Kim Vandiver

Kim Vandiver is the Forbes Director of the Edgerton Center and is a faculty member in the mechanical engineering department. An early champion of D-Lab Founding Director Amy Smith and the program, Kim served as sole faculty director for the D-Lab from its founding in 2002 through 2018.

Throughout his teaching career, Professor Vandiver has stressed the importance of hands-on learning. He has worked to enliven the mainstream curriculum, incorporating more and earlier opportunities for students to solve real-life problems, engage in research, and develop relationships with faculty. In 1998 he was the recipient of the MIT President’s Award for Community Service for the Edgerton Center’s work with the Cambridge Public Schools. In 2001 he was honored as a MacVicar Fellow for excellence in teaching. In 2011 Kim was awarded the Arthur C. Smith Award for meaningful contributions and devotion to undergraduate student life and learning at MIT and in 2012 the Gordon Y. Billard Award for special service of outstanding merit performed for the Institute.

A faculty member in the mechanical engineering department (formerly ocean engineering) since 1975, Professor Vandiver chaired MIT’s faculty from 1991 until 1993. His research focuses on the dynamics of offshore structures and flow-induced vibration. He teaches dynamics and mechanical vibration at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Professor Vandiver received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Harvey Mudd College, his master’s degree in ocean engineering from MIT, and a Ph.D. in oceanographic engineering from the MIT and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program. He is a Registered Mechanical Engineer in the state of Massachusetts and is an active consultant in structural dynamics with the offshore-engineering industry. He is also a certified flight instructor for gliders.