Made possible by a leadership gift from University Trustee Judith Reinsdorf 鈥�86, the program supports the University’s Boundless Possibility聽strategic plan and its commitment to expanding experiential learning. The University aims to grow the program to 50 paid internships annually by 2030.

Read more about the Hire Rochester Internship Program.

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Organized by Dustin Hannum, a faculty member in the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program (WSAP), the conference grew out of his popular WRTG 105 course, American Horror Stories. The event highlights how students can build on the research, critical thinking, and writing skills developed in a foundational writing course to pursue their academic interests and share their work with a broader audience.

Co-sponsored by WSAP, the Department of English, Film and Media Studies, and the Humanities Center, the conference will feature a keynote address by Professor Jason Middleton, along with student presentations examining topics ranging from gender and identity to religion and cultural anxieties in horror.

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The grant will fund the Kearns Center鈥檚 Educational Talent Search (ETS) program, a pre-college career and education program that supports first-generation and income-eligible students interested in pursuing higher education, beginning as early as middle school.

Through the grant, ETS will serve students at four RCSD schools: East Lower School, East Upper School, Padilla High School, and Freddie Thomas Middle School. Educational Talent Search is a federal TRIO program and one of five TRIO programs currently administered by the Kearns Center.

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The search committee will be chaired by Rick Libby, vice provost and university dean of graduate education and professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the School of Medicine & Dentistry. Committee members include faculty and academic leaders from across the University, along with representation from the Board of Trustees.

To support the search, the University has retained Russell Reynolds Associates, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm with extensive experience conducting searches for presidents, provosts, deans, and other senior academic leaders at colleges, universities, and research institutions.

鈥淚 am grateful to Rick and the members of the committee for their willingness to undertake this important work,鈥� Sampson said. 鈥淪imon Business School has a distinguished history, an outstanding faculty, and talented students and alumni. This search provides an opportunity to identify a leader who can build upon those strengths, advance Simon鈥檚 academic and research excellence, and position the School for continued success in an increasingly dynamic environment for business education.鈥�

Search Committee

The Simon Business School Dean Search Committee includes:

• Rick Libby (Chair), Vice Provost and University Dean of Graduate Education; Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine & Dentistry
• Roberto Colangelo, Executive Professor; Faculty Advisor for the Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Robert Sperandio Professor in Entrepreneurship, Simon Business School
• Ivone Foisy, Assistant Dean for Enrollment, Simon Business School
• Juan Jones 鈥�88S (MBA), 天美传媒 Trustee, Executive Vice President of Global Support Renewal Sales, Oracle
• Narayana Kocherlakota, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Research; Professor of Finance; Louise and Henry Epstein Professor of Business Administration, Simon Business School
• Reitumetse Mabokela, Vice Provost for Global Engagement; Professor of Educational Leadership, Warner School of Education and Human Development
• Vera Tilson, Associate Professor, Simon Business School
• Joanna Wu, Susanna and Evans Y. Lam Professor, Simon Business School
• Kate Schimmer, Associate Dean for Artistic Planning, Eastman School of Music

The search committee will work in partnership with Russell Reynolds Associates to develop the position profile, recruit and cultivate a diverse and highly qualified pool of candidates, and engage members of both the University and Simon communities throughout the search process.

Additional information, including opportunities for members of the University community to provide input and details regarding the position and nomination process, will be shared as the search moves forward.

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Cetin, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, currently serves as the Robin and Tim Wentworth Director of the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. He will begin his new role on September 1.

As the University鈥檚 academic and strategic leader for AI, Cetin will report jointly to the provost and the vice president for research. He will lead the development and implementation of a University-wide AI strategy aligned with Boundless Possibility, Rochester鈥檚 2030 strategic plan, and will help position the University as a national leader in AI-related and AI-enabled research, education, and innovation.

The new appointment will be structured as a 50:50 role, with Cetin devoting half of his effort to his responsibilities as associate vice president and vice provost for AI, and half to his continued leadership as director of the Goergen Institute.

鈥淎rtificial intelligence is rapidly changing how we teach, learn, conduct research, and engage with the world,鈥� said Nicole S. Sampson, provost and 天美传媒鈥檚 chief academic officer.聽 鈥淢ujdat brings the combination of scholarly expertise, collaborative leadership, and institutional perspective we need to bring together the extraordinary AI work already happening across the University and establish an ambitious vision for where we go next.鈥�

In his new role, Cetin will work across the University鈥檚 schools and divisions to strengthen AI-related research and education, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, identify major funding and partnership opportunities, and help faculty, students, and staff build the knowledge and skills needed to use AI effectively and responsibly. He will also guide efforts to expand AI curricula, degree programs, certificates, and experiential learning opportunities and strengthen connections with regional employers and initiatives such as Empire AI.

Cetin will also play an important role in coordinating AI-enabled research and discovery across the University, including collaborations involving the Goergen Institute, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 天美传媒 Medicine, the University鈥檚 Transdisciplinary Centers, and other research units. His other priorities will include working with University research leadership to identify emerging funding opportunities and bring together interdisciplinary faculty teams to pursue major collaborative initiatives.

鈥淩ochester has tremendous expertise in artificial intelligence, data science, computing, medicine, engineering, the sciences, humanities, and many other areas that will shape how AI develops and how it affects society,鈥� said Cetin. 鈥淚 am excited by the opportunity to connect those strengths across the University and build on the outstanding work already underway. Our goal will be to create an environment in which AI accelerates discovery, enhances education, creates new opportunities for collaboration and innovation, and is developed and used thoughtfully and responsibly. I look forward to working with colleagues across Rochester to define what leadership in AI can look like for our University.鈥�

Cetin will also provide leadership for University-wide AI governance. The University鈥檚 AI Council will report to him, with his leadership responsibilities including overseeing the development of University-wide policies, guidelines, and guardrails designed to balance responsible use with the flexibility necessary for innovation, while ensuring that Rochester鈥檚 approach evolves alongside the changing regulatory, legal, and ethical landscape.

鈥淎I is already transforming the way research is conducted, opening new possibilities for discovery across virtually every field,鈥� said Stephen Dewhurst, vice president for research at 天美传媒. 鈥淢ujdat understands the extraordinary potential of these technologies and the importance of bringing researchers together across disciplines to realize that potential. He also has a strong grasp of the importance of making sure that AI works for everyone, and of the key role that academic institutions must play in ensuring that AI tools are developed and used in a responsible and ethical manner. His leadership will help us build the partnerships, infrastructure, and collaborative research environment needed to translate Rochester鈥檚 expertise into meaningful scientific, societal, and economic impact.鈥�

As leader of the Goergen Institute, Cetin brings extensive experience in interdisciplinary research and academic leadership. His research spans data, signal, and imaging sciences, with particular emphasis on probabilistic and machine-learning methods for extracting information from complex data. His work includes computational sensing and imaging, biomedical image analysis, computer vision, and signal processing and machine learning for brain-computer and brain-machine interfaces.

Before joining Rochester, Cetin was a faculty member at Sabanci University in Istanbul and a research scientist at MIT and held visiting faculty appointments at MIT, Northeastern University, and Boston University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Bogazici University, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Salford, and a PhD in electrical engineering from Boston University.

The creation of the associate vice president and vice provost for artificial intelligence position reflects the University鈥檚 broader commitment to ensuring that advances in AI strengthen Rochester鈥檚 research enterprise, enrich teaching and learning, prepare students and the workforce for a rapidly changing environment, and contribute to economic and societal impact locally, nationally, and globally.

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With nearly two decades of experience working in higher education, Williams brings a wealth of expertise and understanding of the academic landscape to this role.聽 Since stepping in as interim director in April of 2025, he has been instrumental in the continued success of the Kearns Center and has demonstrated exceptional leadership and stability, guiding the Center with a steadfast commitment to excellence. His dedication to the Center鈥檚 mission and the students it serves makes him the ideal person to lead the Kearns Center into the future.

Before being named interim director, Williams worked in the Kearns Center as director for graduate diversity, leading initiatives that support the recruitment, retention, and success of historically underrepresented students, particularly in STEM disciplines. Prior to working at the 天美传媒, Williams worked for four years as the assistant director of the Higher Education Opportunity (HEOP) program at Rochester Institute of Technology.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to continue the great work at the Kearns Center with this amazing team,鈥� William said. 鈥淥ver the past year I have gotten to work more closely with them, and learn how they work best, and they have knocked it out of the park. I鈥檓 so grateful and look forward to building on the Kearns Center鈥檚 legacy and supporting all students that enter the 天美传媒.鈥�

As a first-generation college graduate, he holds a BA in Sociology from Alfred University, an MS in Sports Management from American Public University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. His doctoral research focused on the retention and persistence of Black male students at predominantly white institutions.

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Gresens, a faculty member in the Department of Religion and Classics since 2009, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position. His work specializes in classical languages and literature, with a focus on ancient Greek and Roman texts. He has been recognized for his innovative teaching methods and commitment to student success. He served on the College Academic Honesty Policy Committee that rewrote the academic honesty policy and has served as a board member and deputy chair of the Board on Academic Honesty.

In his new role, Gresens will provide strategic leadership in advancing a proactive and educational approach to academic integrity across the University. His work will focus on delivering education, training, and outreach programs designed to promote a shared understanding of academic honesty among students, faculty, and staff. By working closely with faculty, graduate instructors, students, and academic units, he will help strengthen curriculum and instruction to embed principles of integrity into the fabric of the University鈥檚 academic culture.

Gresens will also collaborate with the Board on Academic Honesty and other administrative leaders to ensure consistent, equitable, and evolving practices related to academic integrity. This includes addressing emerging challenges, such as the ethical use of artificial intelligence in teaching and research and leveraging data-informed approaches to guide policy development and institutional practices.

Please join us in congratulating Nicholas Gresens on his appointment and in welcoming him to this new role.

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Myers joined the University in 2006 after a distinguished career in the corporate sector, including leadership roles at Eastman Kodak. At Rochester, she was named the University鈥檚 first chief information security officer and was charged with helping strengthen the institution鈥檚 growing digital infrastructure at a time when information technology was becoming increasingly central to teaching, research, healthcare, and administration.

Over the course of her tenure, Myers has helped guide the University through a period of significant technological transformation. She has played a key role in developing a more coordinated enterprise approach to technology, building stronger governance and strategy for major systems, and helping integrate IT operations across the University and the Medical Center.

Reflecting on her time at Rochester, Myers said she is most proud of the way technology has helped connect people and work across the institution.

鈥淚 have loved being part of the 天美传媒 community, and it has truly been an honor to serve here,鈥� Myers said. 鈥淚f there is one accomplishment that makes me proud, it鈥檚 helping make the University feel smaller by bringing people, systems, and applications together in ways that are more cohesive and intentional.鈥�

Myers noted that when she first arrived, many systems operated independently of one another. Today, she says, technology across the University is significantly more connected and aligned with institutional priorities.

鈥淭he role of IT is ultimately about enabling people,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t a university with roughly 40,000 faculty, staff and students across academic, research, and healthcare environments, our job is to make sure the technology works in ways that help people be as productive and effective as possible.鈥�

Under her leadership, the University strengthened enterprise information technology governance and built a more strategic framework for managing major technology platforms. Myers also helped to champion collaborations across the River Campus and the 天美传媒 Medical Center, helping to ensure that systems and infrastructure could support the University鈥檚 integrated academic, research, and clinical missions.

Looking ahead, Myers believes the institution is well positioned to build on this foundation, particularly in areas such as data analytics and the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence in higher education and healthcare.

Provost Nicole Sampson thanked Myers for her long service and recognized her impact on the institution. 鈥淛ulie has been an exceptional leader and partner to the University community,鈥� Sampson said. 鈥淭hrough her efforts, the University now benefits from a far more harmonized and strategically aligned IT ecosystem. Her work has strengthened our ability to support research, education, and clinical care in an increasingly digital world.鈥�

Myers is currently working through a transition plan with University leadership to ensure that critical initiatives and priority projects continue moving forward smoothly over the coming months.

In retirement, Myers looks forward to spending more time with her growing family, including her nine grandchildren, with a tenth on the way, traveling with her husband, and continuing to find ways to support the University鈥檚 mission.

A national search will be initiated to identify Myers鈥檚 successor. More information about the search will be available in the coming weeks.

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