‘The world needs students with an MIT education’
Formally convening MIT’s Class of 2017 for the first time, President L. Rafael Reif yesterday welcomed first-year students, and their families, to the Institute.Reif was joined in his remarks at the annual Freshman Convocation, held in Killian Court, by Krystyn Van Vliet, an associate professor of materials science and engineering; Duane Boning, the Skolkovo Foundation Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; and Julie Soriero, director of athletics and head of the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation.Reif reassured the first-year students that they would soon come to view the Institute as home — much as he did as a new faculty member 33 years ago.“When I first arrived here, I knew almost nobody,” the president said, in prepared remarks. “My home was a long way away, in Venezuela. I felt excited to join this amazing place — but I had plenty of worries: Would my work be good...