MIT Sloan School of Management appoints Richard Locke PhD '89 as its new dean.
New Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management:
Get ready for some fresh blood at the MIT Sloan School of Management! Richard Locke PhD '89 has been tapped as the school's newest dean, effective July 1. Known for his vigorous work ethic, humane approach, and idealistic yet realistic outlook, Locke is poised to shake things up.
Hailing from a political science background, Locke is no stranger to global challenges and the transformation of industries. With a career spent researching labor practices in global supply chains and bringing together stakeholders to upgrade business best practices, he brings a unique perspective to the table.
Locke's journey back to MIT Sloan began in 1988, where he held various roles, including faculty member, department head, and deputy dean. After a stint at Brown University as provost and a short-lived gig as dean of Apple University, he's now ready to confront the next phase of MIT Sloan's global prominence.
Key global challenges, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and new healthcare solutions, are on the agenda. Locke is eager to help the school refine best business practices, raise substantial funds to support academic communities, and cater to MIT Sloan's various constituencies.
MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth is thrilled about Locke's return, describing him as an outstanding leader with intellectual breadth, personal grace, and fresh ideas. Provost Cynthia Barnhart praises Locke's transformative career and appreciates his vision for removing frictions that slow research efforts.
The School boasts approximately 115 tenure-track faculty and 1,600 students spread across eight degree programs. With wide-ranging initiatives and academic groups, MIT Sloan connects core management topics with the innovation economy, entrepreneurship, social impact, policy development, and more.
As Locke prepares to take the reins from interim John C Head III Dean Georgia Perakis, he follows in the footsteps of Dave Schmittlein, who stepped down after a nearly 17-year tenure. The extensive search for the position involved evaluating both internal and external candidates over several months, with the search committee led by Kate Kellogg and Andrew W. Lo.
The new dean has a proven track record of bringing faculty from different domains together, making him ideal for connecting MIT Sloan even further to the rest of MIT. Locke's stretching tentacles will help the School focus on grand challenges such as climate, AI, and health care, while adapting and growing in accordance with technology's role in virtually every aspect of our lives. Welcome aboard, Locke – the future of MIT Sloan is in your hands!
[1] MIT News Office. (2024). Richard Locke Named 10th Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management. Retrieved from https://news.mit.edu/2024/richard-locke-9th-dean-mit-sloan-school-management-0208[2] MIT News Office. (2024). Feedback Sought on Search for 10th Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management. Retrieved from https://news.mit.edu/2023/feedback-sought-search-10th-dean-mit-sloan-school-management-0105[3] Smialek, J. (2024). A New Dean for MIT Sloan, and a Resurgence of Optimism. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/us/richard-locke-mit-sloan-dean.html
- Richard Locke's approach at MIT Sloan is characterized by a vigorous work ethic, a humane touch, and an idealistic yet realistic outlook.
- Locke's background is in political science, making him well-suited to address global challenges and industry transformations.
- Before returning to MIT Sloan as dean, Locke held various roles at the school, including faculty member, department head, and deputy dean.
- Climate change, artificial intelligence, and new healthcare solutions are among the key global challenges Locke has identified for MIT Sloan.
- MIT President Sally A. Kornbluth describes Locke as an outstanding leader with intellectual breadth, personal grace, and fresh ideas.
- Provost Cynthia Barnhart appreciates Locke's vision for removing frictions that slow research efforts and catering to MIT Sloan's various constituencies.
- Approximately 115 tenure-track faculty and 1,600 students across eight degree programs populate MIT Sloan.
- The school connects core management topics with the innovation economy, entrepreneurship, social impact, policy development, and more.
- Locke's ability to bring faculty from different domains together makes him ideal for connecting MIT Sloan further to the rest of MIT.
- As dean, Locke aims to refine best business practices, raise substantial funds to support academic communities, and cater to MIT Sloan's various constituencies.
- The School's wide-ranging initiatives and academic groups help it adapt and grow in accordance with technology's role in our lives.
- Locke's appointment follows in the footsteps of Dave Schmittlein, who stepped down after a nearly 17-year tenure as dean.
- The comprehensive search for the position involved evaluating both internal and external candidates over several months, with the search committee led by Kate Kellogg and Andrew W. Lo.
- The MIT News Office has covered Locke's appointment and the search process extensively, including articles on their website.
- Locke's focus on grand challenges such as climate, AI, and health care aligns with the school's commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and public service.
- With his leadership, Locke hopes to foster a learning environment that promotes education-and-self-development, personal-growth, career-development, and skills-training for MIT Sloan's alumni, students, and faculty, ultimately benefiting society at large.
