President

Dr. Albina Balidemaj is President and Dean of Faculty at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.). She also serves as co-founder and co-director of the RIT Kosovo Research Center for Human Rights. A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. Balidemaj brings extensive experience in higher education leadership, community mental health, migration and refugee mental health, human rights, and international research.

Dr. Balidemaj has been part of the RIT Kosovo community for more than 17 years, serving in several academic and leadership roles before becoming President. Her work in higher education is centered on student success, academic excellence, institutional development, research, and strengthening the connection between education and the needs of society. Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to preparing students not only for successful careers, but also for lives of purpose, responsibility, and meaningful impact in their communities.

During the 2022–2023 academic year, Dr. Balidemaj served as a Research Affiliate at Yale University’s MacMillan Center, where her research focused on the impact of intergenerational trauma on the mental health of Albanian populations. Her work at Yale included collaboration with Dr. Kaveh Khoshnood, Associate Professor at the Yale School of Public Health.

Dr. Balidemaj holds a Ph.D. in International Community and Family Studies from Clemson University’s College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, an M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology, and a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Orthopsychiatric Association (AOA), and the Association for Psychological Science (APS).

Her academic and professional work spans the Balkans, Europe, and the United States. She has served as a research reviewer for international academic journals and research organizations and has presented her research at international conferences. Her work has been published by international academic publishers, including Elsevier, Routledge, and SAGE. Outside academia, she has also served as a local and international consultant for a range of organizations.

Dr. Balidemaj’s research interests include refugee and migrant mental health, intergenerational and collective trauma, human rights, and public and global health. Her work is particularly focused on understanding how individual well-being is shaped by families, communities, migration, history, and broader social systems.

As President of RIT Kosovo, Dr. Balidemaj continues to bring these perspectives into her institutional leadership, with a focus on expanding educational opportunities, strengthening research and innovation, building meaningful partnerships, and connecting RIT Kosovo and its students with Kosovo, the region, and the wider global community.

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.)