Announcing AILA 2027: AI Leadership Academy at Rice University
About the Academy
The ASA Stats Up AI Interest Group is pleased to announce the Winter 2027 AI Leadership Academy (AILA), hosted by the Department of Statistics at Rice University, in partnership with NISS and the ASA Caucus of Academic Representatives.
The AI landscape is shifting rapidly, and leaders in statistics at all levels—from emerging team leads to senior administrators—are seeking to make their research, education, and team management AI-aware. AILA focuses on practical applications of AI for research and education, strategies for supporting team members in AI-aware and AI-augmented roles, and the design of tailored institutional initiatives.
The community continues beyond the academy through monthly virtual check-ins, mentor connections, and a reunion at JSM 2027.
Who Should Apply
- Academic scholars, educators, and industry leaders in statistics and data science.
- Department chairs, program directors, and research executives seeking to pilot AI initiatives in education, research, or institutional administration.
The cohort is capped at 30 participants and curated for balance across career stages, leadership roles, and sectors.
Program Highlights
- Day 1 — AI for Research & Education: leader talks and hands-on play sessions with Rafael Irizarry (Dana-Farber / Harvard), Hadley Wickham (Posit), Rebecca Nugent (Carnegie Mellon), Tian Zheng (Columbia), Shihao Yang (Georgia Tech), and Linjun Zhang (Rutgers), plus an evening improv workshop led by Richard Zink (JMP).
- Day 2 — Design & Synthesis: participants draft their own AI leadership initiatives with an assigned mentor, followed by peer review and resource planning.
Key Dates
| October 1, 2026 | Applications open |
| October 15, 2026 | Virtual info session, 12 PM ET (registration required) |
| November 5, 2026 | Application deadline |
| November 24, 2026 | Acceptance decisions sent |
| January 7 – 8, 2027 | Academy at Rice University |
Questions? Contact contact.AILA2027@gmail.com.