Hazel Sive

Dr. Hazel Sive is Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

She was previously (2020-2025) Dean of the College of Science at Northeastern University, Boston. Prior to June 2020, she was Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Associate Member of the Broad Institute. A native of South Africa, she received the B.Sc. in Chemistry and Zoology, from University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and the Ph.D. from Rockefeller University, New York. Among many accolades, Dr. Sive was recently elected a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science; and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Engineering from Wits University.

Dr. Sive is a research pioneer, award-winning educator, visionary and effective leader, and innovator in the higher education space. Dr. Sive’s groundbreaking research focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as fundamental processes underlying brain and craniofacial development. Her research employs the zebrafish model and the South African Claw-Toed Frog, Xenopus in which she is a world expert. She is a distinguished educator, a MacVicar Faculty Fellow, MIT’s highest teaching accolade and twice winner of the prestigious MIT School of Science Teaching Award. An accomplished leader, Dr. Sive was Associate Dean for the MIT School of Science; Founding Director of the MIT Jameel World Higher Education Lab; and Founding Director of the MIT-Africa Initiative, that promotes mutually beneficial engagement in research, education and innovation. She initiated the MIT-Wits Program that increased research collaboration, student internships and entrepreneurship workshops. At Northeastern, Dr. Sive was Chair of the new Africa Global Initiative, and developed a Northeastern-Wits Program, including research connections.

As Dean of Science at Northeastern University, Dr. Sive promoted excellence through innovation in research and education, amidst an overarching culture of belonging and respect. She introduced the “Good Power of Science” framework for responsible research and communicating the essential contributions of science research. Dr. Sive had impressive outcomes in all goals proposed, including academic programs that promote success of all students, greatly increasing MS enrollment and new programs. She led reinvention of the PhD with the groundbreaking Connected Science Community PhD that empowers candidates with skills for many careers. Dr. Sive invested in extensive faculty hiring, catalyzing novel cross-disciplinary research, increasing funding and awards, and building faculty mentoring programs.  

Dr. Sive has had a long-term commitment to public higher education, inspired by her transformative educational roots at Wits University. She is honored and excited to join the outstanding University of Massachusetts system, and UMass Boston as Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.