MIT’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (DAPER) has had a remarkable year, marked by historic championship wins, innovative wellness programs, and a strong sense of community. From sweeping NCAA Division III women’s track and field titles to launching a new Exercise is Medicine class, the department continues to integrate physical activity with academic excellence.
Championship Success
The women’s cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field teams each won their first NCAA Division III national championships in the 2024-25 season, making MIT the first women’s program to sweep all three titles in the same academic year. Additionally, the women’s swimming and diving team captured its first national championship, with three individual titles and four relay wins. Senior Alexis Boykin earned national titles in shot put and weight throw, while the women’s cross country team claimed victory at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course.
Leadership and Recognition
G. Anthony Grant, MIT’s director of athletics and DAPER department head, was named a 2025-26 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year, recognizing his support for student-athletes, coaches, and department culture.
Wellness and Academics
MIT launched the Exercise is Medicine class, blending physical activity with academic coursework. The MIT Wellness Wizard Certificate program promotes health and well-being across campus, and the MedLinks program continues to provide minor medical aid to students in residence halls. A new experimental course brings movement into classrooms and academics into the gym, while Professor Emma Teng and Lead Wellness Instructor Sarah Johnson created a class focused on the mind-body connection.
Community and People
Nick Jewell, associate director of club sports, intramural sports, and sport camps, shares how athletics help build community. Senior Olivia Rosenstein balances cross-country with research in quantum gasses and early-universe radio signals. The department mourned the loss of Ken Johnson Jr., DAPER director of communications, promotions, and marketing. Arina Khotimsky ’23 was awarded the 2023 Michel David-Weill Scholarship for her planned career in international energy negotiations. MIT.nano’s Immersion Lab Gaming Program awarded its third annual seed grants, advancing technologies for gaming and data visualization.