AI @ APSU Symposium Schedule

Event Details

• Date: October 31, 2025

• Location: Morgan University Center

• Sponsors: Legal Affairs and Organizational Strategy, CAFÉ, and the QEP

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Complete Schedule

Session Information

Session I (9:05 AM - 10:00 AM)

1. Partnering with Chat GPT in the Classroom: I Don’t Use AI – I Work With It.

   • Presenter: Dr. John Volker, Professor of Management and Market.

   • This session demonstrates how faculty can use ChatGPT as a teaching assistant for tasks like creating lesson materials and providing structured student feedback. Participants will practice crafting effective prompts and discuss ethical considerations.

2. AI Literacy: Lessons from a “Modern Information Literacy and AI Skills” Student.

   • Presenter: Rhianna Loy, Student Presenter.

   • A student-led discussion about how students view and use AI in their coursework. The session aims to create a dialogue between students and faculty about AI policies and academic integrity.

3. Blood in the Water: Ethical and Environmental Considerations of AI.

   • Presenter: Scott Shumate, Lead Librarian for Digital Services.

   • This session moves beyond productivity to address the ethical and environmental impacts of AI. Topics include privacy, algorithmic bias, and the resource consumption of AI models.

4. AI Training Gaps and Workforce Readiness in Commercial Real Estate Services

• • Presenter(s): Dr. Stephanie L. Bilderback, Instructor of Management & Sarah Ahlheit, Senior Management Student

  • This session presents findings from an APSU IRB-approved study of employees in commercial real estate services, highlighting how AI training influences job satisfaction, workforce confidence, and adoption behaviors. Attendees can complete a version of the employee survey via QR code, allowing for real-time comparisons with professionals' perspectives.

Session II (10:10 AM - 11:05 AM)

1. GOOGLE.

   • Presenter: GOOGLE

   • Google will provide an overview of generative AI tools in their workforce suite.

2. Navigating Ethical Frontiers: AI Integration in Therapeutic Practice and Its Implications for Client Care.

   • Presenter: Dr. Dava Wilson, Assistant Professor of Social Work.

   • This session explores how AI is changing helping professions and introducing new ethical questions. Participants will practice identifying ethical issues through realistic scenarios and learn basic strategies for making good decisions about AI usage.

3. AI You Can Trust: Hands-On Detection of Data Poisoning Attacks.

   • Presenter: Dr. Sabrina Perry, Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Information Technology.

   • A hands-on session where participants use a Google Colab notebook to train a model, simulate a data poisoning attack, and apply a defense to flag suspicious data. No advanced coding skills are needed.

Session III (11:15 AM - 12:20 PM)

1. Introduction to Vibe Coding.

   • Presenter: Dr. John Nicholson, Professor of Computer Science and Information Technology.

   • This session introduces "vibe coding," an approach that allows non-technical users to build software using AI assistance. It is designed for beginners with no prior coding experience.

2. Using AI to Brand and Market Yourself in Half the Time (and a Third of the Money!). 

   • Presenter: Talon Beeson, Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance.

   • An interactive workshop on using AI to streamline personal branding and marketing. While aimed at entertainment professionals, the concepts can be applied to any industry

3. The Augmented Mind: Exploring the Ethical Nexus of AI-Augmentative Technology.

   • Presenter: Camara Wilson, Student Presenter.

   • This session examines the high-end application of Augmented Reality (AR) goggles using AI chatbots to provide social cues for people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It aims to answer a central question: Can an algorithm without human “heart and soul” truly provide ethical and efficient support?

Keynote and Lunch: Lessons from the Field (12:20 PM - 1:15 PM)

Featured Speaker: Danny Norman Advanced Manufacturing Consultant, UT Center for Industrial Services

Danny Norman is the Advanced Manufacturing Consultant at the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS). Danny is focused on developing AI training curriculum that bridges the gap between academia and industry. As the lead developer of UT CIS’s first AI training, he created a workshop dedicated to ensuring that every manufacturing employee has access to the basic knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a world shaped by AI.

As a complement to the four-hour workshop, Danny is working with UT’s College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies to deliver a 16-week AI training program for employees of large manufacturing corporations who are laying the groundwork to make AI a competitive advantage.

Danny started at CIS in 2017, with responsibility for deploying services spanning additive manufacturing, composites, digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and collaborative robots. He also leads a national initiative focused on applying research from the United States’ Manufacturing USA institutes, including technologies in robotics, machine vision, smart manufacturing, biotech, energy tech, and advanced electronics.

He holds a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Lipscomb University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. If lost, you may find him on a tennis court, tinkering in his “lab”, reading an obscure book of the Bible, on a golf course, or in his garage under the Jeep.

Session IV (1:25 PM - 2:20 PM)

1. AI in Action: How I Use ChatGPT to Teach, Grade, and Stay Organized. 

   • Presenter: Alex Adams, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance.

   • A behind-the-scenes look at how a professor uses AI for lesson planning, grading, and personal productivity. The session will include live demonstrations and highlight student perspectives on using AI in their learning.

2. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and AI: A Beginner's Guide to Digital Forensics. 

   • Presenter: Dr. Erin Rowland Carlin, Assistant Professor of the Institute for National Security and Military Studies.

   • Explore how AI tools can enhance open-source intelligence techniques, from tracking assets to uncovering hidden data in photos. This session demonstrates skills applicable across many academic disciplines, with no technical background required.

3. Using AI for Smarter Job Searches. 

   • Presenter: Dannelle Whiteside, Vice President for Legal Affairs and Organizational Strategy.

   • This workshop will explore practical ways artificial intelligence can transform the career search process. Designed to meet participants where they are, the session will demonstrate how AI tools can streamline resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, and more. Attendees will also learn about ethical considerations, limitations, and best practices.

Session V (2:30 PM - 3:25 PM)

1. AI from a Public Interest Perspective.

   • Presenter: Dr. Nader Dagher, Assistant Professor of Communication.

   • Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming society, which raises questions about power, fairness, and accountability. This session critiques AI from a public interest perspective, highlighting the risks of replacing humans in the decision-making process while disregarding human values. I support a human-centered approach to AI adoption that prioritizes human lives, transparency, ethics, and democratic oversight.

2. AI in Research and Academic Writing

   • Presenter: Troy Priest, Director-QEP and Scott Shumate, Lead Librarian for Digital Services

• • This session provides theoretical foundations for ethical and responsible use of AI, along with practical guidance for integrating AI tools responsibly into academic research and writing. Experience hands-on examination of academically oriented AI tools, learn effective prompting strategies, and more.

  • Note: Faculty who attended the August 20th session should expect similar content with minor revisions.

C. Beyond Office Hours: Designing a ChatGPT Course Assistant

• • Presenter(s): Patrick Gosnell, Professor of Graphic Design

  • This session explores the process of designing, training, and deploying a virtual teaching assistant using ChatGPT Plus. Participants will see how generative AI can be tailored to align with an instructor’s teaching philosophy, course materials, and learning outcomes. Attendees will also gain insights into related technical and ethical considerations.

Registration

Register now to attend your preferred sessions. Space may be limited for some workshops.