Harris-Pratt Executive Director, AI Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, New York
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), a leading private research university, renowned for technical innovation and creativity, seeks a visionary and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the inaugural Harris-Pratt Executive Director of its new AI Institute. In support of RIT’s 2035 Strategic Framework: Transforming Lives Through Creativity and Innovation, the new AI Institute will serve as a university-wide focal point for advancing artificial intelligence research, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, cultivating external partnerships, and elevating RIT’s reputation and impact in AI.
This is a distinctive opportunity for a leader who combines a strong research background in the field with the ability to build an ambitious, externally engaged university-wide institute at scale. As the founding leader of the AI Institute, the Harris-Pratt Executive Director will shape RIT’s trajectory in artificial intelligence for the next decade by establishing national visibility and building the structures, partnerships, and culture necessary for long-term success. The new AI Institute will serve as a university-wide coordinating structure that enhances RIT’s competitiveness in research, funding, and talent recruitment; amplifies interdisciplinary strengths across the university; and provides new resources and visibility for faculty.
Building upon RIT’s substantial foundation in AI research and community engagement, as well as the institution’s strengths in experiential learning, applied research, and strong industry engagement, the AI Institute will build upon the success of the Center for Human-Aware Artificial Intelligence (CHAI), a community of approximately 50 faculty affiliates conducting research in AI that will serve as the initial core of the Institute. RIT has distinctive strengths in areas including human-centered AI, brain-inspired computing, machine learning, and perception. The transition to an Institute is intended to strengthen external engagement and create new opportunities for collaboration, visibility, and growth. The AI Institute aspires to advance AI research, education, and responsible applications across disciplines.
RIT has been a leader in AI education for decades, with the university’s first course on Artificial Intelligence in 1986. Since then, RIT has grown a substantial footprint in AI education, with over 150 courses on campus relating to AI topics, as well as dedicated programs, such as a MS in Artificial Intelligence, MS in Business Analytics and AI, BS in Artificial Intelligence, minor in Artificial Intelligence, minor in AI and Society, and other programs.
The surrounding ecosystem at RIT provides a strong foundation upon which to build a world-class AI institute. Research in AI spans all of RIT’s colleges, including work on accessibility for people with disabilities, business analytics, creative technologies, computational linguistics, edge computing, manufacturing, robotics, semiconductors, and other areas. RIT’s PhD program in Computing and Information Sciences has been a key driver of AI research growth, and the program is ranked #57 nationally by CSRankings, which is based on a 10-year average of papers at top computing venues. RIT ranks #26 in CSRankings for artificial intelligence and is rising fast, with publication metrics that rank it #9 in the nation from 2021 to 2026. Other subfield rankings include: educational research (#8), human-computer interaction (#20), web and information retrieval (#28), computer vision (#55), machine learning (#56), and natural language processing (#56).
Rochester Institute of Technology has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. All inquiries, applications, and nominations should be directed to the search firm as indicated below and will remain confidential.
The university offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package. The expected base salary range for this role is $275,000 to $400,000. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications, experience, market, and organizational considerations.
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/rochester-institute-technology/harris-pratt-executive-director-ai-institute
Greg Esposito, Partner
Silvia Cheng, Senior Associate
Isaacson, Miller | imsearch.com
In compliance with New York State’s Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact scheng@imsearch.com. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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