Karl Reid (SB '84, SM) has been named executive director of special programs for the School of Engineering. He will direct the Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) and the Engineering Internship Program (EIP).
The MITES program (see http://web.mit.edu/mites/www/) is a rigorous, six-week residential summer course that introduces promising underrepresented minority high school juniors to careers in engineering, science and entrepreneurship.
EIP (see http://web.mit.edu/eip/www/) combines traditional on-campus academic programs with off-campus work experience in industry and government and leads to simultaneous bachelor of science and master of science degrees in participating engineering departments.
Both programs have been in place for more than 20 years.
"I am thrilled and humbled about returning to my alma mater to continue the legacy of MITES and EIP," Mr. Reid said. "This position gives me a unique chance to broaden the educational opportunities for both talented high school students and undergraduate MIT students seeking to augment their theoretical education with practical industry experience. I attribute my success in industry and at MIT largely to programs like these."
Mr. Reid, whose degrees are in materials science and engineering and electronic materials, spent 12 years in systems engineering, systems consulting and product management at IBM and Programart Corp. in Boston. Most recently, he was product director for data warehousing for Software AG Americas, based in Reston, VA, and Frankfurt, Germany.
"Karl brings valuable MIT and industry experiences that will infuse these programs with the leadership necessary to take them to new levels of excellence and effectiveness for talented high school and MIT students," said Dean of the School of Engineering Robert Brown.
Mr. Reid took over from Laura Robinson (SB '80), who is now associate director of development at the Management of Technology Program at the Sloan School.
While a student at MIT, Mr. Reid served as both vice chairman of the MIT chapter and national chair of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). He founded and directed the NSBE High School Ambassador Program, which exposes Boston-area students to careers in engineering. He was co-founder of the Black Christian Fellowship, a member of the MIT Gospel Choir and co-chair of his living group. Mr. Reid also received the Karl Taylor Compton Award and was appointed to the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on April 8, 1998.
