David L. Darmofal SM ’91, PhD ’93 is set to assume the role of MIT’s next vice chancellor for undergraduate and graduate education, starting February 17. Chancellor Melissa Nobles informed the MIT community today regarding Darmofal’s appointment in a letter.
Darmofal takes over from Ian A. Waitz, who resigned in May to become MIT’s vice president for research, as well as Daniel E. Hastings, who has been serving temporarily.
A visionary pioneer in research-driven education, Darmofal holds the title of Jerome C. Hunsaker Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He and his spouse Claudia have acted as heads of house at The Warehouse, an MIT graduate housing facility, since 2017.
“Dave is familiar with the nuances of education and student experience at MIT like few others,” Nobles states. “He’s a house head, an alumnus, and the father of a graduate. Dave will bring years of direct experience into this position.”
“An MIT education is exceptionally unique, uniting passionate students, staff, and faculty endeavoring to utilize knowledge and innovation to foster positive transformation for the world,” Darmofal expresses. “I am thankful for this opportunity to contribute to supporting MIT’s educational mission.”
Darmofal’s leadership background includes his tenure from 2008 to 2011 as associate and interim department head in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, supervising undergraduate and graduate initiatives. He served as the AeroAstro director for digital education from 2020 to 2022, where he led the department’s response to remote education during the Covid-19 crisis. Currently, he oversees the MIT Aerospace Computational Science and Engineering Laboratory and is a member of the Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) at the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing.
As a faculty member and administrator at MIT, Darmofal has played a key role in crafting more adaptable degree offerings, creating open digital-learning resources, establishing first-year advising seminars, and improving both professional and personal development avenues for students. He also lent his expertise in engineering educational methods to the development of the Schwarzman College of Computing’s Common Ground initiative, aiming to meet the demand for computing education across various disciplines.
“Students, staff, and faculty at MIT share a collective bond as problem solvers. When you discuss an MIT education with any of us, you’ll hear not just about what we need to enhance, but also about practical ways to achieve it. The Office of the Vice Chancellor can help unite our community of problem solvers to facilitate advancements in our academic programs,” remarks Darmofal.
Overseeing the academic division of the Chancellor’s Office, the vice chancellor will manage a wide-ranging portfolio. Darmofal will guide professionals across more than a dozen units, encompassing fields such as admissions and recruitment, financial support, student systems, advising, career and professional development, pedagogy, experiential learning, and support for over 100 graduate programs at MIT. Moreover, he will collaborate closely with numerous student organizations and groups, including leaders from the Undergraduate Association and the Graduate Student Council, and handle interactions with the graduate student union.
“Dave will play a vital role in my office’s initiatives to reinforce and broaden essential connections throughout all aspects of student life and learning,” Nobles states. She acknowledges the search advisory committee, co-chaired by professors Laurie Boyer and Will Tisdale, for establishing the right tone for this significant position and conducting a thorough, inclusive process.
Darmofal’s research focuses on computational techniques for partial differential equations, particularly in fluid dynamics. He attained his SM and PhD degrees in aeronautics and astronautics in 1991 and 1993, respectively, from MIT, following his BS in aerospace engineering in 1989 from the University of Michigan. Before joining MIT in 1998, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University from 1995 to 1998. Currently, he chairs AeroAstro’s Undergraduate Committee and serves as the graduate officer for the CCSE PhD program.
“I would like to reiterate something that Dan Hastings mentioned recently,” Darmofal states. “We have much to take pride in regarding an MIT education. It is more accessible than ever before. It’s innovative, offering unparalleled learning experiences both here and globally. It houses research laboratories that attract the brightest scholars, innovators, experimenters, and engineers. Ultimately, it equips graduates who make a positive impact.”