History Made: MIT Elects First Black Woman As Student Body President

Sophomore Danielle Geathers just made history after being elected as the student body president at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The win makes her the first Black woman to lead the undergraduate association.

A mechanical engineering major, Geathers and her running mate, Yu Jing Chen, presented a well balanced platform that focused on unity, equity and authenticity.

“Someone asked if the UA president was a figurehead role [during the debate]. I think no, but minimally, a black female in that role will squash every perception that MIT is still mostly white and male. Minimally, the immediate image of that will make MIT a more welcoming and inclusive place,” Geathers told the school’s paper, The Tech.

Prior to running for office Geathers founded the “Talented Ten”, a program focused on  increasing applications and enrollment amongst Black women at MIT by pairing high school juniors with current students.

Geathers’ statement on the organization’s website reads, “I have created the Talented Ten because I understand the value that black females bring to campus while also understanding the tremendous loss the MIT community experiences when a qualified, underrepresented minority student chooses to not enroll.”

Now with Geathers’ in place as the student body president, she’s focused on pushing MIT to become a place where all students receive the institutional support they need to thrive.

Congratulations Danielle! We’re rooting for your success!