​Dr. Kirk Kolenbrander is a distinguished scholar and senior academic leader at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he has served in multiple executive roles supporting institutional governance, strategic planning, and academic excellence. With more than two decades of experience at MIT – including service as Vice President, Secretary of the Corporation, and advisor to the MIT President – Dr. Kolenbrander has played a central role in strengthening university operations, supporting board effectiveness, advancing faculty development, and fostering institutional innovation. Dr. Kolenbrander’s expertise spans higher education governance, strategic decision-making, academic leadership, and university transformation. His counsel has guided major institutional initiatives at MIT, including governance reform, research enterprise expansion, and cross-disciplinary academic collaborations. At AUK, Dr. Kolenbrander’s insight contributes to elevating Board of Trustees performance through best practices in governance, policy development, leadership coaching, and strategic alignment. His experience in shaping a world-class university ecosystem supports AUK’s mission to build a resilient, globally connected institution and positions the Board to more effectively oversee institutional growth, academic quality, and long-term impact. Dr. Kolenbrander holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central College and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.​