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 Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, will serve as interim faculty director.

“Professor Ramayya Krishnan has been instrumental in shaping the Block Center’s identity and influence from day one,” said CMU President Farnam Jahanian. “As 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’m inspired by the foundation Krishnan has laid, and excited for the continued impact to come.”

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’s 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’s work has driven progress at the intersection of technology and society.

“The Block Center has always been about turning research into impact,” said Keith Block, founding donor of the Block Center and CEO of Smith Point Capital. “Professor Ramayya Krishnan brought that vision to life with integrity and purpose —building a center that is helping shape how we think about the future of work, technology,and society. I’m grateful for his leadership and look forward to what’s ahead under Dean Martin’s direction.”

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’s initiatives and the CMU-NIST Cooperative Research Center, AI Measurement Science & Engineering (AIMSEC).  
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.

“I’m 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,” Martin said. “Together, we’ll chart the next chapter —one that pushes the boundaries of research and policy to ensure technology truly serves society.”