Black in AI Welcomes Professor Odest Chadwicke Jenkins to Its Board of Directors

VIRTUAL – May 7, 2026

TODAY — Black in AI (BAI), a global programmatic and membership-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding the participation, leadership, and influence of people of African descent in the development, deployment, and governance of artificial intelligence, today announced the appointment of Odest Chadwicke Jenkins, Ph.D. to its Board of Directors. Chad joins a board that has undergone significant transition over the past year — welcoming Alondra Nelson and Natalye Paquin — as BAI evolves from its founding roots into its next chapter of growth and impact.

Founded in 2017, Black in AI has grown from a grassroots initiative into a respected global organization with more than 6,500 members across 119 countries. BAI's work spans professional membership, education and career pathways, research and advocacy, and civil society and policy engagement, all anchored by its commitment to ensuring people of African descent are full partners in shaping the AI ecosystem. Gelyn Watkins, BAI's CEO, reflected on what Chad's appointment means for the organization:

"I’m excited to welcome Professor Odest Chadwicke Jenkins to the Black in AI Board. His leadership in human-centered robotics and his long record of expanding pathways into advanced AI research make him an exceptional partner for our mission. Chad brings both vision and heart to this work, and his perspective will guide BAI as we continue building an institution that shapes the future of AI."

Odest Chadwicke Jenkins, Ph.D. is a Professor of Robotics and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. His research addresses problems in robot learning from demonstration and human-robot interaction, primarily focused on dexterous mobile manipulation and robot perception and vision. He was the founding Chair of the Robotics Major Degree Program launched in 2022 for undergraduates at the University of Michigan, and recently served as Program Chair for the AAAI-26 Conference. He is the inaugural Editor-in-Chief for the ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction. Dr. Jenkins earned his B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics at Alma College (1996), M.S. in Computer Science at Georgia Tech (1998), and Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Southern California (2003). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). His longstanding commitment to broadening participation in computing and AI makes him a natural fit for Black in AI's mission.

"Chad brings exactly the caliber of expertise and commitment to representation that will strengthen BAI's work," added Sanmi Koyejo, Board Chair. "Chad's leadership will be instrumental as we deepen our work and expand our reach."

"I am deeply honored to join Black in AI's Board of Directors at this pivotal moment for AI, our community, and our society," said Jenkins. "BAI has had an immense impact to catalyze our national and global community. This community is needed now more than ever to uplift our society both in the people of AI and through work of AI. For AI to work well for anyone, AI has to work well for everyone. Together, we can make this potential for positive outcomes in and through AI a reality."

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About Black in AI

Black in AI is a global nonprofit organization that shifts the power dynamics across the AI ecosystem to broaden the range of voices contributing to the development, deployment, and regulation of AI technology. With a professional membership of more than 6,500 AI practitioners across 119 countries, BAI serves as a trusted convener, community builder, and advocate.

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