Three senior leaders at Princeton — the president, provost and vice dean for innovation — appear on ROI-NJ's annual list of higher education influencers in New Jersey.

President Christopher L. Eisgruber and Provost Jennifer Rexford are ranked No. 2 and No. 9, respectively, on the business publication's Top 10 higher ed influencers list(Link is external) released May 15.

"The launching of the state’s AI Hub at Princeton(Link is external), a key business initiative for the next generation, is just the latest reason why the university is regularly noted as the best in the country, if not the world," the ROI-NJ citation said. "At a time of severe challenges in higher ed, Eisgruber has deftly handled all potential crisis situations while transforming Princeton into a school that not only is a leader in liberal arts and computer science, but a model for equity and inclusion."

Rexford, who is also the Y.S. Wu Professor in Engineering and formerly worked at Bell Labs, was cited(Link is external) for her connections to the business world. "She’s the leader of the state’s ultra-important AI Hub while overseeing the academic affairs of the school — with a close eye on computer science and engineering, where she still serves as a professor," ROI-NJ said.

Craig Arnold, the vice dean for innovation and the Susan Dod Brown Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, appeared on ROI-NJ's list of influential higher ed Deans, Directors and Key Officials. "He works to help the school engage with entrepreneurs, alumni, industry, technology investors and other potential partners — as well as serving as lead on important initiatives, such as (an) NSF grant for photonics research(Link is external)."