Dr. Alexander Slocum '82, SM, PhD is the Alex and Brit d'Arbeloff Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He was recognized with a faculty MLK Leadership Award for his work with young people. Slocum developed a web-based forum called the Urban Design Corps to teach and display concepts in urban design and economics.

In nominating him, Professor Nam P. Suh, head of mechanical engineering, noted the role Professor Slocum plays in the Urban Design Corps and the Engineering Design Workshop. His classes "bubble with excitement," Professor Suh wrote. "Professor Slocum has infused excitement into minority and underprivileged students like no other faculty member at MIT."

Dr. Slocum earned the SB, SM and PhD at MIT, and subsequently left the Institute for a year to teach at the Cranfield Institute of Technology (1989-1990). He first joined the MIT faculty in 1985, later became an associate professor with tenure in 1995 and a full professor in 1998.

In accepting his award, Professor Slocum paid tribute to Marc Graham and Martin Culpepper, "two extraordinary students," and the hundreds of Second Summer seminar participants who joined them in developing the international Urban Design Corps.

"To build a road," he said, "the byte is mightier than the bulldozer." He also read a poem he composed called Dr. King's Dream with words including: "His dream was dedicated to our parents... our everlasting souls... our children... the Almighty."