Among those celebrating the investiture of Professor Ibrahim Demir, second from right, as the Michael A. Fitts Presidential Chair in Environmental Informatics and Artificial Intelligence were, from left, Senior Vice President and Provost Robin Forman; Tulane President Michael A. Fitts; Carol Lavin Bernick, a 1974 Newcomb College graduate, former Board of Tulane Chair and a longtime university supporter who established the chair; and Hridesh Rajan, dean of the Tulane School of Science and Engineering. Photo: Kenny Lass

Demir Named Michael A. Fitts Presidential Chair

Established through the generosity of Carol Lavin Bernick, the endowed chair supports pioneering research at the intersection of environmental informatics and artificial intelligence to address pressing global challenges.

By: Barri Bronston

Summer 2026

Ibrahim Demir was invested this spring as the Michael A. Fitts Presidential Chair in Environmental Informatics and Artificial Intelligence. The chair, established by Carol Lavin Bernick, a 1974 Newcomb College graduate and a longtime university supporter, aims to advance the work of an internationally recognized scholar who is addressing critical global challenges.

“In the emerging field of hydroinformatics, he is quite simply a rock star,” Tulane President Michael A. Fitts said of Demir at the March investiture. Demir is a professor in the Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering in the School of Science and Engineering and a core member of the ByWater Institute.

At Tulane, Demir leads the Hydroinformatics Lab, which focuses on developing intelligent cyber systems, immersive augmented and virtual reality applications and big data analytics for environmental science, public health, engineering and educational challenges.

Photograph of three men in academic regalia against university banners.

Professor Ibrahim Demir, center, is flanked by Tulane President Michael A. Fitts, left, and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Robin Forman. Photo: Kenny Lass

At Demir’s investiture ceremony, university leaders also recognized Bernick’s decades of service and philanthropy, including her support for the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, the Carol Lavin Bernick Faculty Grants, the Downtown Investment Fund, the Tulane University Innovation Institute and multiple faculty initiatives. Bernick also served as chair of the Board of Tulane and was a member of the committee that selected Fitts to lead Tulane.

“Many of our achievements simply would not have been possible without the wisdom, guidance and transformative philanthropy of Carol Lavin Bernick, a legendary Tulanian,” said Fitts.

At the ceremony, Bernick said Demir exemplifies what’s possible as Tulane expands its impact as a leading research university.

“His work integrating artificial intelligence, cyberinfrastructure and data science to address water challenges will strengthen Tulane’s impact nationally and internationally while creating opportunities for students to participate in meaningful, hands-on innovation.”