Taylor Black is the founding director of the Leonom Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies at The Catholic University of America. An innovative leader operating at the intersection of tech, entrepreneurship, and human formation, Black also maintains his role as the Director of AI & Venture Ecosystems in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft.

Throughout his career, Black has focused on bridging the gap between cutting-edge technological deliverables and the fundamental question of what it means to be human. At Catholic University, he leads efforts to integrate AI programs with rigorous ethics, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and a commitment to holistic student formation. His work with the Institute brings together perspectives from across the University, including engineering, business, law, philosophy, and theology, to engage in global research, technology commercialization, and dialogue with the scientific and tech sectors.

Prior to joining Microsoft in 2021, Black spent his career building and scaling high-tech ventures. He got his entrepreneurial start as a graduate student, co-founding a highly successful web design and development agency that built products for clients ranging from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He later helped lead operations for a deep tech venture studio, successfully spinning out nearly two dozen companies in cutting-edge spaces like satellites, nuclear ventures, and metamaterials, collectively securing more than $700 million in capital. At Microsoft, he designed and established the venture studio within the CTO's office, incubating new businesses that generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. He also leads Microsoft's monthly peer-reviewed conference in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.

Deeply committed to his faith and family, Black is a deacon candidate for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix. Based in the Seattle area, he and his wife are adoptive parents to three children and foster parents. He travels regularly to Washington, D.C., to collaborate with faculty, engage with students, and lead the Leonom Institute's on-campus initiatives.

 

 

- [ Leonum Institute Website ](https://leonum.catholic.edu/)
- [ Substack ](https://leonum.substack.com/)
 
 

 

   Education  - J.D., Boston College Law School
- M.A. in Philosophy, Boston College
- B.A. in Philosophy and Classics, Gonzaga University

 

 

   Research & Professional Interests  - Human formation and pedagogy in the age of artificial intelligence
- Interdisciplinary dialogues on Catholic anthropology and technological innovation
- Deep tech incubation and technology commercialization
- Venture studio operations and entrepreneurial structures in higher education