challenges facing higher education and society."
The new term members represent a blend of MIT alumni with deep institutional connections and industry leaders who bring external perspectives. Among the new term members is Kate A. Bergeron '93, MBA '13, vice president of hardware engineering at Apple, Inc. Bergeron joined Apple in 2002 as a senior mechanical engineer and has risen to lead the company's hardware engineering division since 2014. Her experience in product design and development, combined with her MIT background through co-developing the MIT D-Lab: Design for Scale course, positions her to bridge academic research and industrial application.
"The election of these individuals reflects MIT's commitment to maintaining strong connections between academia and industry," said David L. Fung '85, who will join the Corporation as an ex officio member representing the Association of Alumni and Alumnae of MIT. "As we face increasingly complex global challenges, the Institute benefits from leaders who understand both the theoretical frameworks developed at MIT and their practical implementation in the real world."
The new members include several figures with significant experience in emerging technology fields. Elizabeth Choe '13, PhD '25, director of AI strategy for translational medicine at AstraZeneca, brings expertise in biomedical deep-learning models for cancer drug development. Her background includes work at MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, demonstrating the continued connection between MIT research and industry application.
Similarly, Alex Morcos '97, '98, MEng '98, co-founder of Chaincode Labs, represents the growing intersection of academia and cryptocurrency/blockchain technology. Morcos co-founded Hudson River Trading in 2002 and later Chaincode Labs, a research and development center for Bitcoin with a focus on open-source software and education. His recent work with Fulcrum Science, applying AI to accelerate scientific research, further illustrates the potential for technology to bridge academic and industry domains.
The healthcare sector is strongly represented among the new members. Kevin B. Churchwell '83, CEO of Boston Children's Hospital, brings extensive experience in healthcare leadership and transformation. Pearl S. Huang '80, CEO and president of Dunad Therapeutics, Inc., offers deep expertise in biotech and pharmaceutical industries, having held leadership positions at Roche, GSK, Merck, and Beigene. Eran Broshy '79, former CEO and chair of Syneos Health, was elected as a life member, bringing over 35 years of experience building high-growth healthcare businesses.
The aerospace and technology sectors are represented by Steve Isakowitz '83, SM '84, former CEO and president of the Aerospace Corporation, and Pamela Melroy SM '84, president and managing partner of Melroy and Hollett Technology Partners. Isakowitz has worked across the public and private sectors to advance U.S. leadership in space, while Melroy brings experience as a NASA astronaut, shuttle mission commander, and former deputy administrator of NASA.
The financial sector is represented by Bennett W. Golub '79, SM '82, PhD '84, co-founder and senior advisor at BlackRock, who was one of the original eight people to start the global asset management company. Adrianna C. Ma '95, MEng '96, operating partner at Index Ventures, brings extensive experience in venture capital and technology investments, having previously held leadership positions at General Atlantic and Fremont Group.
Ray A. Rothrock SM '78, partner emeritus at Venrock, was elected as a life member. A venture capitalist focusing on information technology, cybersecurity, and energy, Rothrock has been an advocate for clean energy technologies and served as chair of the National Venture Capital Association.
As of July 1, 2026, the Corporation will consist of 75 distinguished leaders in education, science, engineering, and industry. Of those, 22 are life members and eight are ex officio, with an additional 33 individuals serving as life members emeritus.
"The composition of this board reflects MIT's commitment to maintaining excellence across all its disciplines while adapting to emerging fields and societal needs," said MIT President Sally Kornbluth. "The diverse expertise of these members will help guide MIT's strategic priorities, from advancing artificial intelligence and biotechnology to addressing climate change and improving healthcare outcomes."
The election of these new members comes at a time when higher education institutions are facing significant challenges, including adapting to rapid technological change, addressing issues of accessibility and affordability, and maintaining research excellence in an increasingly competitive environment. The MIT Corporation's role in providing governance and strategic direction has never been more critical.
The backgrounds of the new members suggest several potential focus areas for MIT in the coming years. The strong representation from healthcare and biotechnology may indicate increased emphasis on biomedical research and the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications. The presence of AI experts like Choe and Morcos could signal continued investment in artificial intelligence research and education.
Additionally, the election of multiple figures with experience in entrepreneurship and venture capital like Ma, Morcos, and Rothrock may indicate a continued emphasis on supporting innovation and technology transfer from MIT labs to the marketplace. This aligns with MIT's long-standing commitment to entrepreneurship and its impact on economic development.
The MIT Corporation meets regularly to review the Institute's operations, approve major initiatives, and ensure MIT fulfills its mission. The addition of these new members brings fresh perspectives while maintaining the board's deep commitment to MIT's values and traditions.
For more information about the MIT Corporation and its members, visit the official MIT Corporation page. Additional information about MIT's governance structure is available in the MIT Policies and Procedures.
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