AI in Academia: Navigating the Future

Professor Noah Giansiracusa and Gaurav Shah

Welcome to " AI in Academia: Navigating the Future," a podcast where the realms of higher education and artificial intelligence converge. Hosted by two colleagues at Bentley University, a faculty member studying AI and the Director of Academic Technologies, this series explores the multifaceted impacts, risks, and growing opportunities of AI in the world of academia. Each episode, we invite a guest to discuss topics around AI that shape teaching, learning, research, and academic administration. From ethical considerations to technological breakthroughs, our discussions will span the gamut of AI's influence in academiaProduced by:Gaurav ShahNoah GiansiracusaSteve Salina

  1. Jul 14

    Episode 22: Is Higher Ed Finally Catching Up to AI? Perspectives from the Digital Education Council

    Alessandro Di Lullo (CEO) and Danny Bielik (President) of the Digital Education Council (DEC) share fresh data from DEC's ongoing global surveys, including why the student-faculty AI gap is finally starting to close — and why "usage" is no longer the right question to ask. The conversation digs into how assessment is being redesigned from the ground up, why critical thinking isn't enough without judgment (knowing when to stop, when something is "good enough"), and why higher ed's biggest challenge may be its own speed relative to industry. Show Guests Alessandro Di Lullo  is the Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Education Council (DEC), a global community of practice driving AI adoption, governance, and sustainable innovation in higher education and workforce development. Academically, Adjunct Faculty Member at Singapore Management University and Academic Fellow at the University of Hong Kong, specialising in AI governance. Also Co-Founder of SuperCharger Ventures, a world leading edtech accelerator that helped hundreds of startups and scale-ups accelerate innovation in education.  Daniel A. Bielik is the President of the Digital Education Council (DEC). As President of DEC, his work involves assisting universities and governments to increase access to high quality education, to reform education systems and providers to become more adaptable and take advantage of a changing technological landscape. Daniels extensive experience includes strategy development, governance and partnerships in higher education and serving as Ministerial Adviser in Education to the NSW Government in Australia.

  2. May 18

    Episode 21: Joe Dery & Jane Griffin

    In this special live episode, recorded in front of a student audience, Joe Dery, Chief Customer Officer at Aera Technology, and Jane Griffin, Associate Provost for Student Success at Bentley University, join us to explore: "How do colleges use analytics and AI to make decisions?" Together, we unpack how universities are leveraging analytics and AI behind the scenes to drive more informed decisions around student success. The conversation highlights the shift from “dashboard palooza” to “AI agent palooza,” and why decision intelligence is emerging as the next evolution of business intelligence. Our guests also emphasize the critical balance between technology and human judgment, underscoring the importance of transparency, strong data governance, and the ethical use of student data.

  3. Mar 16

    Episode 20: Dr. Jennifer Brown

    Dr. Jennifer Brown is the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bentley University and a scholar of English, Medieval Studies, and Women's Studies---as well as a novelist! She joins us to discuss how AI is impacting writing and creativity, how to teach writing in the age of AI, and what we can learn about all this by looking back to the biggest disruption in the long history of writing technology: the invention of the printing press.

  4. Feb 4

    Episode 19: Dr. David Rivera Jr.

    Dr. Dave Rivera Jr., professor of applied management at Flagler College, shares his experiences exploring generative AI with his students in business classes. He discusses ways of getting honest feedback on when AI helps students learn and when it doesn't, how he uses AI to reinforce but not replace creative and critical thinking, and how he keeps up with the fast, evolving pace of AI. You might walk away from this episode feeling a little more optimistic about the future---we did!

  5. 11/25/2025

    Episode 18: Jeff LeBlanc

    Jeff LeBlanc, a Lecturer of Management at Bentley University discusses the evolving role of AI in business education and leadership. Jeff shares insights on the human elements of organizational behavior, emphasizing that while AI is a powerful tool for generating ideas, it cannot replace genuine human connection and empathy. The conversation explores Jeff’s engaged empathy leadership model, highlighting the importance of kindness, fairness, and structure in guiding students and future leaders.

  6. 09/30/2025

    Episode 17: Nathan Carter

    Nathan Carter, Professor of Mathematical Sciences and Director of the Center for Analytics and Data Science at Bentley University, joins the podcast to share his current research on whether AI can accurately grade mathematical proofs and provide meaningful feedback to students. The conversation explores the challenges of precision, logic, and ethical concerns in AI-assisted grading, and considers broader implications for teaching, learning, and faculty development. Listeners will also gain insights from Bentley’s participation in the AAC&U Institute for AI in Pedagogy and Curriculum, including practical frameworks for evaluating and integrating AI tools in higher education.

  7. 08/19/2025

    Episode 16: Denny Hummer and Amber Guerrero

    Denny Hummer. assistant director of the Bucknell SBDC and Amber Guerrero, a business consultant at Bucknell SBDC discuss their roles in driving the use of AI among local entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania. They share their experiences with AI, including how it has transformed their work processes and improved efficiency. They emphasize the importance of AI in providing better service to clients and the need for students to learn and use AI tools effectively. The conversation highlights the evolution of AI in small business development, the integration of AI in educational settings, and the impact of AI on student internships and job roles.

  8. 05/08/2025

    Episode 15: Mareike Möhlmann

    Mareike Möhlmann, associate professor of computer information systems at Bentley University, discusses how her university has been working on guidelines and guidance for faculty around AI, what Uber tells us about the future of AI and work, and how to support digital literacy.

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About

Welcome to " AI in Academia: Navigating the Future," a podcast where the realms of higher education and artificial intelligence converge. Hosted by two colleagues at Bentley University, a faculty member studying AI and the Director of Academic Technologies, this series explores the multifaceted impacts, risks, and growing opportunities of AI in the world of academia. Each episode, we invite a guest to discuss topics around AI that shape teaching, learning, research, and academic administration. From ethical considerations to technological breakthroughs, our discussions will span the gamut of AI's influence in academiaProduced by:Gaurav ShahNoah GiansiracusaSteve Salina

Information

  • Creator
    Professor Noah Giansiracusa and Gaurav Shah
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 AI in Academia: Navigating the Future
  • Show Website
    AI in Academia: Navigating the Future