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Empire AI uses a hybrid governance model built to balance state oversight, university participation, technical expertise, and philanthropic backing. The board currently consists of 16 members: 14 voting members and 2 advisory observers.

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Board of directors

AffiliationRepresentativeRole
BloombergTom SecundaBoard chair
B Capital Group / Renaissance TechnologiesHoward MorganAt-large board member
Independent technology leadershipKim HazelwoodAt-large board member
State University of New YorkRam RamasubramanianInstitutional representative
University at BuffaloVenu GovindarajuInstitutional representative
City University of New YorkJoshua BrumbergInstitutional representative
Columbia UniversityJeannette WingInstitutional representative
Cornell UniversityKrystyn Van VlietInstitutional representative
New York UniversityNina GrayInstitutional representative
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRobert HullInstitutional representative
University of RochesterStephen DewhurstInstitutional representative
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiGirish NadkarniInstitutional representative
NY CreatesDouglas GroseInstitutional representative
Liz Fine Associates LLCLiz FineInstitutional representative
Simons FoundationIan FiskAdvisory observer
NYSTARBen VerschuerenAdvisory observer
This mix gives the consortium academic legitimacy, operational grounding, and access to external expertise in infrastructure, venture creation, and large-scale research administration.

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Operating leadership

Daily execution sits with a smaller management and technical team:
RoleLeader
Director of research computingKiran Keshav
Project director for infrastructure developmentRachel L. Walker
Director of business operationsLoreley Giraudon
Strategic advisorJim Courtland
Manager of high performance computing systemsCesar Arias
System administratorsRobert Reichenbach and Anthony Siracuse
Kiran Keshav leads the research-computing side of the platform: cluster operations, technical direction, and the translation of Empire AI’s shared-infrastructure model into a usable environment for researchers.
The Empire AI source materials also highlight the importance of the at-large members. Kim Hazelwood brings deep AI systems and infrastructure expertise, while Howard Morgan adds commercialization and venture-building perspective that can help research move into startup or translational pathways.

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Why this structure matters

Empire AI depends on coordination across public universities, private research institutions, state agencies, and philanthropic supporters. A single-campus governance model would not be strong enough for that. The current board design spreads representation across member institutions while preserving room for outside technical and strategic guidance.