Ayanna Howard

She earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private nonprofit research university in Providence, Rhode Island, and a member of the Ivy League. Chartered by Rhode Island's colonial legislature in 1764, it is known for its undergraduate Open Curriculum, which has no common required core. Christina H. Paxson, president since July 2012, announced on August 3, 2026, that the 2026–27 academic year would be her last in office. As of October 1, 2026, the search for Brown's 20th president remained underway.Open the full entry in 1993, then received a master’s degree and PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaThe University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, planned by a group led by Judge Robert Maclay Widney and opened to students in 1880.Open the full entry and an MBA from Claremont Graduate University.⁠[1]

The USC Alumni Association lists her as a 1994 master’s and 1999 PhD graduate; both electrical engineering degrees were earned at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.⁠[2]

She worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) until 2005, starting as a computer scientist and later becoming a senior robotics researcher and deputy manager of the strategic university research partnership office.⁠[3]

At JPL she helped develop SmartNav, a technology for a Mars rover.⁠[2]

In October 2003, JPL announced that she had been selected for MIT Technology Review’s list of 100 innovators aged 35 or younger, calling her the only JPL engineer to hold the honor; she was then developing a software system that mimics human decisions to let rovers navigate safely on Mars.⁠[4]

She joined the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005 as an associate professor and founded the Human-Automation Systems Lab (HumAnS); she later also served as program director of the nation’s first multidisciplinary robotics PhD program.⁠[5]

In 2013 she founded Zyrobotics to turn the HumAnS lab’s research into commercial products for children with special needs; the Georgia Tech spin-off develops mobile therapy and educational products, became a nonprofit in 2020, and she serves as president of its board.⁠[1]

In February 2016, Georgia Tech released research by her, Paul Robinette and colleagues: in a simulated fire emergency, all 42 volunteers followed a robot toward an exit at the back of the building, regardless of how well it had performed earlier. She said: “We need to ensure that our robots, when placed in situations that evoke trust, are also designed to mitigate that trust.”⁠[6]

In December 2017, Georgia Tech’s College of Computing announced that she would chair the School of Interactive Computing from January 2018, succeeding Annie Antón, who had held the post from 2012 to 2017; she had been a professor holding the Linda J. and Mark C. Smith Chair in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.⁠[7]

Autodesk announced her appointment to its board of directors effective September 24, 2019, describing her as an expert in robotics, human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence and as founder and chief technology officer of Zyrobotics.⁠[8]

She wrote the Audible Originals audiobook Sex, Race, and Robots: How to Be Human in the Age of AI, narrated by Amandla Stenberg, which examines how the tech world’s racial and sexual biases find their way into artificial intelligence.⁠[9]

On January 17, 2020, she appeared on episode 66 of the Lex FridmanLex FridmanLex Fridman is a Soviet-born, US-raised computer scientist and podcast host who works as an MIT research scientist on human-AI interaction and autonomous driving. His Lex Fridman Podcast is known for hours-long conversations with guests including heads of state and technology leaders.Open the full entry Podcast, whose summary described her as a Georgia Tech roboticist, professor and director of the Human-Automation Systems lab; the outline covered autonomous vehicles and Tesla Autopilot, the ethical responsibility of safety-critical algorithms, bias in robotics, memories of working at NASA, human-robot interaction and trust, and AI in education.⁠[10]

In September 2020, she and Monroe Kennedy, as academic co-leads, discussed the newly formed Black in Robotics, an organization advocating for more diversity and inclusion in robotics.⁠[11]

On November 30, 2020, The Ohio State University announced it had hired her as dean of the College of Engineering, effective March 1, 2021; she would be the first woman to lead the college.⁠[5]

She became dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering on March 1, 2021.⁠[12]

In May 2021, she was named the 2021–2022 ACMAustralian Community MediaAustralian Community Media (ACM) is an Australian regional and rural news publishing group with more than 100 brands, including The Canberra Times; in 2019 Nine sold it to a company controlled by interests associated with Antony Catalano and Thorney Investment Group.Open the full entry Athena Lecturer, recognized “for fundamental contributions to the development of accessible human-robotic systems and artificial intelligence” and for broadening participation in computing through entrepreneurial and mentoring efforts.⁠[13]

In 2022 she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in computer sciences; the academy notes that she is also a fellow of AAAI, IEEE, AAAS, AIMBE and the National Academy of Inventors, and that her research covers healthcare robots and bias and trust in AI.⁠[14]

On January 18, 2022, Motorola Solutions announced her appointment to its board effective February 15, expanding the board to eight directors. She said: “I am honored to join the Motorola Solutions board of directors.”⁠[15]

In April 2022, the U.S. Commerce Department named the first 27 members of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, including her, from The Ohio State University; the committee advises the president and federal agencies on AI policy.⁠[16]

On June 5, 2026, the Spelman College Board of Trustees announced her appointment as the college’s 12th president, effective August 1, 2026. She said: “Spelman’s mission has never been more important.”⁠[17]

On August 1, 2026, Balasubramaniam Shanker became interim dean of Ohio State’s College of Engineering, succeeding her as she became the 12th president of Spelman College.⁠[18]

Spelman College says she serves on the boards of Brown University, Autodesk and Motorola Solutions and has authored more than 300 publications.⁠[17]

X: Public account: https://x.com/robotsmarts (opens in a new window)⁠[12]

Spelman College: Official website: https://www.spelman.edu/ (opens in a new window)⁠[17]