Nimfa de Leon, assistant director of the Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies (SPURS), has “had the good fortune of working for the program’s founder and each subsequent director, so far.” Nimfa plans to retire in December after 36 years with SPURS. The program hosts the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP). The one-year program brings midcareer professionals from developing countries to engage in nondegree study at U.S. universities.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Nimfa immigrated to the United States after working for a few years at an American company in the Philippines. She moved to the East Coast to join her mother and sister. Arriving at MIT in 1985, she helped strengthen the viability of SPURS and witnessed changes in gender dynamics across the Institute.
By Maria Iacobo
How has your role evolved over the years?
When I started as an administrative assistant, there were only two staff and the director. With changes in SPURS directorships, my responsibilities evolved and I was given more work such as managing admissions, budgeting, fundraising, and managing the day-to-day activities of the fellows. Bish Sanyal, the present SPURS director, also had trust in me and gave me more autonomy and job responsibilities.
Why didn’t you at some point say, “I think I’d like to try something else at MIT?” What is it about SPURS that kept you there?
The biggest benefit for me was meeting new fellows each year and seeing the world through their eyes. I was able to travel without having to physically travel. The fellows talk with you about their personal and professional life. I feel as if I’m in their living room learning about their family and what they’re going through.
Having lived in the Philippines, I know the adjustment required and I think I could empathize more with the fellows. In the new job description for my replacement, I included a specific skill that requires the applicant to have international experience or have immigrated from another country, because without that, you can never understand or appreciate the kind of adjustment one has to go through when you first come to this country. I think that having gone through the experience immigrating to this country, I understand how it is.
I have made a lot of good friends who are former fellows through the years. So, when you ask me why I didn’t move to a different job, it’s precisely for this reason. When you’re enjoying yourself, it doesn’t feel like it’s work. Plus, this department is great and the School is a great place to work.
This campus has certainly changed and evolved since you arrived. What changes have you seen that you were excited about?
I think it’s the respect for women. You can also see that more members of the faculty are now comprised of women. During my time, women were basically in the minority. You see this change with the fellows we have now. Twenty years ago, the Humphrey fellows recruited for SPURS were mostly men. Maybe there were two women, and the rest were men. You should see the group of fellows we have now. We have twelve fellows; three are men and the rest are women! For me it is like: WOW—things have changed!
How has working through Covid changed how you work?
It was hard during Covid because of the complex nature of the job. So many details needed to be handled over Zoom. The fellows did not have access to campus. They traveled from around the world and never had a chance to get onto campus. I met them only once and that was toward the end when I was fully vaccinated. Can you imagine that?
One thing I will say about working from home is that it will change the workplace. It’s now accepted that you can work from home. Before, you had to be in the office five days a week. But, Covid taught us that you don’t have to be in the office to be effective at your job. I think I’ve accomplished more by working from home, even though I might still be in my pajamas! Realistically, advances in technology made this all possible.
For me, working from home strengthened my desire to retire. I was concerned about what my life would be without the rigors of a job that I enjoy doing. But I realized there are certainly other exciting things in life to hope for and look forward to.
You’re retiring at the end of the year. What will you miss the most?
The people. The fellows. The staff. My daily work routine. I used to take a daily walk around the campus. Since Covid I haven’t gone back to my normal routine. But, before — especially in the summer — I would walk with my coworker, Sandy Welford. I am always in awe of the Charles River. This is because when I was back home in the Philippines watching movies, they always show MIT and the Charles River. So, it’s still just a great sight for me. During lunch I used to sit on one of the benches overlooking the Charles River and say to myself, “can’t believe I’m here! I can’t believe I’m here!” Recently, one of my colleagues was showing the new fellows around campus for their first time, and he said that some of them were almost in tears. Their dreams were to come to MIT and now, some were in tears because they can’t believe they’re finally here! I can relate to that. I think if you’re from here you may take this experience for granted.
What’s next?
There will be a lot of traveling the first few years. For one, I have to go home to the Philippines.
My best friend from Australia is meeting me there and then we’ll go to either Korea or Japan and then I’ll go with her to Melbourne. I have a plan in place already. I hope to travel while I still can and enjoy my grandchildren. That’s the first thing I want to do: reconnect with my family and perhaps visit former fellows in their home countries!
— By Maria Iacobo