Meet the Voices Who Shaped the 2025 AiM Higher Conference
SPEAKER LIST
Dr. Denise Turley
Keynote
Embracing the Uncharted: Navigating the Future of Education with Courage, Curiosity and Care
Dr. Denise Turley is an educator, author, and technology leader focused on equity, innovation, and the future of learning. She brings a unique blend of experience from both academic and industry spaces, where she leads the development of AI solutions at scale and helps organizations navigate digital transformation with purpose and clarity. Her work explores how technology can be used to close achievement gaps, empower underserved students, and foster inclusive, self-determined leadership—particularly for underrepresented communities. Known for translating complex ideas into meaningful action, Dr. Turley challenges educators and technologists alike to see AI not as a threat, but as a tool for building more human-centered systems that amplify learning and connection.
Dr. Jasper Roe, SFHEA
Keynote
Navigating AI in Academia: Cross-Cultural Responses to Assessment and Integrity
Dr. Jasper Roe is an Assistant Professor in Digital Literacies and Pedagogies at Durham University, UK. Jasper’s experience includes significant university leadership roles internationally, in both Vietnam and Singapore. His research has focused on the cultural dimensions of AI models, the early development of Automated Paraphrasing Tools, and the inefficiences of AI Text Detection Technology. He is best known for his work as a co-creator of the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS), which is used worldwide and has been translated into 30 languages. Information on the AIAS is available at www.aiassessmentscale.com.
This virtual keynote featured global perspectives on AI, academic integrity, and assessment practices, highlighting cross-cultural challenges and strategies. Mathieu Plourde, FSA ULaval (Canada), Dr. Hoda Mostafa, The American University in Cairo (Egypt), Dr. Jim Bradley, University of Limerick (Ireland). Tiffany L. Wright, PhD, Pepperdine University, Dr. Mike Perkins, SFHEA Associate Professor and Head, Centre for Research & Innovation, British University Vietnam BUV Co-Author, AIAS.
Rachel Lapp
Sustainable Learning Cohort Designer
Rachel Lapp led a cohort-based session designed to promote professional peer connection and reflective learning. This experience provided participants with space to build community and develop actionable strategies for promoting AI readiness at their home institutions.
Rachel Lapp is an instructional designer, educator, and learning strategist at the University of Delaware. She is passionate about creating course designs that spark curiosity, invite exploration, and promote deep learning. With a strong background in instructional design and education, Rachel focuses on developing engaging and effective learning experiences that cater to diverse learner needs.
Featured Speakers
Day 1
Dr. Wendy K. Smith
Executive Leadership
Wendy K. Smith, PhD, is a highly cited researcher and award-winning author recognized for her work on strategic paradoxes. She received the Web of Science Highly Cited Research Award five times and the Academy of Management Review Decade Award twice. Her book, Both/And Thinking, was a top management book of 2023. Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware.
Day 2
Dr. Thomas M. Powers
Operational Excellence & Administrative Strategy
Thomas M. Powers is associate professor and founding director of the Center for Science, Ethics & Public Policy. His research focuses on the ethics of information technology and on the philosophy of technology. He has published on machine ethics, computer agency, virtual worlds, the ethics of AI, trust in robotics, and on other philosophical issues involving emerging technologies.
Day 2
Andrew B. Jenks, PhD.
Academic Research & Pedagogy
Andy Jenks is an educational assessment specialist at the University of Delaware’s Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations. Through consultations and programming, he supports a variety of teaching development programming at the individual instructor and course level up to program wide support. With subject matter expertise in Disability Politics, he has recently published book chapters and articles on the subject of equity and access in the classroom with a focus on questions of access in higher education as it confronts challenges and promises of AI.
Day 1-3
Jevonia Harris
AI Makerspace
Jevonia Harris, Team Lead of Educational Software Engineering in UDIT Academic Technology Services at the University of Delaware, is a lifelong Blue Hen with backgrounds in both computer science and computer engineering. Her expertise spans software development, faculty support, and project management, with a focus on AI technologies and oversight of the UD Capture suite. Passionate about AI ethics and bias, Jevonia contributes significantly to academic discourse and practical applications, helping shape AI software development in academia within UD and beyond.
Speaker List
Academic Research & Teaching Pedagogy
Day 1
Meghan Kileen, MA
Temple University
AI Use Cases – Enhancing AI Interactivity for Multilingual Learners: A Case Study in Collaborative Course Design with Kyron Learning
Emilie Cook
EveryLearnerEverywhere
AI Use Cases – Students Build an AI Toolkit for Inclusive and Effective Learning
Dalyn Luedtke, PhD
Norwich University
Managing Group Work with AI: A Professional Writing Case Study
Valerie Bloom
International Institute for Restorative Practices
Graduate School
Faculty Are Allowing Generative AI in Their Courses! Now What?
Lauren Wallis
University of Delaware
AI Ethics: Beyond the Screen ( AI & Environmental Impact)
Day 2
Dr. Andy Jenks
University of Delaware
Access as a Foundational Principle in Teaching and Learning with AI
Nazim Karaca, Esq.
University of Delaware
AI as Partner, Not Crutch: Teaching the Balance
Michael Curtin
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Frictionless Ideation and the Invisible Framework
Lauren Kelley, PhD
University of Delaware
AI Hidden Fears: Navigating Bias & Hallucinations
Jevonia Harris
University of Delaware
AI Hidden Fears: Navigating Bias & Hallucinations
Jeff Kuan, PhD., C.P.A.C.C., A.D.S.
The Ohio State University
The Evolution of Accessibility in Math-Intense Courses
Sara Shunkwiler (virtual)
John Hopkins University
The Evolution of Accessibility in Math-Intense Courses
Day 3
Lauren Kelley, PhD
University of Delaware
Using Generative AI Tools for Optimizing Writing & Research
Maria Barefoot, MLIS, M.Ed
University of Delaware
Using Generative AI Tools for Optimizing Writing & Research
Operational Excellence & Administrative Strategies
Day 1
Yosmeriz (Yos) Roman, PhD
University of Delaware
Efficiency Meets Empathy: AI In Student Services
Michael Fernbacher, EdD
University of Delaware
Efficiency Meets Empathy: AI In Student Services
Joyce (Joy) Allison
University of Delaware
Efficiency Meets Empathy: AI In Student Services
Rhina El-Amin, M.S.
University of Pennsylvania
Efficiency Meets Empathy: AI In Student Services
Carol Tonge Mack
University of Cinncinati
Efficiency Meets Empathy: AI In Student Services
Matt Kinservik
University of Delaware
Harnessing AI for Operational Excellence and Administrative Strategy in Academic Affairs
Jennifer Graber, EdD, APRN, PMHCNS-BC
University of Delaware
Harnessing AI for Operational Excellence and Administrative Strategy in Academic Affairs
Randy Oswald
University of Delaware
Harnessing AI for Operational Excellence and Administrative Strategy in Academic Affairs
Maria Barefoot, MLIS, M.Ed
University of Delaware
Harnessing AI for Operational Excellence and Administrative Strategy in Academic Affairs
Meghan Killeen, MA
Temple University
Harnessing AI for Operational Excellence and Administrative Strategy in Academic Affairs
Mark Clodfelter
University of Delaware
Harnessing AI for Operational Excellence and Administrative Strategy in Academic Affairs
Kevin Muller
Fordham University
Closing the Response Gap: How Fordham’s AI Think Tank Transforms Off-Hours Student Engagement
Zach Kinzler
BoodleBox
Better Feedback, Together: Co-Building a Post-AI Classroom with BoodleBox
Sarah Gibson (Virtual)
Lipscomb University
Better Feedback, Together: Co-Building a Post-AI Classroom with BoodleBox
Day 2
Mike Evans
University of Delaware
Responsible AI Innovation: Balancing Collaboration, Compliance, and Cyber Risk
John D’Arcy, PhD
University of Delaware
Responsible AI Innovation: Balancing Collaboration, Compliance, and Cyber Risk
Ryan Harrington
University of Delaware
Responsible AI Innovation: Balancing Collaboration, Compliance, and Cyber Risk
Chris Cawthorne
University of Delaware
Responsible AI Innovation: Balancing Collaboration, Compliance, and Cyber Risk
Rachel Coppola, PhD
University of Delaware
How AI Can Support Career Planning & Student Preparation for Post-graduate Success
Shalini Gopalkrishnan, DBA
San Francisco Bay University
How AI Can Support Career Planning & Student Preparation for Post-graduate Success
Jill Pante, M.Ed., PHR
University of Delaware
How AI Can Support Career Planning & Student Preparation for Post-graduate Success
Krissy Hovick
University of Delaware
How AI Can Support Career Planning & Student Preparation for Post-graduate Success
Emilie Cooke
EveryLearnerEverywhere
How AI Can Support Career Planning & Student Preparation for Post-graduate Success
Dr. Tom Powers, PhD
University of Delaware
From Disruption to Dialogue: Ethical and Practical Perspectives About AI in Education
Josh Wilson, PhD
University of Delaware
From Disruption to Dialogue: Ethical and Practical Perspectives About AI in Education
Erica Quinones
University of Delaware
From Disruption to Dialogue: Ethical and Practical Perspectives About AI in Education
Matt Kinservik
University of Delaware
From Disruption to Dialogue: Ethical and Practical Perspectives About AI in Education
Rahmat Beheshti, PhD
University of Delaware
From Disruption to Dialogue: Ethical and Practical Perspectives About AI in Education
Nazim Karaca
University of Delaware
AI Teaching & Research: Ethical Concerns & Considerations
Becky Wilson, MSW, LCSW
University of Delaware
Bridging Minds and Machines: AI, Mental Health, and Human Support in Higher Ed
Jess Pieper
University of Delaware
Bridging Minds and Machines: AI, Mental Health, and Human Support in Higher Ed
Shalini Gopalkrishnan
San Francisco Bay University.
Bridging Minds and Machines: AI, Mental Health, and Human Support in Higher Ed
Dr. Ohiro Oni-Eseleh
University of Delaware
Bridging Minds and Machines: AI, Mental Health, and Human Support in Higher Ed
Kayla Hayes
University of Delaware
Bridging Minds and Machines: AI, Mental Health, and Human Support in Higher Ed
AI Makerspace
Jevonia Harris
University of Delaware
Use Cases
Joe Naccarato
University of Delaware
Use Cases
Executive Leadership
Day 1
Dr. Wendy Smith
University of Delaware
Dr. Denise Turley
U.S. Chamber of Commerce