Montana Tech Names First Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer in Montana University System 

Recognizing the transformative impact of emerging technologies on higher education and industry, Montana Technological University has appointed Professor Chad Okrusch, Ph.D. to serve as the university’s first chief artificial intelligence officer. The position is the first of its kind in the Montana University System (MUS).

As chief artificial intelligence officer, Okrusch will lead Montana Tech’s strategic integration of artificial intelligence across campus, ensuring that students, faculty, and staff are equipped to navigate, utilize, and shape the future of AI responsibly. His background combining technical communication with philosophy uniquely positions him to balance AI's technical capabilities with crucial ethical frameworks.

"The landscape of higher education and the industries our graduates enter are changing at an unprecedented pace," said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Tim Elgren. "By establishing this role, Montana Tech is taking a proactive, leadership stance in the state and the region. Dr. Okrusch is the perfect fit to guide our campus into and through the AI era."

In his new role, Okrusch will oversee campus-wide AI adoption by:

• Establishing safe frameworks for AI use involving sensitive materials, data privacy, and academic integrity.
• Supporting faculty with resources, workshops, and assignment models that use AI to strengthen critical thinking rather than replace cognitive work.
• Partnering with IT and administrative units to pilot AI workflows for routine processes while mitigating data security risks.
• Designing and co-teaching a "Leadership in STEM" course each semester focused on technological change and responsible innovation.

Okrusch is a tenured professor of philosophy and communication. With a doctorate from the University of Oregon, he brings 30 years of experience navigating the intersection of technology and human systems. An alumnus of Montana Tech—holding both a B.S. in society and technology studies and an M.S. in technical communication—he previously led the university’s institutional transition into the online learning era in the late 1990s. 

As co-chair of Montana Tech’s Artificial Intelligence Working Group, he has focused on building durable governance structures that ensure technological adoption strengthens, rather than diminishes, the university’s core mission. Okrusch is a dedicated advocate for human-centered design, ensuring that as Montana Tech integrates intelligence, it maintains its commitment to academic integrity, professional judgment, public trust, and the highest standards of teaching and learning assurance. 

"Artificial intelligence is not simply a set of tools to be adopted; it is a disruptive sociotechnological system that often feels untethered and out of our control,” said Okrusch. “My goal as Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer is not to serve as an AI cheerleader, but as a human advocate. I am committed to bringing philosophical grounding and practical ethics to our campus, ensuring that we do not merely react to these technologies, but steer them. Together we will build the governance structures and institutional habits that support our faculty and students, protect the authentic, hands-on experience that defines a Montana Tech education, and ensure we integrate intelligence with integrity—always prioritizing our core mission of teaching and learning assurance."

Montana Tech will be represented on the national stage this fall as Dr. Okrusch participates in the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) inaugural AI and Higher Education Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Held this October, the conference will bring together global leaders to shape the future of learning. Dr. Okrusch will champion Montana Tech’s insights in the pivotal areas: academic integrity, academic innovation, and artificial intelligence. 

For more information about Montana Tech’s academic programs and innovative initiatives, visit www.mtech.edu.