Welcome to the Dragon Community: Joshua Riedy

Joshua Riedy is stepping into Moorhead’s newest role as the Executive Director of the Institute of Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI). Joshua will be in a leadership position within the MSUM Foundation, helping shape the institution’s direction, particularly in applied AI.

Q: Tell us more about your background. What led you to working at Moorhead?
A: Much of my career has been spent in higher education, and for about the last nine years, I’ve worked in private industry, where I’ve been able to explore technology and the emergence of AI. The company I founded, Thread, works with AI in the context of energy, utilities, and frontline workers. When the opportunity arose to join Moorhead through their foundation, I had a gut feeling that it was the right move to make.

Q: What motivated you to take this new position as the Executive Director of the Institute of Applied AI?
A: The people. It started with the vision and passion of leadership to apply AI the right way. Applied AI means applying it to the world we live in and doing so on behalf of the institution—meaning all students and all programs. The strong experiential component and the opportunity to build stronger relationships with external stakeholders made the position incredibly difficult to ignore.

Q: What excites you most about leading the Institute of Applied AI?
A: The students—the people here. There’s something really special about this place. I’ve had more students engage with me in just a few weeks here than I have at past jobs, and I think that’s because there’s a spirit of curiosity and a genuine willingness to learn. Tapping into that energy is, to me, the best of both worlds.

Q: Why is education on AI important to you? Why should others learn more about AI?
A: It’s incredible when you sit down and realize just how much AI touches your life—it blows my mind. I believe that coexisting with AI is the mindset we need to have because it’s going to keep growing and changing. Others should learn more about AI because, whether you like it or not, AI is part of your world, and you’ll be better off knowing how to work with it rather than against it. Personally, I think it’s important because it’s a tool that, if graduates can use successfully, will distinguish them from others. It’s important to me that we send our graduates into the workforce educated on tools that will help them succeed, regardless of their field.

Q: What does being part of the “Dragon Community” mean to you?
A: Being part of the Dragon Community means reimagining parts of the institution while keeping the best part—the heart of the Dragons. In the past, I didn’t have much of a connection to Moorhead. I’ve lived in the Red River Valley since 2007, but I’ve always felt that Moorhead was kind of a well-kept secret.

Q: What advice would you give to others interested in working at the intersection of technology and education?
A: This advice isn’t just for students, faculty, or external stakeholders—it’s for everyone. It’s not often that something affects everybody, like the weather, but AI does. My advice is to open your mind. You can either be passive and let the world act upon you, or you can stay aware and engaged with the changes around you. For students, that awareness is especially important—AI is a big part of that. You don’t want to get stuck in your ways, because the world is going to keep changing, and to be successful, you must be adaptable.

Q: If AI could take one task off your plate tomorrow, what would it be?
A: Driving, oddly enough. I recently rode in a Waymo, which is a self-driving car, and I don’t particularly like driving—so if I could have one of those everywhere, I’d be set for life!

Welcome to the Dragon Community, Joshua!