President

Michael Edward Hess has been a principal at M&TCH Consulting since Jan 2012, after working at L-3 MPRI from August 2009.  Before joining MPRI, he served as Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Democracy Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Hess was in that position from June 2005 until January 2009. Prior to his appointment to USAID, he worked as a Senior Risk Reviewer and Vice President at Citibank, responsible for monitoring and evaluating 15 areas of risk for corporate finance units at Citigroup Inc. in New York. Hess has over 30 years of active and reserve service in the United States Military. He received his commission from the United States Military Academy in 1971, and has served in humanitarian operations in Turkey, Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo. Hess served in both command and staff assignments in the U.S. and Germany and taught European History at the United States Military Academy. In April 2003, Colonel (Ret.) Hess was recalled to active duty to serve as the humanitarian coordinator in the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Coalition Provisional Authority, assisting in the establishment of the 2,000-person multinational organization responsible for establishing a representative government for Iraq as well as for rebuilding Iraqi infrastructure. Hess has a bachelor's degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a master's degree in European history from Columbia University in New York, a master's in business administration and international finance from New York University in New York, and is a graduate of the National Strategic Studies Program at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 

RIT Kosovo – The Beginning of a Transformative Journey

Welcome to RIT Kosovo, where opportunity meets purpose, and ambition finds a home.

As the only higher education institution in Kosovo that awards American degrees, RIT Kosovo stands as a bridge between local talent and global opportunity. Our partnership with the world-renowned Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York empowers our students with an education that is not only internationally accredited, but also grounded in innovation, critical thinking, and real-world application.

At RIT Kosovo, we believe in beginnings—the beginning of careers, ideas, businesses, research, and leadership. But more importantly, we believe that every student’s journey here is the beginning of a life of impact.

Our classrooms are dynamic spaces filled with students from across the globe. Our faculty members are a blend of international experts and local visionaries. Together, we create an environment that fosters creativity, inquiry, and the development of skills that are relevant and in demand—here in Kosovo, across the region, and around the world.

With 95% of our graduates immediately employed, and over 68% in managerial roles, our alumni are shaping industries, building organizations, and leading change. More than 31% earn above €1,000 monthly, more than double Kosovo’s national average, proving the value of an RIT Kosovo degree in the marketplace.

This is a time of tremendous momentum.
We have proudly reinstated our Master’s program, offering graduate students in Kosovo the chance to earn a world-class education without leaving home. Our campus is expanding with new facilities like the Research and Development Lab and the Multi-Purpose Building, designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and student success.

If you are a prospective student, I invite you to visit us. You will find a welcoming community, a supportive academic culture, and a vision of excellence that is both inspiring and achievable.

If you are an organization, donor, policymaker, or potential partner, I invite you to connect with us. Together, we can invest in Kosovo’s most valuable resource—its people—and ensure that the next generation is prepared to lead and to thrive.

RIT Kosovo is the beginning.
The beginning of leadership.
The beginning of innovation.
The beginning of your future.

Let’s start together.

Warm regards,
Michael E. Hess
Interim President
RIT Kosovo