Rigby named associate dean for AI, research innovation

March 2, 2026 — DENTON — Rhett Rigby, PhD, has been named associate dean for artificial intelligence and research innovation in the College of Health Sciences. He assumes the new role on July 1.

Rigby currently serves as interim director of the School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology and director of the Institute for Women’s Health.

The newly created position supports CHS faculty research development, strengthens infrastructure for external funding and guides the strategic integration of emerging technologies, particularly AI, to enhance the College’s research, education and service missions. 

Rigby has been on the SHPK faculty since 2014 and joined the leadership team as the associate director of undergraduate programs in 2022. He has served as director of IWH since 2019, overseeing research across three campuses. In 2025, he secured a $500,000 legislative appropriation to expand the Institute's reach.

He has authored 30-plus peer-reviewed publications in biomechanics, neurodegeneration (Parkinson’s) and endocrine responses.

Rigby has led innovative research into wearable sensors and garments designed to mitigate muscle atrophy and injury in microgravity environments and served as faculty mentor for kinesiology seniors that competed at the Texas Space Grant Consortium Design Challenge from 2017-24. TWU teams won the competition five times and placed in the top four 12 times.