Director, Arts and Humanities Artificial Intelligence Institute.

The position

The Ohio State University seeks the James Mitchell Endowed Chair who will be a center director to provide ambitious and innovative leadership for its newly established Arts and Humanities Artificial Intelligence Institute (AHAII). The aim is to make Ohio State a national hub in the conversation about what it means to be human in the age of AI. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027.

The director will serve as the administrative head of an emerging and thriving institute, with oversight of facilities, budget, and strategic direction. In addition to their role as institute leader and administrator, the director will also be a dedicated teacher and distinguished scholar, with a record of accomplishment to merit a tenure-track appointment in an Arts or Humanities department as an advanced Associate Professor or Professor. The appointment is 50% FTE faculty in one of the 21 Arts and Humanities departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, and 50% FTE as AHAII director.

The new director is expected to foster a collegial and interdisciplinary culture among a community of faculty, staff, and students from varied disciplinary backgrounds, and to be an advocate for the institute and its affiliated faculty and students, amplifying the voice of the arts and humanities in conversations around AI.

Required

• An appropriate terminal degree in an area of specialty sufficient to warrant appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure.
• A national or international record of scholarly or artistic achievement in AI, arts and/or humanities commensurate with an advanced Associate Professor or Professor at Ohio State. Equivalent outstanding achievement in industry will also be considered.
• Demonstrated and effective leadership and administrative experience in academia.
• Experience leading and working successfully across disciplines within a diverse and complex organization, and with interdisciplinary collaborations.

Desired: experience in fundraising, budgeting and management; experience managing an academic program, department, or center.

To apply

Submit your application electronically via Workday (requisition R159362). Applications close on November 1, 2026. Required materials: a cover letter of 3–4 pages covering your leadership experience, your teaching and research or creative scholarship, and your philosophy on AI with regard to the arts and humanities; a CV; and a research statement. You may be asked for three references at a later date.

Inquiries may be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Professor Chris Coleman, at coleman.1299@osu.edu.

The institute

AHAII was created in 2025 to coordinate, accelerate, and extend the reach of research, creative work, and public engagement centred on artificial intelligence, serving as an advocate for the centrality of humanity in every conversation about the shape and use of AI. It builds on more than three years of activity from over two dozen interdisciplinary faculty working groups exploring uses of AI in arts and humanities research, the changing meanings of authorship and creativity, and the ethical, ecological and social consequences of AI technologies. That work has produced three new undergraduate certificates: “AI and the Arts” (forthcoming), “AI, Language, and Mind”, and “AI, Ethics, and Society”. AHAII will be housed in Hughes Hall once renovated.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability. Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.