MIT Change-Makers actively and intentionally work to combat harassment and sexual violence by challenging harmful attitudes, language, or behaviors. These individuals or groups make positive strides towards shifting the culture that perpetuates harassment and sexual violence.

We celebrated the 2025 honorees among invited guests at the Change-Makers banquet, which took place April 14, 2025. Thank you to those who submitted nominations for consideration. The winners are listed below:   

• Undergraduate student - Grace Zhang
• Graduate student - Emmie Le Roy
• Employee (Faculty, Staff, or Postdocs) - Alicia Mackin
• Student Club or Group - MIT REFS (Resources for Easing Friction and Stress)
• Pleasure Educator Award - Lauren Higgins

If you have questions about the awards, email idhr-communication@mit.edu.  

Previous award recipients include:

2024:

• Student: Savannah Lawrence
• Student group: Alphi Chi Omega (AXO)
• Employee group: Preventing Sexual Harassment Training Initiative – Content Development Team
• Pleasure Peer Educator of the Year: Santi Cantu

2023:

• Undergraduate student: Ana Velarde
• Graduate student: Jules Drean
• Student group: The MIT Monologues (MITMo)
• Employee group: Staff of OGE GradSupport
• Pleasure Peer Educator of the Year: Em McDermott
• Special recognition award: Maryanne Kirkbride

Note that in Spring 2020 and Spring 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we did not host virtual or in-person celebrations for Change-Makers in the MIT Community. We were still able to recognize and send awards to undergraduate students who worked diligently and intentionally to continue the work of healthy and positive culture change in pandemic times!

2021:

• Pleasure Educator of the Year: Rachel McIntosh

2020:

• Undergraduate student: Claire Halloran  
• Pleasure Educator of the Year: Omar Laris 

2019:

• Undergraduate student: Gabrielle Ballard
• Graduate student: Sarah Goodman
• Student group: The Healthy Masculinities Club, founded by graduate student Jay Dev and now led by his fellow graduate students Zack Avre and David Robinson
• Employee: Amanda Pickett, a program assistant in Career Advising and Professional Development
• Department: The Department of Chemical Engineering
• Pleasure Educator of the Year: Madiha Shafquat

2018:

• Undergraduate student: David Dellal
• Graduate student: Claire Webb 
• Student group: Graduate Women at MIT (GW@MIT)
• Employee group: Former chemistry graduate student Michelle MacLeod and chemistry department head Timothy F. Jamison were recognized for leading efforts to train faculty, students, and staff
• Pleasure Educator of the Year: Nolan O’Brien

2017:

• Undergraduate student: Charlie Andrews-Jubelt
• Graduate student: Priya Moni 
• Student group: IFC Sexual Misconduct Committee with special recognition of the contributions of John Drago as chair and driver of the committee
• Employee: David Singer, Department Head and Raphael Dorman-Helen Starbuck Professor of Political Science at MIT and inaugural chair of the MIT Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response
• Pleasure Educator of the Year: Brittney Johnson