President

Dr. Albina Balidemaj is the fifth President of RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.) and the first Kosovar and Albanian American to lead the institution. Her appointment represents a historic milestone for RIT Kosovo and the culmination of more than 17 years of service dedicated to its academic growth, institutional development, and international standing. Her leadership is grounded in a distinctive combination of American academic training, deep knowledge of Kosovo, and extensive experience across RIT’s global network.

Before assuming the presidency, Dr. Balidemaj held a succession of senior leadership positions at RIT Kosovo, including Dean of Faculty, Associate Dean, and Assistant Dean. Through these roles, she helped shape the institution’s academic direction during a period of significant growth and transformation. She led academic strategy, curriculum development, accreditation, faculty advancement, student-success initiatives, and institutional governance. She also strengthened cooperation with Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, expanded international partnerships and study-abroad opportunities, secured support through grants and strategic collaborations, and contributed to the development of RIT Tirana. From 2022 to 2024, she served as an Assistant Professor at RIT Dubai, further broadening her leadership and teaching experience across RIT’s international campuses.

A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. Balidemaj is a published interdisciplinary scholar whose work addresses some of the most important challenges facing Kosovo and the wider region. Her research focuses on community mental health, intergenerational trauma, migration and ethnic identity, human rights, social inclusion, and research-informed public policy. As a Research Affiliate at Yale University’s MacMillan Center and Yale School of Public Health, she examined the effects of intergenerational trauma on mental health in the Balkan region. She is also co-founder and co-director of the RIT Kosovo Research Center for Human Rights, which connects education, research, and advocacy to promote human dignity and social justice in Kosovo and beyond.

Dr. Balidemaj’s professional career has consistently connected academic knowledge with public service. Before entering senior university leadership, she served as Manager of Research and Data Analysis at Saferworld and as a psychologist with the World Health Organization. Her work involved conflict analysis, community safety, public health, and engagement with government institutions, civil society organizations, and marginalized communities. Her scholarship has appeared in international publications addressing mental health, human rights, migration, social exclusion, community well-being, and social recovery.

Dr. Balidemaj earned her Ph.D. in International Community and Family Studies from Clemson University, where she received the Graduate Student Award of Excellence. She holds an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Prishtina, where she graduated as class valedictorian, and a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Architecture and Environmental Psychology, from the University of Minnesota. Her professional development also includes advanced training in human rights data, policy engagement, science communication, international women’s health and human rights, and systems thinking in public health through Columbia University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and other leading institutions.

As President, Dr. Balidemaj brings a clear public mission to her leadership: to ensure that RIT Kosovo remains a place where Kosovo’s young people can access a globally recognized American education while developing the knowledge, confidence, and values needed to contribute at home and internationally. She is committed to advancing academic excellence, student success, research and innovation, institutional sustainability, and meaningful partnerships with government, industry, civil society, alumni, and the diaspora.

Her presidency is guided by the conviction that higher education must do more than prepare graduates for employment—it must develop ethical leaders, strengthen democratic institutions, retain and cultivate talent, and contribute to Kosovo’s long-term social and economic prosperity.

Welcome to RIT Kosovo.

It is a great honor to serve as President of an institution that has been my professional home for more than 17 years. Serving as the first Kosovar and Albanian American to lead RIT Kosovo is both a deeply personal honor and a responsibility I carry with humility. My journey has been shaped by communities in both Kosovo and the United States, and I am proud to bring those experiences together in service of this institution. During this time, I have had the privilege of growing alongside RIT Kosovo and seeing the impact it has had on generations of students, families, and communities. I begin this new role with deep appreciation for all those who built this institution, pride in what we have achieved together, and a strong sense of responsibility for its future.

RIT Kosovo holds a unique place in higher education. We are deeply rooted in Kosovo while being part of the global community of Rochester Institute of Technology. This allows our students to earn a respected American degree while remaining connected to the needs and opportunities of Kosovo and the region. Our students gain more than academic knowledge. They learn to think critically, solve problems, work with people from different backgrounds, and lead responsibly.

My own journey between Kosovo and the United States has shaped who I am as an educator and a leader. It has shown me how education can change a person’s life and how important it is to connect local talent with global opportunities. I also believe that the knowledge and experience we gain have the greatest value when we bring them back and use them to serve our communities. This belief will continue to guide my leadership.

Our students will remain at the center of everything we do. We will continue to strengthen the quality of our academic programs, create more opportunities for hands-on learning, support our faculty, and advance research and innovation. We will work to ensure that every student feels supported, included, and able to succeed. We will also develop new programs that respond to the changing needs of society and the economy, while deepening our partnerships with RIT in New York, institutions in Kosovo, and partners around the world.

The impact of RIT Kosovo reaches far beyond our campus. We see it in our alumni, who lead organizations, establish businesses, serve their communities, and contribute to Kosovo’s development. We also see it in the daily work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, partners, and supporters. Each of them has played an important role in making RIT Kosovo the institution it is today.

As we begin this next chapter, we will respect and build upon our history while remaining ambitious about our future. We will grow thoughtfully, use our resources responsibly, and make decisions that serve our students, our institution, and the wider community.

To our current students: your ideas, goals, and well-being are at the heart of our mission.

To prospective students and families: I invite you to learn more about RIT Kosovo and discover a community that will recognize your potential, support your development, and prepare you for opportunities at home and around the world.

To our alumni, partners, donors, and friends: your trust, engagement, and generosity are essential to our success. With your partnership, RIT Kosovo will continue to open doors for talented young people and prepare them to build successful careers, lead with purpose, and make a meaningful difference in Kosovo and beyond.

I look forward to working with all of you as we continue building the future of RIT Kosovo together.

Warm regards,

Dr. Albina Balidemaj
President
RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.)