MIT alumni Rotarians endow fellowship fund to support MIT’s DEDP master’s students

Expanding access to high-quality education—especially for learners with limited access, resources, or means—is a core goal of the Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) program. These efforts are especially meaningful when they are led by members of the MIT community, like Victor Tom ’72, MS ’73, ScD ’81, Past District Governor of Rotary District 7910 in Central Massachusetts, and fellow MIT alumnus and longtime Rotarian Sze-Wen Kuo ’73. Together, they have established a Rotary-endowed fund to support fellowships for students who have demonstrated their commitment to evidence-informed policy through the DEDP programs. The fund will support those who complete the DEDP MicroMasters program and successfully apply to the master’s program but who might not otherwise be able to attend MIT due to financial constraints, particularly those from low- and middle- income countries.

As former presidents of the Rotary Club of Bedford, Victor and Sze-Wen worked closely with Rotary International and navigated the global grants process to develop a sustainable model of international support. Rotary District 7910 will administer the annual global grant scholarship, continuing their shared legacy of service and commitment to global education.

“This model of partnership reflects Rotary’s mission to foster economic development and cultivate ethical, globally minded leaders,” said Victor. “We hope this fund encourages other clubs and districts to create similar opportunities for future DEDP students.”

Rotary International is a global service organization with more than 1.2 million members across over 200 countries and territories. Through its network of local clubs and global grants, Rotary works to improve health, reduce poverty, expand access to education, and promote world understanding, goodwill, and peace.

The DEDP master’s program, jointly administered by the MIT Department of Economics and J-PAL, begins online and culminates in a residential program at MIT. The program aims to equip students with rigorous training in data analysis, economics, and policy design, preparing them to address complex global challenges using evidence-based approaches. Applicants to the master’s program must first earn a credential from the online DEDP MicroMasters program. This admissions model has identified exceptionally talented students from around the world: MicroMasters learners come from 214 countries and territories, with more than 69 percent from low-and middle-income countries.

Each year, the residential master’s program welcomes a cohort of 20-30 students with a wide range of backgrounds in government, nonprofit work, and development  and a shared commitment to tackling pressing global challenges. With 92 percent of DEDP MicroMasters learners receiving some form of financial assistance, many admitted master’s students come from limited-resource settings and still face financial hurdles to joining the residential program even with partial fellowships from MIT. The new endowed fund from Rotary District 7910 helps bridge this gap and lays the groundwork for a sustainable model of international support.

“DEDP and Rotary International, with its global reach and longstanding emphasis on peace, education, and sustainable development, are natural partners,” says DEDP Faculty Lead Sara Fisher Ellison, “and we cannot wait to meet the exceptional students who will be able to come to campus thanks to their generous support.”

Rotary’s global grants enable local clubs to co-sponsor students in partnership with clubs in other countries—making it possible for DEDP students to gain support from a Rotary club in their home country and then connect with Rotary Club of Bedford or others near MIT.

MIT and J-PAL welcome further collaboration with Rotary clubs across the US and around the world to expand access to the DEDP program and deepen Rotary’s legacy of fostering international education and advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace.

To donate to the fund, complete this form, specifying Fund ID E21792. For help with the form or interested in starting your own Rotary endowed fund, please contact [email protected].