Grateful MIT LGO alumni and associates publicly express appreciation towards Rosenfield
In the heart of Boston, the MIT community gathered for a special event, "DonFest," to honour Don Rosenfield, who is retiring after 26 years as the director of the Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) community. The two-day celebration included an evening gala reception at Fenway Park’s EMC Club on May 15 and a conference the following day.
The event was a heartfelt tribute to Rosenfield, known for his deep understanding and personal connection with his students. Zeynep Ton, an adjunct assistant professor of operations management at MIT Sloan, shared her early impressions of Rosenfield, praising his intellectual curiosity, nerdiness, generosity, compassion, tirelessness, and diligence.
The LGO program, originally named Leaders for Manufacturing (LFM) when it was founded in 1988, has come a long way since then. The Boston Globe article displayed during the conference, titled "MIT's Bold Plan for the Future Joins with Business to Help End US' Manufacturing Decline," offered a glimpse into the program's inception. The article highlighted the partnership between MIT faculty from both engineering and management schools and industry partners, aiming to create leaders skilled in both management and engineering for industry.
The first day of the conference featured reminisces about the creation and development of the LGO program by MIT professors Tom Magnanti and David Hardt. Emanuel Sachs, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the time, proposed a research idea for a 3-D printing method using an HP Deskjet printer and silicon carbide powder, an innovation that showcased the program's focus on cutting-edge research.
Tom Magnanti, formerly head of management science at MIT Sloan School of Management, is now the president of the Singapore University of Technology and Design and an MIT Institute Professor. His insights into the early days of the LGO program were invaluable during the conference.
The event was more than just a celebration; it was a way to thank Don Rosenfield for his 26 years of service as LGO's director. As an avid Red Sox fan, the Fenway Park reception was a fitting venue for Rosenfield, who successfully identified several former students during a game of "Stump Don."
As Rosenfield prepares to retire next month, the LGO community looks back on his career as a teacher, researcher, and friend to students, alumni, colleagues, and staff. The LGO program, with its roots tracing back to 1988, has evolved to include strong industry collaborations, experiential learning projects, and executive mentorship. It continues to be a premier dual-degree leadership program, shaping the future of manufacturing and operations leadership.
- The heartfelt tribute to Don Rosenfield, an avid Red Sox fan, included a fitting venue at Fenway Park's EMC Club during the event.
- The Boston Globe article showcased during the conference demonstrated the inception of the LGO program, highlighting the partnership between MIT faculty from both engineering and management schools and industry partners.
- Zeynep Ton, an adjunct assistant professor of operations management at MIT Sloan, praised Rosenfield's intellectual curiosity, nerdiness, generosity, compassion, tirelessness, and diligence during her early impressions.
- Tom Magnanti, formerly head of management science at MIT Sloan School of Management and the president of the Singapore University of Technology and Design, shared valuable insights into the early days of the LGO program during the conference.
- The LGO program, originally named Leaders for Manufacturing (LFM) when it was founded in 1988, has evolved to include strong industry collaborations, experiential learning projects, and executive mentorship.
- The event was a way to thank Don Rosenfield for his 26 years of service as LGO's director, as it marked his retirement next month.
- The Boston Globe article stressed the goal of creating leaders skilled in both management and engineering for industry, a key element that the LGO program continues to emphasize.
- The story of Don Rosenfield's career as a teacher, researcher, and friend to students, alumni, colleagues, and staff reflects the growth and evolution of the LGO program, which focuses on education-and-self-development, finance, business, technology, science, and engineering.
