Our guest, Dr. André O. Hudson, is Dean of the College of Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), a role he has held since 2023. He previously served as Head of the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences from 2017 to 2022. Originally from Jamaica, he emigrated to the United States at age 14 and earned his B.S. in Biology from Virginia Union University in 2000. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Pathology from Rutgers University in 2006, where his research focused on amino acid metabolism and biochemistry. Followinga postdoctoral fellowship at Rutgers, he joined the RIT faculty in 2008.

Dr. Hudson’s research program lies at the intersection of biochemistry and microbiology, with a focus on amino acidmetabolism, enzyme structure and function, plant-associated bacteria, and antibiotic resistance. His work advances understanding microbial physiology and has important implications for public health.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Hudson has secured more than $6 million in external funding from federal agencies, industry, and foundations. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and six book chapters and has mentored more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to 30 high school students. His contributions to science and mentorship have been widely recognized, including his election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2023.

In addition to his academic and research leadership, Dr. Hudson is actively engaged in community and professional service. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) and participates in several other scientific, educational, and community-focused organizations.

Associations

Keisha Hudson; Dr. Anthony Madu; Alpha Phi Alpha

Your Host: ⁠⁠Jacob Easley II, PhD, PMP⁠⁠

Sponsor NAESP. National School Leaders Conference–Powered by NAESP is designed for Pre-K–12 principals and assistant principals, featuring high-impact learning tracks, networking, and the newly added "Camp Lead-A-Lot" retreat. Held July 13-15, 2026, Orlando, FL, learn more and register at naespconferenence.org.

Resources:

EDUP The Experience

DEIA and meritocracy: Partners in scientific process

NIH Marc

Greeting: Michelle Maslowski

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