HAIL Administration

University of Pittsburgh’s Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership Announces Expanded Leadership Team

In the current blink-and-you’ll-miss-it trajectory of artificial intelligence-related developments, discussion about the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI’s role and applications in society often boil down to an overly simplistic “good or bad” paradigm.

Michael Colaresi, the newly named director of the new academic Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership (HAIL) and strategic advisor to the provost, prefers a more nuanced view of the game-changing digital technology.

Building upon the strong foundation created through the Responsible Data Science (RDS) initiative and many efforts to harness AI across the University, Pitt is launching a new academic Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership (HAIL). The hub will serve as an academic convening point for artificial intelligence and data science efforts and will facilitate collaboration across teaching, learning and other academic operations.

Provost Announcement: I am pleased to share that I have appointed Michael Colaresi, who currently serves as Associate Vice Provost for Data Science, to serve in a new role as Strategic Advisor to the Provost and Director of the newly established academic Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership (HAIL), effective January 1, 2026.

Tell us a bit about your academic background at the University of Pittsburgh and your role at RDS@Pitt.

I began my Master’s in Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh in 2023.

In my final semester, I also started working with Dr. Angela Stewart on research related to the use of AI in education.

At RDS@Pitt, my main responsibility was organizing and cleaning the datasets and frameworks pages on Notion.

Can you share some of the key projects or initiatives you’ve worked on this semester?

Tell us a bit about your academic background at the University of Pittsburgh and your role at RDS@Pitt.

I am an incoming senior in the University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information and Frederick Honors College, majoring in computer science and computational biology with a minor in political science.

This semester, I served as a database management student worker with RDS@Pitt, building the content base as well as furthering the ConCReTE initiative.

Tell us a bit about your academic background at the University of Pittsburgh and your role at RDS@Pitt.

I'm a student at Pitt double majoring in digital narrative interactive design and music composition with a minor in computer science.

I joined RDS@Pitt as a database management associate, but my role has been nebulous, encompassing aspects of communications, user experience, research, and product design.

Can you share some of the key projects or initiatives you’ve worked on this semester?

Tell us a bit about your academic background at the University of Pittsburgh and your role at RDS@Pitt.

I am a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration and the David C. Frederick Honors College, where I majored in marketing and received a certificate in business analytics.

The Responsible Data Science initiative at the University of Pittsburgh (RDS@Pitt) is proud to unveil the formation of its new Steering Committee, a University-wide effort to explore bold, innovative applications of responsible data science. This committee will help guide RDS@Pitt in bridging disciplines and practices to tackle pressing societal challenges.

RDS@Pitt’s mission to foster responsible data science is significantly bolstered by its Advisory Board, comprising esteemed leaders from many of the most influential industries in our region and beyond. These experts generously share their wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives, ensuring that RDS@Pitt’s initiatives are continually impactful and aligned with evolving industry needs.