Here’s what Faculty Fellows say about AI: Get on board; it will disrupt the status quo
Monday, April 14 | 8 a.m.-Coffee/Refreshments | 8:30 a.m.- José Bowen | Gaede Stage, Center for the Arts | Reserve your free ticket
AI is still an unknown entity. You can hide from it or get on board to learn about its real-world applications. José Bowen, a pioneer in active learning and the use of technology in the classroom, will encourage you to observe, question, and respond critically as AI begins to reshape our world. Learn from his 40+ years of leading innovation and change in his MSUM talk titled “Educating Humans to Thrive in an AI World.” His visit to campus is the culmination of our common book read, “Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning.”
AI Faculty Fellows
Minnesota State Moorhead has five AI Faculty Fellows who have been working all year with a shared committment to exploring, understanding, and shaping the evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education. They have been doing so with a sense of ethical responsibility as educators, scholars, and community members striving to bridge technological innovation and human-centered pedagogy. Moorhead’s AI Fellows:
- Julia Poplin
- Andrew Chen
- Kazimir Gazdzik
- Atif Osmanai
- Joshua Johnson
We reached out to Julia and Joshua and asked a few questions about the upcoming José Bowen visit and AI on campus. Below are their responses.
What is an AI Faculty Fellow?
Julia: Artificial intelligence represents a new corner of the learning expanse—a space filled with uncertainty, yes, but also with promise. It is a frontier waiting for voices, energy, effort, and ideas to shape its direction, and I am so honored and excited to be part of that process. In serving as an AI Faculty Fellow, I see a meaningful opportunity for MSUM to help lead this exploration to ensure AI becomes an integrated part of our classrooms, scholarship, service, and community in ways that are accessible, helpful, and profoundly impactful.
What are you most looking forward to about José Bowen’s visit to campus?
Joshua: I’m excited about José Bowen’s visit because it will allow us to learn how AI is being utilized and addressed on other college campuses. I’m pleased that MSUM is making AI a priority, and it will be beneficial to hear what is (or isn’t) working for other universities.
Julia: Participating in Dr. José Bowen’s AAC&U workshop sessions and engaging with his book through our campus read truly filled my bucket—it sparked a deep desire to read, practice, and explore how I can thoughtfully integrate AI into my teaching toolbox. What I find most compelling in Dr. Bowen’s work is his belief that there isn’t just one right answer when it comes to AI. Instead, there are important questions to ask, possibilities to imagine, and creative tensions to explore. He reminds us that AI isn’t only a frontier of technical innovation—it’s also a frontier of human intelligence.
Why should employees attend “Educating Humans to Thrive in an AI World”?
Julia: This is our moment to come together as a transformative campus community and imagine what’s next—not just for education, but for how we work, think, and grow alongside AI. Dr. Bowen brings a powerful blend of honesty, enthusiasm, and insight that helps us think through AI’s challenges and possibilities. He doesn’t shy away from complexity; instead, he invites us to engage with it—a process I believe we’re ready to embrace and model at MSUM.
Joshua: Employees should attend the keynote because AI is not going anywhere, and it will continue to disrupt the status quo. José Bowen will provide a new perspective on what this might mean for us and our students. Regardless of your stance on AI and its place in academia, understanding it better will improve the quality of our conversations around what it means for our programs and classes.
It’s not too late! Reserve your free ticket.