School of Engineering
Creating Connections
The Undergraduate Practices Opportunity Program (UPOP) is transforming engineering education by providing sophomores with special preparation, industry-based experiences, and career counseling and development. Over 25% of sophomores and 40% of the Engineering School participated this year. Typically, 80% of the students call UPOP “exhilarating”; nearly 100% recommend it. Setting a gold standard for excellence, Christopher Resto took the program from “little more than vaporware” to being a central, sustainable part of MIT. To nurture UPOP, he energized large numbers of alums and friends to become actively involved. His brilliant ideas include incorporating volunteer Teaching Assistants into the curriculum. Dozens donate time to serve in the IAP Workshop; others participate during the year; many more employ UPOP students. He has broken old barriers by having Sloan and School of Engineering faculty teach side-by-side. Leading a program deeply engaged with students’ personal development, Administrative Director of UPOP, Christopher Resto, truly creates connections.