About Institutional Research

Institutional Research is part of the Office of the Provost. View an organizational chart of Senior Leadership.

Institutional Research was established in 1986 and was originally part of the Planning Office. Our portfolio has grown and evolved over the years, but we remain dedicated to collecting and providing high quality data and analysis to the MIT leadership and the broader MIT community.

Get in touch

➤ LOCATION

77 Massachusetts Avenue,
Room 11-268
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 

✉ CONTACT

ir@mit.edu

Director of Institutional Research

Jon Schwarz

Jon returned to Institutional Research after a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Notre Dame. In addition to IR, he has worked in the Offices of Admissions and Minority Education at MIT. Jon earned a bachelor's degree in rhetoric and political science from Wabash College, a master's degree in higher education from Harvard, and a master's and PhD in sociology with concentrations in statistics, research methods, social stratification, and education from Notre Dame. 

irdirector@mit.edu

Program Assessment Analyst

Fatema Ahad

Fatema is a Program Assessment Analyst at MIT Institutional Research. In this role, she supports administrative program assessment across MIT, with a deep focus on academic areas, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and Title IX programs. Before joining MIT, she worked as a Research analyst for Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment at UMass Boston. Fatema earned her bachelor's degree from Northumbria University and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Utah. She is pursuing a PhD in Higher Education at UMass Boston. Fatema enjoys exploring the world with her daughter, painting, reading, and watching thriller movies.

ahad@mit.edu

qualitative Data analyst

Andrew Bell

Andrew received a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Simmons University. Prior to joining MIT Institutional Research, Andrew worked in uranium/petroleum exploration, and as a research analyst at the MIT Socio-Technical Systems Research Center (SSRC) on the Post Traumatic Stress Initiatives (PTSI) project. Andrew has also served as a clinical intern at the non-profit Project Place supporting homeless veterans, as well as providing individual SUD therapy at High Point Opioid Treatment Program in Brockton, MA. Andrew is an avid skin diver, whitewater kayak/canoe/rafter, skier, cook, scale modeler, and flight simulator enthusiast.

duffbell@mit.edu

Project Manager

Ayn Cavicchi

Ayn received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Wellesley College. Prior to joining the Institutional Research Group, she worked in the MIT Anthropology Program as Research Project Manager, where she focused on qualitative research. In addition, she has worked on projects at Harvard Business School, the Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard Law School, and Boston University. Outside of work Ayn has a slight obsession with all things culinary.

Database Manager

Huey Chan

Huey received a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science for Data Management from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining MIT Institutional Research, Huey has worked at the MIT Data Warehouse, the MIT Student Information System, and the Yale University Library System Office. Huey works for the AAUDE data warehouse and on a variety of other projects.

hschan@mit.edu

DATAbase ANALYST/PROGRAMMER

Weini Chen

Weini received a Bachelor's degree in Economics and a Master's degree in Finance from Brandeis University. Weini has worked previously at MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab and UC San Diego Department of Medicine. Weini's work in the Intitutional Research group focuses on the AAUDE data warehouse and the MITx projects.

weini@mit.edu

Associate Director

Jon Daries

Jon received a Bachelor's degree in Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master's in higher education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to working in the Institutional Research group, he worked in law school career planning, in the accounting office of a university IT department, and as an English teacher in Japanese elementary and middle schools.

daries@mit.edu

Assistant Director

Kate Doria

Kate received a Bachelor's degree from Bates College where she studied Psychology and Mathematics, and an MBA from Boston University Questrom School of Business. Prior to joining MIT Institutional Research, she worked in the institutional research offices at Carleton College and Amherst College. Kate enjoys running and pottery.

Senior data Analyst

Michael Ferguson

Michael received a Bachelor's degree from New College of Florida. Prior to joining MIT Institutional Research, he worked in Admissions, Corporate Relations, and Sponsored Programs at various institutions. Michael enjoys ultimate frisbee as a player, coach, and league director.

mff@mit.edu

Associate Director

Gregory Harris

Greg joined the Institutional Research group in 2001 as a graduate student intern and became staff the following year. In 2010 he earned his doctorate in higher education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from New College of Florida. Greg works on a variety of analytical projects, many involving survey data and faculty compensation.

harrisgr@mit.edu

Associate Director

Sonia Liou

Sonia earned a Bachelor's degree in computer information science at Ohio State University. She has worked as a research analyst in the School of Graduate and Continuing Education at Bridgewater State University and for the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University (Ohio). Sonia's work in the Institutional Research group focuses on faculty and graduate admissions data. 

Special Project Manager

Shirley Wong, BS

Shirley has seen the IR team grow and change with over 20 years of experience with the group. She works directly with internal stakeholders including senior officers and departments administrators. Projects for external stakeholders such as Congress members and prospective students are also under her purview.