Sally Kornbluth

Sally Kornbluth
Born	Sally Ann Kornbluth 1960
Birthplace	Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Academic administrator, cell biologist
Title	President of MIT
Known for	18th President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Education	Ph.D., Rockefeller University
Awards	Member, National Academy of Medicine

Sally Ann Kornbluth (born 1960) is an American cell biologist and academic administrator who has served as the 18th president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since January 1, 2023. Before assuming the presidency, she spent more than two decades on the faculty of Duke University, where she rose to prominence as a researcher studying apoptosis and cell cycle regulation, and served as the university's provost from July 2014 to December 2022 — the first woman to hold that position at Duke. Her career has bridged laboratory science and institutional leadership, and her appointment at MIT made her the first life scientist and the first woman to lead the institute on a permanent basis. As MIT president, Kornbluth has been an outspoken advocate for the importance of fundamental scientific research and the role of universities in advancing knowledge, speaking publicly on these themes at venues ranging from the World Economic Forum in Davos to local public radio broadcasts.

Early Life

Sally Ann Kornbluth was born in 1960 in Paterson, New Jersey. Details about her parents and family background during her upbringing in New Jersey are limited in publicly available sources. A profile in the MIT Technology Review described her trajectory as "a scientist's unlikely path," suggesting that her route to the highest levels of academic leadership was not a straightforward one. Similarly, a Duke University research profile characterized her career trajectory as "a scientist's unlikely path," noting the ways in which her experiences shaped her views on scientific inquiry and academic leadership.

Kornbluth grew up during a period of significant change in American higher education, when opportunities for women in the sciences were expanding but still markedly unequal. Her interest in biology and the life sciences developed during her formative years in New Jersey, eventually leading her to pursue undergraduate and graduate education at prestigious research institutions.

Education

Kornbluth attended Williams College, a liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where she completed her undergraduate studies. She then pursued graduate studies at Rockefeller University in New York City, where she earned her Ph.D. Rockefeller University, known for its focus on biomedical research, provided Kornbluth with rigorous training in cell and molecular biology. Following her doctoral work, she undertook postdoctoral research that further honed her expertise in cell cycle regulation and programmed cell death — topics that would define her scientific career for decades to come.

Career

Research in Cell Biology

Kornbluth established herself as a productive researcher in the fields of cell cycle regulation and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Her laboratory at Duke University focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control how cells decide to divide or die — fundamental questions in biology with direct implications for understanding cancer and other diseases. Her research has been published in leading scientific journals, including the Journal of Cell Biology and journals indexed in PubMed.

Much of Kornbluth's scientific work explored signaling pathways that govern the cell's commitment to apoptosis, as well as regulatory networks controlling entry into and progression through mitosis. Her research frequently employed the Xenopus (frog) egg extract system, a powerful model for studying cell cycle dynamics in a cell-free context. She also published research on the role of oncogenes in disrupting normal cell cycle control. Her body of work contributed to a deeper understanding of how cancer cells evade normal growth constraints and resist programmed cell death.

Kornbluth held a faculty position in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University School of Medicine. Over her years on the Duke faculty, she mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, contributing to the training of the next generation of biomedical scientists.

Vice Dean for Basic Science at Duke

Before becoming provost, Kornbluth served as Vice Dean for Basic Science at Duke University School of Medicine. In this capacity, she oversaw the basic science departments and their research missions within the medical school. Her appointment to this role was recognized as a significant leadership position, and she was noted for her effectiveness in bridging the worlds of basic science research and medical education. During this period, she was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (then known as the Institute of Medicine), a recognition of both her scientific contributions and her growing stature as a leader in academic medicine.

Provost of Duke University

In March 2014, Duke University announced the appointment of Kornbluth as provost, effective July 1, 2014. She succeeded Peter Lange, who had served in the role for 15 years. The appointment made her the first woman to serve as provost of Duke University, a milestone noted both on campus and in the wider higher education community.

As provost, Kornbluth served as the university's chief academic officer, overseeing all academic programs and budgets. The provost at Duke is second in the university's administrative hierarchy after the president, and the role gave Kornbluth broad responsibility for the intellectual direction of the institution. Her tenure coincided with a period of growth and change at Duke, including the expansion of the university's international engagements. Kornbluth served on the board of trustees of Duke Kunshan University, a joint venture between Duke University and Wuhan University in Kunshan, China. She was involved in the development of Duke Kunshan's programs and governance, including its academic leadership structure and its research collaborations, such as the WHU-Duke Research Institute.

During her time as provost, Kornbluth was also recognized for her role in advancing the representation of women in leadership positions at Duke. By 2018, a majority of Duke's school deans were women, a shift in which Kornbluth's own appointment and advocacy played a part.

Kornbluth served as Duke provost until December 31, 2022, a tenure of more than eight years. She was succeeded on an interim basis by Jennifer Francis.

President of MIT

On October 20, 2022, MIT announced that Kornbluth had been selected as the institute's 18th president, effective January 1, 2023. She succeeded L. Rafael Reif, who had served as president since 2012. The announcement noted that Kornbluth was the first life scientist to lead MIT and the first woman to serve as its president on a permanent basis.

The New York Times reported on her selection, noting her background as a cell biologist and her extensive administrative experience at Duke. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, of which Kornbluth is a member, described her as a cell biologist whose "eight-year tenure as Duke University's provost" had prepared her for the MIT presidency.

Since assuming the presidency, Kornbluth has addressed a range of issues facing MIT and the broader higher education sector. She has been a vocal proponent of the value of scientific research conducted at universities and has spoken publicly about the importance of defending the scientific method and the research enterprise in the United States.

Public Advocacy for Science

In January 2026, Kornbluth appeared alongside MIT Corporation member Noubar Afeyan at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where the two served as panelists at the "Imagination in Action" event. During the panel, they discussed the role of MIT in advancing science, the potential of artificial intelligence to enable what they described as "polyintelligence," and the importance of defending the scientific method.

In February 2026, Kornbluth appeared on GBH's Boston Public Radio, where she spoke about the importance of America's research enterprise. MIT News highlighted her remarks under the headline "'This is science!' – MIT president talks about the importance of America's research enterprise."

Campus Leadership and Institutional Responses

As MIT president, Kornbluth has addressed a variety of campus issues through letters and public statements. In September 2025, she wrote to the MIT community regarding campus incidents, addressing matters of campus climate and institutional values.

In October 2025, Kornbluth addressed the MIT community regarding a proposed "Compact" from the U.S. Department of Education that had been sent to MIT and eight other institutions. Her letter discussed the institute's approach to the proposed compact and its implications for the university.

In February 2026, Kornbluth was interviewed by The Tech, MIT's student newspaper, regarding the potential release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and MIT's involvement. In the interview, she stated that MIT would "monitor" the release of the Epstein files before making a decision about further investigation. She was quoted as saying, "All of these revelations make us recoil."

Community Engagement

Under Kornbluth's presidency, MIT has continued its tradition of community events and observances. In February 2026, MIT held its 52nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Luncheon in Walker Memorial, an event that featured speeches and reflected the institute's engagement with questions of racial justice and equity.

Personal Life

Kornbluth is a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she lives in connection with her role as MIT president. She was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. Limited information about her personal life is available in public sources, consistent with her preference for privacy on matters outside her professional career.

Recognition

Kornbluth has received significant recognition for both her scientific work and her leadership in higher education. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine), one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine in the United States, in recognition of her contributions to biomedical science.

She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a distinction reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to science, scholarship, public affairs, or the arts.

Her appointment as the first woman to serve as provost of Duke University and subsequently as the first woman to serve as president of MIT on a permanent basis has been noted as a milestone in the representation of women in leadership at elite research universities.

Her scientific publications have appeared in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Cell Biology, Oncogene, and other prominent outlets in cell biology and cancer research. Her research on apoptosis and cell cycle regulation has been cited extensively in the scientific literature.

The MIT Technology Review profiled Kornbluth under the headline "The Believer," exploring her scientific philosophy and her approach to academic leadership.

Legacy

Although Kornbluth's presidency at MIT is ongoing as of 2026, several aspects of her career have already contributed to her institutional legacy. At Duke University, her eight-year tenure as provost was characterized by the expansion of the university's international programs, including the development of Duke Kunshan University, and by advances in the representation of women in senior academic leadership. Her appointment as the first female provost at Duke in 2014 and her subsequent selection as MIT's first permanent female president in 2022 represent milestones in the broader trajectory of women's leadership in American higher education.

As a scientist, Kornbluth's research on the molecular mechanisms of cell death and cell division has contributed to foundational knowledge in cell biology, with implications for understanding cancer biology and potential therapeutic strategies. Her ability to maintain an active research profile while assuming progressively larger administrative responsibilities has been noted in profiles and interviews as a distinguishing feature of her career.

At MIT, Kornbluth has positioned herself as a public advocate for the value of university-based scientific research at a time when the role of higher education and government support for science have been subjects of national debate. Her appearances at international forums such as Davos and on public media reflect an effort to make the case for the research enterprise to audiences beyond the academy.

Her handling of complex institutional challenges — from campus climate issues to the legacy of the Epstein controversy — will continue to shape assessments of her tenure as the institute's leadership evolves.