Martha E. Pollack

Martha E. Pollack Overview

Martha E. Pollack is a distinguished American computer scientist and the 14th president of Cornell University, assuming office in April 2017. Her academic journey includes serving as the 14th provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan from 2013 to 2017.

With a strong focus on artificial intelligence, Pollack's expertise encompasses planning, natural language processing, and activity recognition for cognitive assistance. She is a significant contributor to the field of AI and holds a position on the board of directors of IBM.

Educated at Dartmouth College, Pollack pursued further studies, earning her master's and doctoral degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania, culminating in her Ph.D. in 1986.

Before her tenure at the University of Michigan, Pollack held positions at SRI International and the University of Pittsburgh. Her significant contributions include program chair of the International Joint Conferences on Artificial Intelligence and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research.

Pollack is a recipient of the prestigious IJCAI Computers and Thought Award and holds fellowships from renowned organizations such as the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the Association for Computing Machinery, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Notably, Pollack champions sustainability, actively pursuing carbon neutrality by 2035 through innovative initiatives like geothermal energy exploration.

Her visionary leadership has steered Cornell's excellence in various domains, including the establishment of the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy and the evolution of Cornell Computing and Information Science into an independent college. She envisions Cornell as a platform for interdisciplinary initiatives like The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative.

Pollack's commitment to diversity and equity is evident in her numerous initiatives, such as an Intergroup Dialogue Project for incoming students. She advocates for international students and expanded access to Cornell's offerings.

Under her stewardship, Cornell's research funding has surged, reaching a 36% increase in federal funding. Her initiatives have resulted in successful fundraising, including Cornell's campaign to raise $5 billion.

Pollack's strategic leadership and commitment to excellence continue to shape Cornell University's trajectory, facilitating advancements in research, education, and global engagement.