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RIT Secures $24 Million Gift to Launch New AI Institute and Expand Scholarship and Professorship Endowments
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) announced on June 18 2026 that it has received a $24 million commitment from Jeff Harris ’75, a member of the Board of Trustees, and Joyce Pratt, a member of the President’s Roundtable. The gift, which brings the couple’s lifetime giving to more than $30 million, will fund the creation of an artificial intelligence institute, broaden scholarship support, and strengthen endowments for three distinguished professorships.
The donation will establish a Harris‑Pratt Directorship for the new AI institute, which is expected to open in early 2027. The institute will focus on AI education, research, and responsible application across RIT’s academic disciplines. Recruitment of the founding director will begin this summer, and the institute will aim to develop talent that can guide, apply, and improve emerging technologies.
RIT President Bill Sanders said the gift “invests in the people who shape the future of our university: our students, faculty, and academic leaders.” He added that as AI evolves, the most important factor will be the people who are prepared to lead through change. Harris echoed this view, noting that new technologies transform industries and processes, but that people’s expertise, judgment, creativity, and ability to apply knowledge remain constant.
Pratt highlighted the impact of scholarships, mentorship, and research experiences on students’ lives. She said the couple’s investments “extend far beyond the classroom” and that they are proud to support the students and faculty who will shape the future.
The commitment includes a $1 million addition to the J. K. Harris Endowed Scholarship, established in 2015 to support the Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars program. The remaining $18 million will be split equally among three endowed professorships:
Jeffrey K. Harris Professorship Jane King Harris Professorship * Gerald W. Harris Professorship
These positions provide sustained support for distinguished faculty whose teaching, research, and mentorship advance RIT’s mission. RIT currently maintains more than 50 endowed professorships.
Jeff Harris earned his bachelor’s degree in photographic science and instrumentation from RIT in 1975. He has served on RIT’s Board of Trustees and previously chaired the board. Harris’s career includes senior roles at Lockheed Martin, where he was president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, president of Lockheed Martin Special Programs, and president of Space Imaging. Earlier, he held federal positions such as assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space and director of the National Reconnaissance Office.
Joyce Pratt, a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Russian language and literature, began her career as a Russian analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency and later served as CIA comptroller. After leaving government service, she joined Lockheed Martin, working with leadership teams on national security and defense strategies.
RIT’s AI initiatives already include a two‑year Master of Science program in Artificial Intelligence offered through the School of Information. The new institute will build on these programs and RIT’s existing research in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. By fostering collaboration among faculty, students, and industry partners, the institute aims to position RIT as a leader in responsible AI development.
At present, RIT has secured the financial foundation for the AI institute and related endowments. The university will begin recruiting the institute’s founding director in the summer of 2026, with the institute slated to launch in early 2027. Remaining questions include the selection process for the director, the institute’s specific research agenda, and the timeline for integrating the new professorships into RIT’s faculty structure.
The commitment underscores RIT’s commitment to advancing AI education and research while supporting students and faculty through scholarships and endowed positions. The institute’s launch will add a new dimension to RIT’s academic portfolio and strengthen its role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
The donation will establish a Harris‑Pratt Directorship for the new AI institute, which is expected to open in early 2027. The institute will focus on AI education, research, and responsible application across RIT’s academic disciplines. Recruitment of the founding director will begin this summer, and the institute will aim to develop talent that can guide, apply, and improve emerging technologies.
RIT President Bill Sanders said the gift “invests in the people who shape the future of our university: our students, faculty, and academic leaders.” He added that as AI evolves, the most important factor will be the people who are prepared to lead through change. Harris echoed this view, noting that new technologies transform industries and processes, but that people’s expertise, judgment, creativity, and ability to apply knowledge remain constant.
Pratt highlighted the impact of scholarships, mentorship, and research experiences on students’ lives. She said the couple’s investments “extend far beyond the classroom” and that they are proud to support the students and faculty who will shape the future.
The commitment includes a $1 million addition to the J. K. Harris Endowed Scholarship, established in 2015 to support the Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars program. The remaining $18 million will be split equally among three endowed professorships:
Jeffrey K. Harris Professorship Jane King Harris Professorship * Gerald W. Harris Professorship
These positions provide sustained support for distinguished faculty whose teaching, research, and mentorship advance RIT’s mission. RIT currently maintains more than 50 endowed professorships.
Jeff Harris earned his bachelor’s degree in photographic science and instrumentation from RIT in 1975. He has served on RIT’s Board of Trustees and previously chaired the board. Harris’s career includes senior roles at Lockheed Martin, where he was president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, president of Lockheed Martin Special Programs, and president of Space Imaging. Earlier, he held federal positions such as assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space and director of the National Reconnaissance Office.
Joyce Pratt, a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Russian language and literature, began her career as a Russian analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency and later served as CIA comptroller. After leaving government service, she joined Lockheed Martin, working with leadership teams on national security and defense strategies.
RIT’s AI initiatives already include a two‑year Master of Science program in Artificial Intelligence offered through the School of Information. The new institute will build on these programs and RIT’s existing research in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. By fostering collaboration among faculty, students, and industry partners, the institute aims to position RIT as a leader in responsible AI development.
At present, RIT has secured the financial foundation for the AI institute and related endowments. The university will begin recruiting the institute’s founding director in the summer of 2026, with the institute slated to launch in early 2027. Remaining questions include the selection process for the director, the institute’s specific research agenda, and the timeline for integrating the new professorships into RIT’s faculty structure.
The commitment underscores RIT’s commitment to advancing AI education and research while supporting students and faculty through scholarships and endowed positions. The institute’s launch will add a new dimension to RIT’s academic portfolio and strengthen its role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
