Nick Schmidt

I was born with a cleft lip and palate, and I was lucky enough to receive wonderful care both as a child and later as an adult at the University of Illinois Craniofacial Center. Growing up and experiencing the difficulties associated with looking different than other children was hard, but having gone through many surgeries, dental and orthodontic care, and other treatments, I no longer feel different and am more confident than I ever could have imagined being. 

I am committed to the Face the Future Foundation because of the help that the foundation provides to patients who are less fortunate than I have been, allowing them to receive the same level of treatment, for however long they need treatment, regardless of ability to pay, that will lead them to live confident and happy lives, less focused on the differences in their appearance.

It is hard to put into words the gratitude that I feel towards the University of Illinois Craniofacial Center and its wonderful doctors and staff. It almost goes without saying that they are amazing practitioners, able to transform the lives of their patients and improve how their patients feel when they look in the mirror. But also, during treatment, they are kind, patient, and comforting practitioners. 

Nicholas Schmidt is the co-founder and CEO of SolasAl, a compliance-focused artificial intelligence software platform that identifies and mitigates bias and discrimination in algorithmic decisioning. He is also the Artificial Intelligence Practice Leader at BLDS, LLC, where he provides expert guidance in the application of economics and statistics to questions of law and regulation. As head of the Al practice, Nick focuses on algorithmic fairness, explainable Al, and ensuring robust model governance practices. In addition to working with many of the largest U.S. lenders, FinTechs, and insurance companies, Nick regularly advises regulatory agencies in addressing questions relating to discrimination and innovation in artificial intelligence.

Nick values kindness, compassion, and doing one's best to live a happy and contented life. After thirteen years in Chicago, he moved to Philadelphia about seven years ago. However, he has yet to become an Eagles fan.