Paul E. Gray

Not to be confused with Paul R. Gray.

Paul Edward Gray
President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In office 1980–1990
Preceded by	Jerome Wiesner
Succeeded by	Charles Vest
Personal details
Born	(1932-02-07) February 7, 1932 Newark, New Jersey
Residence	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Profession	Electrical engineering
Awards	IEEE Fellow (1972), IEEE Founders Medal (2010)

Paul Edward Gray (born February 7, 1932) was the 14th president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is known for his accomplishments in promoting engineering education, practice, and leadership at MIT and in the world at large.

He graduated from MIT in 1954 with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He subsequently obtained an MS and ScD from MIT in 1955 and 1960, and then served as an electronics instructor in the US Army from 1960-1962.

As an MIT professor, Gray specialized in researching and teaching semiconductor electronics and circuit theory. In 1969, he co-authored Electronic principles: Physics, models, and circuits, which became a standard textbook on fundamental principles of solid-state electronics technology.

Gray rapidly rose through the MIT administration, serving as associate dean for student affairs (1965-1967), associate provost (1969-1970), and then dean of the School of Engineering (1970-1971). Under MIT president Jerome Wiesner, Gray served as chancellor (1971-1980). From 1980-1990, he served as president of MIT, and then as chairman of the MIT Corporation (1990-1997). At MIT, Gray is credited with helping to establish the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), the Leaders for Manufacturing program, and the ongoing affiliation with the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. He led the Task Force on Educational Opportunity (1968-1973), and encouraged undergraduate curriculum reforms in the 1980s that strengthened the humanities, social sciences, and biology. He broadened MIT's traditional engineering programs to also encourage development of management skills.

Gray served four years on the White House Science Council, was a member of the Council's Panel on the Health of Universities, and was also vice chairman of the Council on Competitiveness.

After retiring from chairmanship of MIT, Gray returned to teaching and advising undergraduate students. He is currently a Professor of Electrical Engineering and President Emeritus of MIT, and a Life Fellow of the IEEE

Books

• Paul E. Gray, Campbell L. Searle. Electronic principles: Physics, models, and circuits. Wiley, 1969.