PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Ramayya Krishnan

Ramayya Krishnan is a Carnegie Mellon professor whose research focuses on AI measurement and evaluation and the future of work. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at IIT Madras and graduate degrees at the University of Texas at Austin, then joined Carnegie Mellon in 1988. He founded the MISM program in 1998 and served three terms as Heinz College dean from 2009 to 2025, while his four university-wide research centers raised close to $100 million. In 2019, he served as INFORMS's 25th president, established the Block Center and was selected for the National Academy of Public Administration's 2019 class of fellows; in 2022, he joined NAIAC. He testified to the Senate on AI accountability and transparency in 2023; NIST awarded Carnegie Mellon $6 million to establish AIMSEC in 2024, and since July 2025, he is Heinz College's Cooper Professor and Dean Emeritus and directs AIMSEC.

Now at
Heinz College
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Timeline

  1. 1988

    Joining Carnegie Mellon

    After a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, he earns a master's in industrial engineering and operations research and a PhD in management science and information systems at the University of Texas at Austin. He joins the Carnegie Mellon faculty in 1988.

  2. 1998

    Founding the MISM program

    With then-Dean Mark Kamlet, he founds the Master of Information Systems and Management (MISM) program in 1998. The program grows from a founding cohort of 10 students to an intake of 120 within a few years.

  3. 2008–2025

    First dean of Heinz College

    He becomes interim dean in August 2008 and takes office as the first dean of the new Heinz College in July 2009. Carnegie Mellon reappoints him to a second five-year term in 2014, and his third consecutive term ends in July 2025. He founds four externally funded university-wide research centers that raise close to $100 million.

  4. 2019

    The Block Center and INFORMS

    In 2019, he serves as INFORMS's 25th president and establishes the Block Center for Technology and Society at Carnegie Mellon. He leads the center as founding faculty director until July 2025. The National Academy of Public Administration selects him for its 2019 class of fellows.

  5. 2022–2025

    Advising the president on AI

    In 2022, he is one of the first 27 experts appointed to the National AI Advisory Committee, which advises the president and the National AI Initiative Office. He chairs its AI Futures committee through 2025. In 2023, he testifies before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on AI transparency and accountability and becomes chair of the Department of Defense's Responsible Artificial Intelligence academic council.

  6. September 2024

    Launching the AIMSEC center

    In September 2024, the National Institute of Standards and Technology awards Carnegie Mellon $6 million to establish the CMU/NIST AI Measurement Science & Engineering Cooperative Research Center at Heinz College. He is its lead research coordinator.

  7. 2025

    Responsible AI by design

    In 2025, he coauthors the IEEE Intelligent Systems article “From policy to practice: Research directions for trustworthy and responsible AI by design” with J. Lalor, N. Pratt and A. Abbassi. The article appears in volume 40, issue 5, on pages 45–51.

  8. Since July 2025

    Professor and AIMSEC director

    In July 2025, he steps down as Heinz College dean and Block Center founding faculty director, then returns to the faculty as the William W. and Ruth F. Cooper Professor of Management Science and Information Systems. He is Dean Emeritus, directs AIMSEC, and studies AI measurement and evaluation and its implications for the future of work.

Career

  1. Since 2024Heinz CollegeLead Research Coordinator
  2. Since 1988Carnegie Mellon UniversityFaculty Member, Dean
  3. From 2023United States Department of DefenseChair
  4. 2022–2025National AI Advisory CommitteeMember
  5. 2019Institute for Operations Research and the Management SciencesPresident

Education

  1. IIT MadrasBachelor's degree
  2. University of Texas at AustinMaster's and PhD

From the biography.

  1. Of 216 AI researchers who entered public life, 83 held advisory seats and 58 took public rolesIncludes Ramayya Krishnan. Of 216 AI researchers who entered public life, 83 held advisory seats and 58 took public roles. Another 97 people moved from public careers into AI organizations or research, with 62% of dated records starting from 2020 on.
  2. Through 2025, first appointments to public AI advisory and safety bodies peaked in 2023Includes Ramayya Krishnan. We estimate when the people shaping AI entered public advisory and safety bodies, which institutions connect them, and where they worked beforehand. Through 2025, first recorded appointments peaked in 2023 at 42 people.
  3. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes Carnegie Mellon University. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  4. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes Carnegie Mellon University. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Ramayya Krishnan yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Ramayya Krishnan | Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College heinz.cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  2. Leading the Way: Krishnan Named Heinz College Dean cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  3. Heinz College Leadership Transition cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  4. News Brief: Ramayya Krishnan Reappointed Dean of Carnegie Mellon's H. John Heinz III College cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  5. Carnegie Mellon University Announces Leadership Transition at the Block Center for Technology and Society cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  6. Heinz College Dean Krishnan Named National Academy of Public Administration Fellow cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  7. CMU Dean Appointed to National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  8. CMU Dean Ramayya Krishnan Testifies Before Senate Subcommittee on the Need for Transparency in Artificial Intelligence heinz.cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  9. Ramayya Krishnan | Lehigh Business business.lehigh.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  10. NIST Awards $6M to Carnegie Mellon University To Establish AI Cooperative Research Center cmu.edu. Checked 22 October 2026.
  11. Ramayya Krishnan to lead new AI cooperative research center at Carnegie Mellon americanbazaaronline.com. Checked 22 October 2026.