Institute Faculty Awards

Arthur C. Smith Award

The Arthur C. Smith Award was established in 1996 on the occasion of Dean Smith’s retirement from the position of Dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Affairs. The award honors his service and is presented to a member of the MIT faculty for meaningful contributions and devotion to undergraduate student life and learning at MIT.

Arthur C. Smith, an expert in the field of solid-state physics, began his career at MIT in 1959 as an electrical engineering faculty member. He spent the next 50 years at MIT as an innovative educator, trusted advisor, thoughtful leader, and advocate for students. He was dean for undergraduate and student affairs from 1991 to 1994 and chair of the faculty from 1983 to 1985. Born in Oklahoma in 1929, Professor Smith earned a B.S. in physics at the University of Kansas in 1951, and went on to Harvard, where he earned an A.M. and a Ph.D. in physics in 1954 and 1958, respectively. Art was known for being a transformative force in shaping MIT’s approach to student life and learning.

Earll M. Murman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising

Presented to a faculty member who has served as an excellent advisor and mentor for undergraduates and who has had a significant impact on their personal lives and academic success. The Report of the Task Force on the Undergraduate Educational Commons (October 2006) highlighted the importance of quality advising and mentoring of students and the potential impact these relationships have on student success.

Earll M. Murman received a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering in 1963, and a MS in 1965 and a PhD in 1967 in Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences from Princeton University. Following a successful career in industry as a vice president and general manager, Murman joined the MIT faculty in 1980 as a full-time professor. His MIT tenure has included service as director of Project Athena (1988-1991), head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1991-1996), director of the Lean Aerospace Initiative (1995-2002), and deputy head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2005-2006).

Everett Moore Baker Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

The Everett Moore Baker Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching is presented to faculty members, in recognition of exceptional interest and ability in the instruction of undergraduates. This is the only teaching award in which the nomination and selection of the recipients is done entirely by the students. The award is given in memory of Everett Moore Baker, Dean of Students from 1947-1950.

Everett Moore Baker accepted the position of Dean of Students at MIT in 1947. He was the first minister chosen for this position. Though he was Dean for only three years, Baker made a great impact on the MIT community. On the suggestion of both students and faculty, the newest undergraduate dormitory was named the Everett Moore Baker House, in recognition of the contribution he had made to MIT. Students created the Everett Moore Baker Memorial Foundation, an organization whose goal was to continue the work of Dean Baker. They campaigned to raise funds, the interest of which was to be used each year for an appropriate project.

Born on August 28, 1901, in Newtonville, Massachusetts, Baker led an active life as a minister, a citizen concerned with community and international affairs, and lastly as Dean of Students at MIT (1947-1950). Baker graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1920, and from Dartmouth College in 1924. He received two honorary degrees, both Dr. of Divinity; from Tufts College in 1938, and from Dartmouth College in 1949.