Bernard M. Gordon
MIT Alum, B.S. ’48, M.S. ’49
The gift was inspired and motivated by Bernie Gordon (MIT Alum, B.S. ’48, M.S. ’49) and the School of Engineering’s shared view that—while MIT is a world leader in providing an education based on engineering science—there needs to be a re-enforcement of product, process, and system engineering education for engineers who can and will innovate, create, and implement products and systems for which the world has a great demand. GEL was designed as a strategic program within MIT to familiarize, educate, and instill in students the responsibility, craft, and joy of being an effective engineering leader.
Supported by the input and guidance of engineering industry leaders, U.S. military representatives, MIT community and program leaders, and students, we designed a novel curriculum that would not only educate aspiring engineering leaders at MIT but also serve as a national model for engineering leadership education in the 21st century. As part of this process, we hosted a series of workshops that brought together program stakeholders with experience studying, practicing, and teaching engineering and leadership. GEL’s foundational document, the Capabilities of Effective Engineering Leaders [Link to 1.4], emerged as a consensus of this group.
With continued support from benefactor Bernie Gordon, additional generous donors, and MIT’s School of Engineering, the GEL Program has grown to involve nearly 200 MIT undergraduate students annually. GEL has expanded to include an in-depth internship program, a professional education component for working engineering leaders, and a strong partnership with the Riccio-MIT Graduate Engineering Leadership Program (GradEL).
Bernard (Bernie) M. Gordon is known as “the father of high-speed, analog-to-digital conversion.” He and his teams at Epsco Incorporated, Analogic Corporation, and NeuroLogica Corporation have been responsible for dozens of engineering achievements and secured hundreds of patents worldwide.
For his profound contributions to his profession and society, Bernie was the first MIT alum to receive the National Medal of Technology from President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1991.
His concern for the education of engineering leaders led to the establishment of the Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from MIT and numerous honorary doctorate degrees in engineering and science.
Watch Bernie Gordon address the MIT Community on the topic of engineering leadership.