In recognition of former U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle’s 28 years of public service representing the greater Pittsburgh region, Carnegie Mellon University announced today it would establish the Mike Doyle Endowed Fellowship in Technology and Policy.

“Throughout his political career, Mike has been deeply invested in nurturing an ecosystem of innovation and using it to open doors of economic opportunity," said CMU President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window). "This new fellowship honors his incredible impact on CMU, Southwestern Pennsylvania and our nation. Even more, it will help new generations of leaders advance solutions at the intersection of policy and technology for broad societal benefit.” 

The fellowship reflects the former congressman’s contributions to Southwestern Pennsylvania and the nation as a champion of integrating technology with policy to catalyze societal change and economic opportunity. A tireless advocate for American innovation, Doyle formed and led the bipartisan Robotics Caucus to focus on key issues facing the nation’s robotics industry and emerging technologies. The Robotics Caucus established the annual National Robotics Week, during which events focused on robotics education are held in 50 states and Washington, D.C. He also served as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, addressing climate change by advancing energy-efficient technologies, working to restore Net Neutrality, and advocating to make accessible, high-speed broadband a reality for everyone.

“This is an incredible honor,” said Doyle. “I have always valued the remarkable role that Carnegie Mellon University plays in merging policy and technology for the greater good, and I am proud to be tangibly linked to these fields — and these scholars — as they continue to innovate and improve our world.”  

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, Doyle led efforts to develop technology policies that aided the Pittsburgh region in evolving from a steel-based economy to one rooted in education, technology, life sciences and the rebirth of manufacturing. These efforts had a significant impact on Carnegie Mellon University, where Doyle played an essential role in establishing the National Robotics Engineering Center(opens in new window) (NREC), an operating unit within Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute(opens in new window), and the world’s largest robotics research and development organization. NREC is largely responsible for growing Pittsburgh into a global robotics hub that today spans more than 100 companies and 7,000 jobs. Doyle also supported Girls of Steel(opens in new window), a CMU-based robotics educational outreach program that engages K-12 students in the Pittsburgh area in STEM. 

During his time in Congress, Doyle was also instrumental in obtaining funding for Carnegie Mellon's cybersecurity efforts, including the establishment of CyLab(opens in new window) as a university-wide security and privacy research institute. CyLab recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and Doyle was a featured speaker at the gala event.

In recognition of Doyle’s legacy, CMU will offer the Mike Doyle Endowed Fellowship in Technology and Policy to a master’s student whose focus is on technology, ethics and public policy. The CMU Office of the Provost will administer the two-year award, which will alternate each cycle between the School of Computer Science(opens in new window) and the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy(opens in new window). The fellowship will support its first student — a member of CMU’s School of Computer Science — in fall 2024. 

Doyle began his political career as a councilman serving the Pittsburgh borough of Swissvale. He later became chief of staff to Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Pecora, and, in 1994, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Doyle retired from public service in December 2022 after 14 terms representing the 18th District of Pennsylvania. He currently serves as a government affairs counselor in the Public Policy and Law practice in the Pittsburgh office of global law firm K&L Gates.