Akirah Bradley-Armstrong

Akirah Bradley-Armstrong has been appointed vice chancellor for student life at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, effective Oct. 19.

Following a comprehensive national search, the appointment was announced by Chancellor Melissa Nobles, to whom Bradley-Armstrong will directly report. She succeeds Suzy M. Nelson, who is retiring after a transformative decade of service dedicated to enhancing the campus experience.

Bradley-Armstrong joins MIT from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she has served as vice chancellor for student affairs and success since 2022. During her tenure there, she managed one of the university’s largest divisions, overseeing 30 departments, 800 professional staff and 2,100 student employees, with responsibilities ranging from housing and student wellness to athletics and recreation.

Previously, Bradley-Armstrong held senior leadership roles at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of California, Berkeley. A nationally recognized figure in higher education, she has served on the board of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and chaired its 2025 national conference.

In her new role at MIT, Bradley-Armstrong will lead a broad portfolio covering undergraduate and graduate student support, including the residential house system, dining, athletics and student organizations. Nobles praised her as an “accomplished and compassionate leader” whose extensive expertise in navigating complex institutional challenges and promoting student well-being makes her an ideal successor for the position.

Grounded in her personal background as a first-generation college graduate and former student-athlete, Bradley-Armstrong firmly emphasizes the necessity of pairing high academic achievement with robust investments in mental health, inclusivity and a strong sense of belonging. She has expressed particular interest and enthusiasm regarding MIT’s large graduate student population and its distinctive residential communities.

Her distinguished career is marked by high-impact administrative initiatives, including the successful launch of the University of California system’s first campus mobile crisis response team, the establishment of a reliable two-year housing guarantee at UCSC and the advancement of key campus strategic goals.

Bradley-Armstrong holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Davis, where her doctoral research focused on institutional crisis response and recovery in higher education. She also earned a Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont. She obtained her well as bachelor’s degree from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania.

Reflecting on her new position, Bradley-Armstrong said, “I am honored to join MIT and to serve alongside its students, faculty and staff to support an exceptional student experience. ...I look forward to listening, learning and building on the Institute’s strong commitment to helping every student thrive.”