Description

In 1962, MIT Professor Francis Otto Schmitt and a group of scientists from around the world interested in understanding the connection between the brain (the organ) and behavior and the mind, founded the Neurosciences Research Program (NRP) at MIT. NRP organized and held specialist meetings of basic topics, inaugurated a new journal and book publishing program which helped establish the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. Making sure this happened was Katheryn (Kay) Cusick, who began her long affiliation with NRP as executive secretary in 1964, later becoming administrative officer and eventually associate director for administration and finance. Her coordination was vital as the program was administratively complicated, including associates in several disciplines -- biology, anatomy, physics, zoology, and chemistry --at several different universities and research institutions. [from MIT 150 Exhibition label for 2008.027.001]