About Us

In the photo, preparing to cut the ribbon are (from left) PhD candidate Sahana Rangasrinivasan, Department of Computer Science and Engineering; NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan; U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; President Satish K. Tripathi and Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Venu Govindaraju, principal investigator of AI4ExceptionalEd. Photo: Nancy J. Parisi

The National AI Institute for Exceptional Education (AI4ExceptionalEd) brings together multidisciplinary experts from speech and language science, learning science, artificial intelligence research, human-centered AI-design, social robotics, data analytics and more.

Our goal is to develop use-inspired AI technologies to help scale the availability of speech-language pathologists for universal early screening and to provide ability-based interventions for the over 3.4 million children in the US with speech and language-related concerns.

Designed for Innovation

Equipped with advanced technology, our 3,000 square-foot headquarters and research laboratory are centrally located on UB’s North Campus near Lockwood Library, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (IAD), and the Level Up ESports lab. It features a showcase area for reception and special events, meeting spaces, offices and a sandbox-style research observation lab configured as a “classroom of the future.”

Partner Institutions

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign website.

Senior Leadership

Our senior leadership team respresents accomplished researchers, thought leaders and educators who are committed to using AI for social good. They are the fulcrum of the governing structure of the institute.

The senior leadership team meets regularly to ensure that (acronym)'s numerous research and community activities are well-concerted and aligned with its goals.

Collectively, members of the team: coordinate the Institute’s end-to-end scientific research agenda; are responsible for driving research collaborations, timelines and deliverables; and manage day-to-day business including staffing, resource allocation, communication and reporting. They ensure compliance with research guidelines within the Institute including Institutional Review Board (IRB) and other processes.

A portrait of Venu Govindaraju after he spoke at a meeting of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership in Buffalo, NY in January 2024. The presentation was titled Convergence of Artificial Intelligence to solve societal problems. Photographer: Douglas Levere.

Venu Govindaraju, PI
Institute Director
University at Buffalo

Pamela Hadley, Co-PI
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Jinjun Xiong, Co-PI
Scientific Director
University at Buffalo

Julie Kientz, Co-PI
University of Washington

Srirangaraj (Ranga) Setlur
Managing Director
University at Buffalo

David Feil-Seifer, Co-PI
University of Nevada, Reno

External Advisory Board

The External Advisory Board (EAB) helps to ensure that the vision of the Institute is well served by the research and provides suggestions for modifications. The EAB helps the leadership team identify priorities, seek strategic partnerships, gain access to connections in the stakeholder communities and pursue other resources and potential sources of support.

EAB members are thought leaders representing academia, industry, government, state and local agencies and non-profit organizations. The current board has six members with diverse experience and expertise — internationally known AI researchers, and leaders in early education, special education, learning science, speech-language pathology, diversity, equity and inclusion and service to underrepresented populations and the community at-large.

Brian Graham
Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Grand Island Central School District

Anjali Joshi
Advisor, Entrepreneur

Megan-Brette Hamilton
Chief Staff Officer for Multicultural Affairs, The American-
Speech-Language Hearing Association

Jennifer Taps Richard
Co-Owner and Director, SLPath

Anil K. Jain
University Distinguished Professor, Dept of Computer Science & Engineering, Michigan State University

Tracy A. Sawicki
Executive Director, The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation

Broader Impact Initiative Leads

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds scientists and engineers to perform research that advances discovery and innovation. The agency also expects researchers' work to have broader impacts: the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Our Broader Impact Initiative Leads oversee the five initiatives identified as critically important outcomes of this project: Education and Workforce Development, Community Outreach, Knowledge Transfer, Broadening Participation and DEI and Validation of Impacts.

Our members have expertise and experience in their impact area, and each is uniquely qualified to provide leadership and significant contributions to the initiative.