CAMBRIDGE, MA–MIT President Emerita Susan Hockfield, who has distinguished herself in a career spanning advanced scientific research and the presidency of one of the world’s premier institutions of science and engineering, and the Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio will be the Guests of Honor at the New England Choice Awards gala this Friday.
Hosted by INE MultiMedia, a non-profit organization, in collaboration with INDIA New England News, New England Choice Awards gala will be held on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA. About 400 business and community leaders will attend the gala.
Ms. Hockfield is Professor of Neuroscience and President Emerita at MIT. As the sixteenth president (2004-2012), she was the first woman and the first life scientist to lead the Institute. As president of MIT, she shaped national policy on energy technology and manufacturing, championing breakthroughs in fields from clean energy to cancer. At MIT, this vision drove several new initiatives, including the founding of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the MIT Energy Initiative.
As a scientist, Ms. Hockfield pioneered the use of monoclonal antibody technology in brain research to identify proteins whose expression is regulated by neuronal activity early in an animal’s life. Her work included the discovery of a gene implicated in the spread of cancer in the brain, providing a link between her research and human health.
Ms. Hockfield is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science; she recently served as president and chairman for the latter. She is a life member of the MIT Corporation and a board member of the Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School. She has served as a Science Envoy with the U.S. Department of State and a member of a Congressional Commission evaluating Department of Energy laboratories.
Ms. Hockfield serves as a director of Break Through Cancer, Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation, Pfizer, Inc., and Repertoire Immune Medicines.
Ms. DiZoglio serves as the 26th Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A student of Massachusetts public schools, Auditor DiZoglio went to Middlesex Community College and later earned a financial scholarship to Wellesley College.
After serving in the State Legislature as an aide, as Chief of Staff for the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, and years of work for local nonprofits and community organizations, she won her first race for public office in 2012. She served three terms as State Representative for the 14th Essex District. In 2018, she was elected as State Senator for the 1st Essex District, serving two terms.
Auditor DiZoglio’s decade-long service on Beacon Hill has provided her with the insight and fortitude to work alongside elected officials, labor, community advocates, stakeholders and everyday working people throughout the Commonwealth’s cities and towns. Her humble beginnings, non-profit work and labor experience helped her nurture, cultivate, and develop relationships with a diverse expanse of people.
In her new role, Auditor DiZoglio is committed to help move Massachusetts forward by working to increase transparency & accountability in state government and ensure no one — no matter their background, bank balance or zip code — receives different treatment on Beacon Hill.
