Chandrakasan

Anantha Chandrakasan became the Institute’s new provost on July 1, succeeding Cynthia Barnhart, SM ’86, PhD ’88, who announced her decision to step down in February.

Chandrakasan, who earned his BS, MS, and PhD in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, joined MIT in 1994. Head of the Energy-Efficient Circuits and Systems Group, he has been dean of the School of Engineering since 2017 and MIT’s inaugural chief innovation and strategy officer, playing a key role in launching multiple new initiatives, since 2024. He headed the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT’s largest academic department, for six years.

As MIT’s senior academic and budget officer, Chandrakasan will focus on understanding institutional needs and strategic financial planning, attracting and retaining top talent, and supporting cross-cutting research, education, and entrepreneurship programming. On all these fronts, he plans to seek frequent input from across the Institute. He also plans to establish a provost faculty advisory group, as well as student/postdoc advisory groups and an external provost advisory council.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for MIT to be at the center of the innovations in areas where the United States wants to lead,” Chandrakasan says. “It’s about AI. It’s about semiconductors. It’s about quantum, the bio­security and biomanufacturing space—but not only that. We need students who can do more than just code or design or build. We really need students who understand the human perspective and human insights.”