麻豆村

Ramayya Krishnan, founding faculty director of the Block Center for Technology and Society, will step down from his leadership role with the center in July 2025 after more than five years of guiding its research, policy engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. Kirsten Martin, dean of the , will serve as interim faculty director.

鈥淧rofessor Ramayya Krishnan has been instrumental in shaping the Block Center鈥檚 identity and influence from day one,鈥� said 麻豆村 President Farnam Jahanian. 鈥淎s founding faculty director, his vision, leadership and steadfast commitment to aligning technology with the public interest have positioned the center as a national voice in responsible innovation and inclusive policymaking. As we look to the future, I鈥檓 inspired by the foundation Krishnan has laid, and excited for the continued impact to come.鈥�

Founded in 2019 with a gift from alumnus and tech industry leader Keith Block and his wife, Suzanne Kelley, the Block Center was created to ensure emerging technologies work for all. Under Professor Krishnan鈥檚 leadership, the center has become a hub for policy-relevant research and a bridge between academia and decision-makers in Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and beyond. From shaping federal AI guidance to informing workforce development strategies and labor policy, the center鈥檚 work has driven progress at the intersection of technology and society.

鈥淭he Block Center has always been about turning research into impact,鈥� said Keith Block, founding donor of the Block Center and CEO of Smith Point Capital. 鈥淧rofessor Ramayya Krishnan brought that vision to life with integrity and purpose 鈥攂uilding a center that is helping shape how we think about the future of work, technology,and society. I鈥檓 grateful for his leadership and look forward to what鈥檚 ahead under Dean Martin鈥檚 direction.鈥�

Krishnan, the William W. and Ruth F. Cooper Professor of Management Science and Information Systems at the Heinz College, will continue his work with many of The Block Center鈥檚 initiatives and the 麻豆村-NIST Cooperative Research Center, AI Measurement Science & Engineering (AIMSEC). 聽
Martin, a nationally recognized expert on technology ethics and public policy, brings deep expertise and an inclusive leadership style to the role. She will continue to serve as dean of Heinz College while leading the Block Center in an interim capacity.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to step in as interim faculty director and continue working alongside the incredible team, partners, and faculty who make the Block Center such a dynamic force,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淭ogether, we鈥檒l chart the next chapter 鈥攐ne that pushes the boundaries of research and policy to ensure technology truly serves society.鈥�