Jackson Tai '72, a leader in cross-border finance and risk governance, and his wife, Kay, have made a transformative $5 million gift to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), creating the Kay and Jackson Tai '72 Endowed Chair in Finance, Risk, and Advanced Computing at RPI's Lally School of Management. This groundbreaking contribution reflects both their remarkable journey and their vision for the future of business education at the critical intersection of finance, risk, and technology, positioning RPI's Lally School of Management at the forefront of emerging trends in financial technology, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making.

Tai, who serves as a member of the RPI Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Investment Committee, exemplifies the power of education. “Born into a poor immigrant family, I began working at age 10,” Tai recalled. “The experiences at RPI opened doors I never could have imagined. RPI broadened my opportunities through generous financial aid, highly engaged professors and classmates, and on-campus leadership roles,” Tai reflected. “These experiences, combined with persistence and a bit of serendipity, were foundational to my contributions in global banking, risk management, biotechnology, and corporate governance.”

The Kay and Jackson Tai '72 Endowed Chair in Finance, Risk, and Advanced Computing is a cornerstone of RPI’s newly extended finance major. The chair will also support research, attract top-tier faculty, and prepare the next generation of leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and technology-driven financial world.  

RPI President Martin A. Schmidt, Ph.D., said, “We are extraordinarily grateful to Jack and Kay for their unwavering support of RPI and their commitment to our students.” Schmidt continued “Jack is a testament to the enduring power of education and the generous spirit of alumni who understand that investing in knowledge pays the best dividends of all.”

“This endowed chair will advance both pedagogy and research at the critical nexus where finance and risk analytics meet cutting-edge technology,” explained Lally Dean Liad Wagman, Ph.D. “In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, the ability to harness advanced computing and analytics for risk management and investment decisions is essential.”

The Lally School at RPI is among the best in the nation in analytics, finance, and management. When Tai studied at RPI, the unparalleled flexibility to explore engineering, science, and business while engaging deeply in campus life proved formative. As editor-in-chief of The Polytechnic, he earned All-American honors for the student newspaper, also serving as publisher and editor of the infamous Survival Handbook while actively participating in student government. Tai graduated from RPI in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Management and was admitted directly to Harvard Business School's MBA program. After completing his MBA, he began a 25-year career with J.P. Morgan & Co., where he held increasingly senior leadership positions across the globe, including head of Japanese capital markets in Tokyo; founder of the firm's Global Real Estate Investment Banking division in New York; head of investment banking and chairman of the Asia Pacific Management Committee based in Tokyo; and head of investment banking and chairman of the Management Committee for the Western United States based in San Francisco.  

After J.P. Morgan, Tai joined the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS Bank) as chief financial officer and was rapidly promoted to president and then vice chairman and CEO. He led the institution's expansion to become Southeast Asia's largest financial institution by market capitalization, with operations extending into Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, and India. Tai has served on the board audit and risk committees of major institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange, Bank of China, Singapore Airlines, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Mastercard, Eli Lilly and Company, and HSBC Holdings. Today, he continues to shape the future of finance and technology through his work as chairman of audit committees at WuXi Biologics; Pony.ai, China's leading autonomous driving technology company; and two emerging biotechnology firms, Novita Pharmaceuticals and SEED Therapeutics. In the not-for-profit world, Tai is a board member of the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic.  

Kay Tai brings her own distinguished background in science and dedication to education. A graduate of the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, she earned her undergraduate degree from Skidmore College, studying biology and chemistry, and pursued graduate studies in biochemistry at RPI before working as a research assistant at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and at Sloan Kettering Institute. Her commitment to institutional development is reflected in her service as a former trustee of Skidmore College and her passionate support of cultural institutions, particularly the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic.