Former Gov. Deval Patrick Will Be ‘Visiting Innovation Fellow’ at MIT

Governor patrick photo Uploaded by Rappaport Center on Flickr

With his eight years in office behind him, former Governor Deval Patrick will take on a new role at MIT’s Innovation Initiative beginning in the spring semester.

According to the MIT News press office, Patrick, who served two back-to-back terms as Massachusetts’ governor, will talk to students during seminars, and show up at public events to discuss policymaking and “innovation-based” growth as a visiting “innovation fellow” at the school. He will also hold office hours on campus, although details about that portion of his new employment have not been revealed.

MIT President L. Rafael Reif said he was delighted to welcome Patrick to the school to work with faculty and students.

“In leading the Commonwealth, Governor Patrick took the time to educate himself about how fundamental science produces world-changing technologies, and about the kind of government policies that help innovation flourish,” Reif said.

MIT’s Innovation Initiative is a campus-wide program that focuses on formalizing, studying, and promoting the Science of Innovation, according to the program’s website.

Rumors about Patrick’s next move after leaving office first surfaced back in December, when the Boston Globe reported that the former municipal leader filed a disclosure form with the State Ethics Commission, signaling his interest in the gig at MIT.

In an interview with MIT News, Patrick said he was “honored” to join the Innovation Initiative, and become part of the MIT community.

“Massachusetts’ inventors and innovators, many of whom have come out of MIT, have worked with business and government leaders to make the Commonwealth a leader in many industries,” he said.