Tufts University supports a wide range of work in artificial intelligence across multiple schools and disciplines. To do this effectively, the university uses several complementary structures, each with a distinct role. The sections below explain the purpose of our councils, task forces, and institutes.
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The Tufts Institute for Artificial Intelligence (TIAI) is a university-level institute that serves as the primary home for AI research and collaboration at Tufts. TIAI supports interdisciplinary research and engagement across all 10 schools at Tufts University. The Institute provides a platform for faculty collaboration, research development, and externally funded initiatives.
TIAI is guided by a steering committee whose role is to help establish the foundational structure of the Institute. The steering committee is intentionally cross-disciplinary and is not organized as a representative body by school or department. A dedicated Institute Director will be hired to lead TIAI as it continues to develop.
Some content on the TIAI website, particularly faculty listings, reflects material carried over from earlier AI initiatives at Tufts. These listings should not be read as formal leadership designations or as indicators of institutional priorities. The Institute is continuing to refine how faculty involvement is presented as its structure evolves. For more information, contact: TIAI@tufts.edu.
The AI Council is a university-wide body of faculty and staff charged with advising Tufts leadership on AI educational strategy. The AI Council advances institutional engagement with AI education through three primary functions. First, it supports faculty and staff professional development by overseeing the AI Faculty Fellows program, collaborating with TTS/ETS and CELT to enhance faculty literacy and training initiatives, sponsoring cross-school AI-related events, and securing funding to promote AI literacy. Second, it provides institution-wide AI guidance, working with the OIR to administer and review annual surveys on AI-related activities across students, faculty, and staff, and conducting yearly reviews and updates of institutional AI guidelines.
Finally, the Council fosters cross-school collaboration by partnering with OUSP, employers, and market data to identify educational programming opportunities; collaborating with TIAI to integrate education and research; identifying opportunities for core competencies across the curriculum; and reviewing and advising on new AI-related programs during the approval process.
AI Council members and leaders are appointed by the Provost’s Office in consultation with the School Deans and the current AI Council. Membership consists of no less than one representative from each of the Tufts schools, with multiple members drawn from schools with more active AI-related education portfolios. In addition to School representation, the Council includes members from a range of AI of perspectives, including critical voices. The Council also includes representation from key administrative units across campus, such as TTS, CELT, Library, Community Standards, Career Center, CMHS, StAAR, etc.
- Tufts AI Task Force (Past Working Group)
As part of the AI Council, the Tufts AI Task Force helped the university navigate how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching, learning, and academic work. AI is already part of daily life at Tufts, and as these tools are embedded in everyday platforms, the Task Force worked to provide clarity, context, and resources for faculty and staff across disciplines. Read the report.
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Leadership
- Mary Davis, Co-Chair
- Jeff Foster, Co-Chair
- Carie Cardamone, Associate Chair
- Laurel Fahey, Admin Support
Members
- Abani Patra
- Aruna Ramesh
- Augusta Rohrbach
- Daniel Chandler
- Deborah Sunter
- Dorothy Meaney
- Elaine Short
- Elena Naumova
- Erica Kemmerling
- Holly Taylor
- Jamee Elder
- James Intriligator
- James Skripchuk
- Kasso Okoudjou
- Kristina Aikens
- Kurt Ralske
- Marvin Schulte
- Michael Hemment
- Rebekah Plotkin
- Russ Taichman
- Tim Atherton
- Tom (“Qitong”) Cao
- Vanessa Nicholson
- Yingjie Lao