Durham Tech announces former Durham Tech student, 2021 MacArthur Fellow ‘Genius Grant’ winner Ibrahim Cissé as 2022 Commencement keynote speaker

Durham Technical Community College
Mar 29, 2022


person smiling at camera Durham Tech announced Tuesday the College will have former Durham Tech student and 2021 MacArthur Fellow “Genius Grant” award winner Ibrahim Cissé as the keynote speaker at the 2022 commencement ceremony in May.

Cissé was awarded the 2021 MacArthur Fellow award for developing microscopy tools to investigate the subcellular processes underlying genetic regulation and misfunction. The MacArthur Fellows program awards individuals who are extraordinarily talented and innovative in their fields.

What began as an interest as a child led Cissé into a successful, rewarding career. He was born in Niger, Africa, and moved to the United States after high school to follow his passion for science.

Cissé attended Durham Tech in Spring 2001 to obtain his Associate in General Education degree. While at the College, he was an active member of the International Student’s Club and the student senate. He then transferred to North Carolina Central University to obtain his Bachelor of Science and later a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Cissé was an assistant professor of physics and biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for six years and became a professor of physics in 2021 at the California Institute of Technology before transitioning into his current position as the Director of Biological Physics at Max Planck Institution of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg, Germany.

“Dr. Cissé’s story shows the value of community college and four-year universities partnering together to take committed, talented students and provide them the steps to become great in their fields and do life-changing work. We’re proud to call Dr. Cissé an alumnus of Durham Tech and we’re excited to bring him back home as our 2022 Keynote Commencement Speaker,” said Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton.

The 2022 Commencement will be held at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on May 18 at 7 p.m.

Read more about the Durham Tech commencement event.