Vanderbilt Appoints Brown Dean to Lead New San Francisco Institute

Vanderbilt University has hired Tejal Desai to lead a new academic institute in San Francisco. The new unit is the Institute of Innovation, Technology and Translation. It will serve as a central component of the university's expanding presence in the Bay Area.

The institute is expected to begin operations in the fall of 2027. This timeline depends on the completion of required regulatory approvals. The facility will be located on Vanderbilt's new San Francisco campus.

Desai currently serves as the dean of engineering at Brown University. She is an elected member of both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine. She is also a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. These three distinctions are among the highest honors available to scientists and engineers in the United States.

In addition to her administrative role, Desai will hold a professorship in biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt. She will continue her research into microscale and nanoscale technologies. Her work focuses on developing improved methods for delivering medicines to specific sites in the body. She also studies how to enable the body to heal itself using these technologies.

Krish Roy, the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor, praised Desai's background. He noted that her achievements across various disciplines make her well suited for the role. Roy highlighted her deep experience within the Bay Area's innovation ecosystem. He stated that this experience positions her to help shape the university's vision for technology innovation in San Francisco.

Before becoming dean at Brown University in 2022, Desai spent nearly 20 years at the University of California, San Francisco. During that time, she led educational and research programs. She founded multiple startups and launched initiatives involving multiple institutions. She also held joint research and leadership roles with the University of California, Berkeley.

Desai described San Francisco as a special place for her career. She noted that it is where she built her identity as a researcher, founder, and educator. She said she is thrilled to help shape the institute's direction. Her goal is to create pathways for faculty and students to turn ideas into real-world impact.

The institute will work with Bay Area startups, industry partners, and venture investors. It aims to translate technologies into practical products. The organization will also explore the intersections of engineering, artificial intelligence, art, design, and architecture. This interdisciplinary approach is a key part of Vanderbilt's strategy in the region.

Tiffiny Tung, Vanderbilt's interim provost, said the institute is still in development. Desai will help determine its future direction. Tung explained that the university intends to make meaningful investments that explore the connection between technology and creative disciplines. She described Desai as a guide for students and faculty in the Bay Area.

The appointment follows the recent announcement of Lisa Grove as the associate vice chancellor for Vanderbilt University in San Francisco. Grove previously worked at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The university aims to connect its strengths in engineering and computing with creative fields. This collaboration is designed to allow students and faculty to engage with the local innovation ecosystem.