Liat Krawczyk, a former senior adviser on the CHIPS for America strategy team at the U.S. Department of Commerce, has been named the inaugural executive director of the NJ AI Hub, which brings together academia, government and industry to foster innovation in artificial intelligence in New Jersey. Her appointment will take effect June 16.

“Liat Krawczyk brings to the NJ AI Hub a powerful combination of strategic vision, an ability to launch new initiatives, and demonstrated expertise in building multi-sector partnerships,” said Princeton University Vice President and Secretary Hilary A. Parker, to whom Krawczyk will report. “I am confident that, under her leadership, the Hub will simultaneously help to advance some of the University’s highest strategic priorities and fulfill a shared vision that will have a transformative impact on our region.”

Princeton is one of four founding partners of the Hub, along with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Microsoft and CoreWeave.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and University President Christopher L. Eisgruber announced plans to launch the NJ AI Hub in December 2023. The four founding partners cut the ribbon this March on the state-of-the-art, flexible Hub space near campus in West Windsor. The Hub has held a summit for more than 500 leaders from academia, government and industry, as well as multiple smaller gatherings, including a statewide education and workforce convening.

“The NJ AI Hub is poised to position New Jersey as a national leader in the rapidly growing AI industry,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “We are excited to welcome Liat Krawczyk as executive director of the Hub. Her leadership will play a key role in advancing Governor Murphy’s mission to build upon the state’s legacy in technological innovation. Krawczyk’s background and experience will help keep New Jersey at the forefront of cutting-edge breakthroughs, leading to long-term, sustainable economic growth across the state.”

“I’m excited to join such an expansive public-private partnership that’s setting precedent for what we need to see across the country,” Krawczyk said. “At a time when AI’s disruptive impact is just beginning to be felt, I think it’s really important to proactively build toward what we want: to power the workforce for the AI era, drive transformative AI innovation for public benefit, and shape the future of responsible AI governance and innovation.”

Krawczyk has focused her career on technology, economic development, workforce and innovation. At the Department of Commerce, she helped establish a $300 million workforce strategy in support of the CHIPS Act’s $37 billion investment in semiconductors.

Before joining Commerce, she co-led Cyber NYC, a $100 million public-private initiative to grow the cybersecurity sector. Following that, she spearheaded economic mobility and workforce efforts at the NYC Economic Development Corp. 

Krawczyk has also served as head of strategy for a machine learning startup and founded an international education nonprofit. She holds an M.A. from American University and a B.A. from Macaulay Honors College at The City University of New York.