Dean Deborah Fitzgerald has announced three new leaders in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: Professor Thomas Levenson now directs the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies (WHS); Professor Richard Locke is the new head of the Department of Political Science; and Professor James Paradis is the interim director of Comparative Media Studies (CMS).
Thomas Levenson, professor of writing
Director, Writing and Humanistic Studies and Graduate Program in Science Writing
A nationally acclaimed science journalist, author and documentary filmmaker, Levenson joined the WHS faculty in 2005 and has led the Graduate Program in Science Writing since 2008. He enjoys working at MIT for the access to cutting-edge research in the humanities and the sciences. “If you want to understand how stories are being told — across space, time, generations, languages — all these things are happening here,” he said.
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Richard Locke, Class of 1922 Professor of Political Science and Management
Head, Department of Political Science
Locke is an award-winning teaching innovator who pioneered the Global Entrepreneurship Laboratory. Dedicated throughout his career to social justice, Locke has a history of finding new ways to confront big issues. "The school's political science department is one of the country's best” said Locke, who got his PhD there, and now envisions the department working together as a community — and with others around the Institute — to take on the world's most challenging issues.
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James Paradis, Robert M. Metcalfe Professor of Writing
Interim Director, Comparative Media Studies
James Paradis, who joined the faculty in 1977 led the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies for 13 years before accepting his new appointment at CMS. “Given my interest in culture, media studies fits directly,” he said. The phenomenon of science and technology influencing broader culture continues as today’s culture is being transformed by digital media such as social networking and virtual reality. “These are game changers," Paradis said, "changing the way people live."
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Thomas Levenson, professor of writing
Director, Writing and Humanistic Studies and Graduate Program in Science Writing
A nationally acclaimed science journalist, author and documentary filmmaker, Levenson joined the WHS faculty in 2005 and has led the Graduate Program in Science Writing since 2008. He enjoys working at MIT for the access to cutting-edge research in the humanities and the sciences. “If you want to understand how stories are being told — across space, time, generations, languages — all these things are happening here,” he said.
Full profile
Richard Locke, Class of 1922 Professor of Political Science and Management
Head, Department of Political Science
Locke is an award-winning teaching innovator who pioneered the Global Entrepreneurship Laboratory. Dedicated throughout his career to social justice, Locke has a history of finding new ways to confront big issues. "The school's political science department is one of the country's best” said Locke, who got his PhD there, and now envisions the department working together as a community — and with others around the Institute — to take on the world's most challenging issues.
Full profile
James Paradis, Robert M. Metcalfe Professor of Writing
Interim Director, Comparative Media Studies
James Paradis, who joined the faculty in 1977 led the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies for 13 years before accepting his new appointment at CMS. “Given my interest in culture, media studies fits directly,” he said. The phenomenon of science and technology influencing broader culture continues as today’s culture is being transformed by digital media such as social networking and virtual reality. “These are game changers," Paradis said, "changing the way people live."
Full profile
