Three exceptional educators have been recognized as MacVicar Faculty Fellows: associate professor in comparative media studies/writing Paloma Duong, associate professor of economics Frank Schilbach, and associate professor of urban studies and planning Justin Steil.

For over three decades, the MacVicar Faculty Fellows Program has honored remarkable and sustained contributions to undergraduate education at MIT. This program is named in tribute to Margaret MacVicar, MIT’s inaugural dean for undergraduate education and the founder of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Fellows are selected through a highly competitive, annual nomination process. The MIT Registrar’s Office oversees and manages the award on behalf of the Office of the Vice Chancellor; nominations are assessed by an advisory committee, and the final decisions are made by the provost.

Paloma Duong: Providing students with a comprehensive, global perspective

Paloma Duong serves as the Ford International Career Development Associate Professor of Latin American and Media Studies. Her initiatives have revitalized Latin American subject offerings, expanded the number of Spanish minors, and fostered community at the Institute.

Duong adopts an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Latin American culture, integrating media theory and political philosophy within the Comparative Media Studies/Writing (CMS/W) program. Her methods are based on a foundation of respect for each student’s distinct academic path and highlight the necessity of nurturing the entire student, celebrating their potential as thinkers, and connecting them to a broader world.

Senior Alex Wardle states that Professor Duong “expanded my outlook and made me more open to new concepts and ideas … her class has enhanced my critical thinking abilities in ways that very few other classes at MIT have even tried to.”

Duong’s Spanish language classes and seminars employ an extensive array of methods — including cultural examinations, artifacts, guest speakers, and practical multimedia projects — to engage students with the subject matter, promote critical thinking, and challenge established beliefs while learning about Latin American history. CMS/W head and professor of science writing Seth Mnookin remarks, “students become fluent in region-specific vocabularies, worldviews, and challenges.” This method fosters a sense of being “deeply respected” among students and treats them as “educational partners — conversants in their own right,” observes Bruno Perreau, the Cynthia L. Reed Professor of French Studies and Language.

Beyond the classroom, Duong invests her time in mentoring and connecting with students by supporting and participating in programs aligned with MIT Cubanos, Cena a las Seis, and Global Health Alliance. She also acts as an advisor for comparative media studies and Spanish majors, serves as the undergraduate officer for CMS/W, and is involved in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Education Advisory Committee and the Committee on Curricula.

“Fields like Spanish and Latin American Studies are crucial at MIT,” asserts T.L. Taylor, professor in comparative media studies/writing and MacVicar Faculty Fellow. “Students find a sense of belonging and support in these spaces, which should be at the forefront of our focus now more than ever. We are fortunate to have such an engaging and dynamic educator like Professor Duong.”

On receiving this accolade, Duong states, “I’m absolutely thrilled! I’m immensely thankful to my students and colleagues for the nomination and am privileged to join such an extraordinary group of fellow educators and mentors. Teaching undergraduates at MIT is always a rewarding challenge and a continuous source of inspiration; I feel incredibly lucky to be in this role.”

Frank Schilbach: Infusing energy and enthusiasm into the curriculum

Frank Schilbach is the Gary Loveman Career Development Associate Professor of Economics. His engagement and commitment to undergraduates, along with his efforts to articulate the significance of economics as a discipline, were pivotal in the rejuvenation of Course 14.

When Schilbach joined MIT in 2015, there were merely three sophomore economics majors. “A less dedicated instructor might have just accepted this and moved on with their research,” writes professor of economics Abhijit Banerjee. “Frank, however, viewed it as a challenge … his patient endeavors in persuading students that they should incorporate economics into their general education were key reasons why innovations [to widen the major] thrived. The department now boasts over 40 sophomores.”

Apart from enhancing enrollment, Schilbach was instrumental in curricular advancements. He introduced a “next step” for students completing class 14.01 (Principles of Microeconomics) by revising class 14.13 (Psychology and Economics) to explore beyond traditional topics in behavioral economics, examining correlations with poverty, mental health, happiness, and identity.

Even more noteworthy is the thoughtful and inclusive teaching style that Schilbach embodies. “He is attentive and considerate, listening to everyone, articulating concepts while ensuring students understand that we care about them … it is a joy to observe how students revel in the activities and learning,” writes Esther Duflo, the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics. Erin Grela ’20 adds, “Professor Schilbach goes above and beyond to seek student feedback so that he can make immediate adjustments to ensure that his classes best serve his students.”

His influence extends beyond the MIT campus as well. Professor of economics David Atkin remarks: “Many of these students are motivated by their experiences with Frank to pursue further studies at the graduate level, with an impressive 29 of his students continuing on to PhD programs at many of the nation’s top institutions. For someone who has only recently achieved tenure, this is an outstanding record of mentoring.”

“I am honored to be recognized as a MacVicar Fellow,” expresses Schilbach. “I am excited that students find value in my courses, and it gives me immense pleasure to think that my teaching might help some students enhance their well-being and inspire them to utilize their extraordinary talents to improve others’ lives.”

Justin Steil: Where hands-on learning meets community service

“I am privileged to join the MacVicar Faculty Fellows,” says associate professor of law and urban planning Justin Steil. “I am profoundly thankful to have the opportunity to teach and grow alongside such diligent and inventive students who are eager to collaborate to uncover new insights and tackle challenging issues, both in the classroom and beyond.”

Professor Steil leverages his experience as a lawyer, sociologist, and urban planner to blend hands-on learning with public service initiatives. In class 11.469 (Urban Sociology in Theory and Practice), he links students with incarcerated individuals to explore inequality at one of the state’s largest correctional facilities, MCI Norfolk. In another undergraduate seminar, students collaborate with leaders of local organizations like GreenRoots in Chelsea, Massachusetts; Alternatives for Community and Environment in Roxbury, Massachusetts; and the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative in Roxbury, addressing urban environmental hazards. Ford Professor of Urban Design and Planning and MacVicar Faculty Fellow Lawrence Vale describes Steil’s classes as “transformative.”

Along with his teaching, Steil is also a paramedic and has volunteered as an EMT for MIT Emergency Medical Service (EMS), where he consistently transforms ordinary activities into teachable moments. “There are plentiful opportunities at MIT for mentorship and research. Justin surpassed that. My discussions with Justin have motivated me to pursue graduate school to investigate medical devices in the EMS context,” remarks Abigail Schipper ’24.

“Justin is genuinely committed to the comprehensive education of our undergraduate students in ways that significantly benefit the broader MIT community as well as the residents of Cambridge and Boston,” comments Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Biological Engineering Katharina Ribbeck. Miho Mazereeuw, associate professor of architecture and urbanism and director of the Urban Risk Lab, concurs: “through his teaching, advising, mentoring, and connections with community organizations and public agencies, Justin has woven together diverse elements into a cohesive undergraduate experience.”

Student testimonials further emphasize Steil’s ability to make each student feel valued through his undivided attention and personalized mentorship. A former student remarks: “I felt incredibly fortunate to have encountered an instructor who so earnestly believed in his students … even while being one of the busiest individuals I’ve ever known, [he] … consistently assured the students he worked with that he always has time for them.”

Since his arrival at MIT in 2015, Steil has been awarded a Committed to Caring award in 2018; the Harold E. Edgerton Award for outstanding contributions in research, teaching, and service in 2021; and a First Year Advising Award from the Office of the First Year in 2022.

Discover more about the MacVicar Faculty Fellows Program on the Registrar’s Office website.