Reka Montfort

Reka Montfort is the Director of AI Initiatives in the Division of Research at the University of Maryland, where she leads the strategic integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across research administration, compliance, operations, development, and services. She is developing the Division’s AI Integration Strategic Plan, aligning institutional tools, and advancing responsible, equitable, and efficiency-driven applications of emerging technologies in collaboration with campus and external partners.

Over her 25-year career at Maryland, Montfort has led institution-wide modernization initiatives that strengthen governance, streamline complex systems, and improve operational effectiveness. Early in her career, she helped transition the University’s appointment, promotion, and tenure (APT) process to a secure, fully electronic system and later served for more than 14 years as Director of the University Senate. In that role, she oversaw the development and revision of hundreds of university-wide policies and academic programs while modernizing Senate operations—enhancing elections and voting processes, implementing an electronic legislative tracking system, and moving to virtual meetings and electronic voting to improve engagement and accuracy.

As Director of Research Transparency & Outreach, Montfort led the implementation of federal research compliance requirements associated with current & pending (other) support, strengthened institutional processes, and developed proactive systems to improve research disclosure accuracy.

Montfort’s role as Director of AI Initiatives reflects a career dedicated to helping the University adapt, evolve, and work smarter through thoughtful innovation. She brings deep experience in governance, compliance, systems design, and cross-campus collaboration to guide the Division of Research as it integrates AI in ways that support its people and advance its mission.