Chris Caplice PhD ’96, executive director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, has been appointed MIT senior research scientist for his long-term commitment to research and education in supply chain management.
Over the past two decades, Caplice has developed and deployed theoretical models and educational innovations that have had a global impact on supply chain practice and education. In 2016, Caplice was named a Silver Family Research Fellow and became the only non-faculty member at MIT to receive an endowed chair.
Most recently, Dr. Chris (as his online learners refer to him) was recognized for innovations in education both online and on campus. From the MITx Prize for Teaching and Learning with MOOCs to the Irwin Sizer Award for Most Significant Improvement to MIT Education to the student-nominated MIT Teaching with Digital Technology Award, Caplice has been repeatedly recognized for his contributions to supply-chain education. He created and led the first-ever MicroMasters credential program to be offered anywhere. More than a quarter of a million people from 196 different countries have enrolled in one or more of his courses. Over 1,500 learners have completed the full credential, and more than 10,000 are in the pipeline to complete it. This credential is being recognized across sectors for its value and relevance to improving supply chain management competency worldwide.
“Chris’s work has truly advanced the online learning experience — not only for courses in supply chain management, but also for others inspired by his example,” says Sanjay Sarma, MIT vice president for open learning.
Previously, Caplice directed the MIT Master of Engineering in Logistics. He transformed the program from a purely technical and analytics-focused degree to one that includes leadership and management training. Today, this boutique MIT master’s program in its 20th year has over 750 alumni working in leadership roles in some of the world’s largest organizations. His master’s format has served as the foundation for the MIT Global SCALE Network graduate certificate now offered to hundreds of students annually through five collaborating institutions worldwide. (Continued.)