Kavita Bala, the dean of the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, has been appointed as the university’s 17th provost, as announced by Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff on September 25. Her five-year term, approved by the Executive Committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees, will commence on January 1.
In his announcement, Kotlikoff praised Bala for her exceptional leadership at Cornell Bowers CIS, highlighting her contributions to the college’s growth, diversity, interdisciplinary initiatives, and its position as a leader in research and innovation. Bala, a leading expert in computer vision and graphics, is set to succeed John Siliciano, who has been serving as interim provost since July 1. Siliciano temporarily filled the role after Kotlikoff transitioned to interim president following President Martha E. Pollack’s retirement.
Bala expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing the rapid societal changes driven by technological advancements and her intention to create an environment at Cornell where every individual can maximize their intellectual potential and positively impact society.
As provost, Bala will oversee nearly all academic programs, strategic planning, budgeting, tenure and promotion, and research initiatives across the Ithaca campus. She intends to unite scholars and students from various colleges and units to tackle significant global challenges.
Kraig Kayser, chair of the Board of Trustees, acknowledged Bala’s pioneering role at Cornell Bowers CIS and her expertise in artificial intelligence and computer vision, affirming her suitability for the provost position.
During her tenure as dean, which began when she helped secure the naming of Cornell Bowers CIS in 2020, Bala has significantly expanded the college. It currently boasts 2,400 undergraduate majors, with three-quarters of Cornell students enrolling in at least one of its courses. To address this demand, she increased faculty size by 30% and established an internal structure to support the college’s growth. Additionally, she has secured funding for a new building set to open in 2025, providing expanded facilities for labs and student learning.
Bala also leads the Cornell AI Initiative and has developed various programs aimed at integrating AI into the curriculum and enhancing student research opportunities, particularly for underrepresented minorities. Her work has resulted in a notable increase in female enrollment, with women constituting 44% of the college’s majors.
Recognized for her significant contributions to computer graphics and vision, Bala co-founded GrokStyle, a visual recognition AI company, which was acquired by Facebook in 2019. She holds multiple prestigious awards and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay and MIT, where she earned her master’s and doctoral degrees.
Reflecting on her journey, Bala expressed her commitment to fostering collaboration and learning at Cornell, reinforcing the university’s unique culture of interdisciplinary engagement.
