MIT Students Forge Human-Centered Tech Solutions in Oklahoma’s Code.Tulsa Program

A New Perspective on Technical Innovation

The bigger takeaway is simple: When MIT mechanical engineering student Daphne Wang arrived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for her summer internship at the Muscogee Creek Nation Department of Health, she anticipated a summer immersed in coding. What unfolded was a profound shift in perspective, revealing the critical intersection of technology, history, and community. “I learned so much that I think should be required curriculum for every single person in this country,” Wang reflects, emphasizing that true “tech for good” means understanding diverse communities and integrating those worldly insights into every technical endeavor.

Meanwhile, Wang, alongside artificial intelligence and decision-making major Lucy Sun, dedicated their summer to a vital project: supporting the development of the Muscogee Nation’s inaugural Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey. This initiative aimed to gather crucial maternal health data specific to Muscogee women. Their work transcended mere data analysis, requiring extensive literature reviews, careful dataset examination, and the drafting of survey questions, all while navigating the complexities of data sovereignty and the Muscogee Nation’s unique governance structures.

“It was this change of pace — 180 [degrees] from MIT, completely,” Wang notes, highlighting the program’s unique offering compared to traditional MIT coursework. While MIT excels at preparing students for technical challenges, she found fewer opportunities to engage directly with communities, understand cultural dimensions, or consider the human impact of their work.

In practical terms, Breanna McNaughton-Long, an epidemiologist and Wang’s supervisor, lauded the students’ contributions. “They were instrumental. They did so much work that I don’t think we would have been able to do as quickly,” she said, adding that the students brought a palpable sense of purpose to the project.

Code.Tulsa: Bridging Engineering and the Humanities

Daphne Wang was one of ten MIT undergraduates participating in the 2026 Code.Tulsa program, an initiative of the PKG Center for Social Impact. Now in its second year, Code.Tulsa receives generous support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

For example, Students reside at the University of Tulsa and undertake internships with significant local impact, including:

• The Muscogee and Cherokee Nations
• Black Tech Street
• Urban Coders Guild

These internships involve AI, data science, and other technical projects, all designed to address real community needs. Vippy Yee, the PKG Center’s assistant dean for community-based programs, enhances the professional experience with educational sessions on the historical and cultural context of tech development in Tulsa, guided by local leaders.

That said, Alison Badgett, director of the PKG Center, explains the program’s core philosophy: “As with all PKG Center programming, our aim is to help students integrate an engineer’s approach to problem-solving with a humanist lens on the nature of social challenges, and by extension interventions.”

Chenise Harper, an electrical engineering with computing major who interned with the Urban Coders Guild, found this integrated approach transformative. “I hated history, but I learned a lot about why it is useful for making social change and how to go about researching it. I now feel a lot more confident that I can make an impact,” she shared, underscoring the power of understanding the past to shape a better future.

Igniting STEM Passion: The Tulsa Advanced Sciences Camp (TASC)

Interestingly, The vision for Code.Tulsa extends beyond university students. It was the brainchild of sophomore Jack Carson, an electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) student from Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation. Recognizing the limited STEM access for rural Native students, Carson proposed a weeklong STEM camp for members of federally recognized tribes, held at the University of Tulsa, with Code.Tulsa interns serving as instructors.

Carson devised a nomination system to identify promising high school students, ultimately selecting 25 campers from 10 different tribes out of 160 applications representing 25 Native nations. He collaborated with Harvard University student Allie Zong to develop an intensive curriculum for the Tulsa Advanced Sciences Camp (TASC), featuring interactive tracks in:

• AI engineering
• DNA technology
• Physics
• Chemistry and energy

However, These technical sessions are complemented by philosophical workshops designed to encourage ambitious, deliberate thinking about future achievements. As Zong explains, “We teach them not knowledge, but curiosity, and the skills to teach themselves.”

The TASC experience has had a profound impact. Alyssa Theofanidis, a rising high school senior and Cherokee Nation citizen, credits TASC with propelling her to self-study calculus. She returned to the camp as a teaching assistant, eager to apply her growing STEM expertise to benefit her Native community.

Meanwhile, Campers were inspired by guest speakers, including physicist Alexandra LeViness of MIT spinout Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and the diverse perspectives of the MIT interns. “I thought, maybe this is what MIT looks like,” one camper remarked, with several expressing their intent to apply to MIT as a direct result of the camp.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. also addressed TASC students, urging them to embrace technology for the public good.

“Technology can be used for good, or it can be used for harm. Your generation has the opportunity to bend that arc toward something good,” Hoskin stated, acknowledging Jack Carson’s pivotal leadership in fostering the special relationship between the Cherokee Nation and MIT.

Empowering Future Leaders for Social Impact

In practical terms, The Code.Tulsa experience leaves a lasting impression on its participants, both interns and campers, instilling a strong motivation for positive social impact. While not all MIT students will pursue traditional social impact careers, programs like Code.Tulsa demonstrate that promoting the public interest is integral to any professional path.

Elvis Chipiro, a junior in computer science and engineering, reflected after his internship with the Cherokee Nation: “Social impact is not separate from mainstream technology; rather, it is embedded in the choices engineers make every day… Ultimately, meaningful social change is not driven by technology alone, but by people willing to design systems with empathy, responsibility, and inclusion at the center.”

For example, For some, Code.Tulsa serves as a powerful reconnection to their original purpose. Chenise Harper summarized this sentiment perfectly: “Remembering that … I could use my MIT education to help others was a big reason I applied to MIT in the first place.

But I forgot my own mission in the stress of school. Code.Tulsa really re-opened my eyes to why I am here.” The program not only hones technical skills but also cultivates a deep sense of responsibility and empathy, shaping a new generation of innovators dedicated to human-centered progress.

Expert Perspective

A practical read on MIT Code.Tulsa Program starts with tulsa. That is where the earliest effects are likely to show up if this development keeps building.

What happens next will come down to adoption speed, policy response, and execution quality. That combination could make MIT Code.Tulsa Program a meaningful reference point across students.

For decision-makers, the useful lens is not the headline alone but how wang changes priorities once organizations have to respond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is MIT Code.Tulsa Program important?

A New Perspective on Technical InnovationThe bigger takeaway is simple: When MIT mechanical engineering student Daphne Wang arrived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for her summer internship at the Muscogee Creek Nation Department of Health, she anticipated a summer immersed in coding.

What impact could MIT Code.Tulsa Program have?

What unfolded was a profound shift in perspective, revealing the critical intersection of technology, history, and community.

What should readers watch next with MIT Code.Tulsa Program?

“I learned so much that I think should be required curriculum for every single person in this country,” Wang reflects, emphasizing that true “tech for good” means understanding diverse communities and integrating those worldly insights into every technical endeavor.Meanwhile, Wang, alongside artificial intelligence and decision-making major Lucy Sun, dedicated their summer to a vital project: supporting the development of the Muscogee Nation’s inaugural Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey.

How does this relate to tulsa?

It connects because the article frames tulsa as one of the clearest areas where the topic may be felt in practice.

Source: https://news.mit.edu/2026/mit-students-gain-humanist-lens-technical-innovation-tulsa-oklahoma-0925