University of Michigan School of Information
Two new members appointed to UMSI Advisory Board
Wednesday, 02/21/2024
Two new members have been appointed to the UMSI Advisory Board, effective Jan 1. Lan Xuezhao and Steve Tuohy bring industry leadership in machine learning and health care technology, respectively.
In this volunteer role, they will advance the mission of the University of Michigan School of Information by lending their expertise to UMSI leadership, engaging with students and alumni, and providing philanthropic support. Both are committed to shaping the future of information and technology by empowering students.
Lan Xuezhao (MA ’08, PhD ’09) is the founder of Basis Set, an early-stage venture firm focused on and enabled by machine learning and automation since 2017, with more than half a billion assets under management. She is one of the earliest investors in Scale AI, Path, Workstream, Ergeon, Quince and Drata.
Lan built the Corporate Development Strategy team at Dropbox and previously worked at McKinsey & Company. She founded a children’s brain training game startup early in her career and earned both her PhD in psychology and MA in statistics from U-M.
“I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from the University of Michigan, where I completed my PhD, in advancing research in AI and machine learning,” Lan says. “The School of Information boasts a diverse pool of experts in computer science, statistics and social sciences, making it an ideal partner for exploring and applying AI and machine learning in practical fields like venture capital.”
Steve Tuohy is the senior vice president and chief information officer at Trinity Health in Livonia, Michigan, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Tuohy has direct responsibility for over 1,400 full-time employees and a capital/operating spend of nearly $1 billion annually to support strategic IT initiatives across Trinity Health. He leads a team of information technology executives who work collaboratively to resolve and monitor a broad range of financial, operational and strategic issues in IT.
Prior to joining Trinity, Tuohy worked at Beaumont Health (now Corewell Health), where he was responsible for strategic and technical initiatives to attract and retain physicians. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and management from Albion College and a master's degree in health service administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“The opportunity to engage with students, shape insights and provide guidance aligns with my core passion for cultivating a robust IT community,” Tuohy says. “By serving on the advisory board, I aim to leverage my experience to empower students with the skills, knowledge and strategic thinking required to excel in the rapidly evolving field of health IT.
“UMSI’s reputation for academic excellence and innovation serves as a beacon for aspiring professionals, making it the ideal program to support the development of future IT leaders.”
During their three-year terms, Lan and Tuohy will offer their expertise to UMSI leadership on matters including curriculum development and research initiatives, while supporting students directly through mentorship opportunities.
— Abigail McFee, marketing and communications writer