As Washington University in St. Louis continues to expand its use of artificial intelligence and advance its technology strategy, Josh Edwards has stepped into an expanded leadership role as Executive Director of Enterprise AI and Architecture within WashU IT’s Academic and Administrative Technologies (AAT) organization.
In this role, Edwards will provide enterprise technical leadership for AI initiatives across the university, overseeing AI platforms, architecture, governance and production readiness. He will work closely with partners, including a WashU and BJC collaboration through the Center for Health AI (CHAI), and the university’s Digital Intelligence and Innovation Accelerator (DI2) team to advance AI capabilities. He also will continue to guide key technology functions, including enterprise integrations, solution architecture and technical architecture services. The role reports directly to Justin Hoyt, the Interim Deputy Chief Information Officer for Academic and Administrative Technologies.
His responsibilities will include developing an enterprise AI roadmap, implementing recommended governance and technical standards for AI tools and platforms, and creating architecture frameworks and guardrails that support the safe and scalable adoption of AI technologies across the university.
“Josh brings deep technical expertise, strong institutional knowledge and a practical leadership style to this work,” said Greg Hart, Chief Technology Officer. “I’m excited to see him step into this expanded role and help shape how WashU advances AI responsibly, at scale.”
A familiar leader within WashU IT, Edwards’ last position was Senior Director of Enterprise Systems and Solutions. During his 24 years with WashU IT, he has helped shape and support critical enterprise technologies that enable the university’s academic, research and administrative missions.
Edwards earned a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis in 2016 and completed the MOR Leaders Program in 2017.