Interim Assistant Dean for Personal & Professional Development & Staff Initiatives
- Email: lbackus@mit.edu
What is your hometown? Framingham, MA
What did you study in undergrad? B.A. in Communications (Boston University) Grad school? Ed.M in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (Boston University)
What was your favorite experience as an undergrad? As someone who was unsure about what major I wanted to pursue or what career I wanted after undergrad, I fell into a student leadership job that informed my love of higher education and put me on the path I am on today. You never know where a part-time job, internship, or UROP can take you!
What are your interests/hobbies? Reading, watching old films, being outside in all New England seasons, photography, and crafting
What is your favorite thing about MIT? The community and the sheer imagination and innovation on campus every single day.
What advice do you have for MIT students? Take some classes you really enjoy (just because they sound fascinating!) while you are here – even if that means random electives or taking a HASS class completely unrelated to your major – the course catalog here/your options are vast! Some of my very favorite classes I ever took were outside of my comfort zone, and I still think about them to this day.
Fun Fact? I read over 100 books last year!