Cindy York, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Cindy York has emerged as a leading voice in artificial intelligence literacy and its integration into higher education. Her work examines how generative AI transforms teaching, learning, and assessment practices across disciplines, with particular emphasis on mathematics education and instructional technology.
Research Areas
- Online and blended learning
- Instructional design
- Educational technology integration
- Active learning strategies
- Mathematics education
- Teacher education and professional development
- Learning experience design (LXD)
- Student engagement and interaction in digital environments
- Educational AI
Department: Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology
College: Education
Email: cindy.york@niu.edu
Research and Publications
York's AI research focuses on understanding student and faculty perceptions of artificial intelligence while developing practical frameworks for ethical AI integration. Her collaborative work explores student career perspectives on AI, institutional adoption patterns, and the intersection of generative AI with mathematics teacher education and assessment. This research has resulted in published book chapters, including "Embracing ChatGPT in the Evolving Landscape of Mathematics Teacher Education and Assessment" (2024), and manuscripts examining AI's role in career futures and institutional contexts.
Presentations and Scholarly Dissemination
York has presented her AI scholarship at numerous national and international conferences. Notable presentations include "Empowering Educators: Leveraging AI for Course Design" at ACHE (2025), "AI as a Study Buddy: Preparing Students for Ethical and Effective Use" at ACHE South (2025), and "Unleashing the Potential of Human-AI Partnership: Insights from Designing Instructional Material with ChatGPT" at SITE Interactive (2023). She has also contributed to panel discussions on generative AI and teacher education at SITE (2024) and delivered presentations on ChatGPT's implications for mathematics assessment at ICTCM (2024) and Innovative Educators Summit (2024). Her work addresses AI literacy frameworks, course design integration, and the evolution of assessment practices in the age of generative AI.
Teaching and Course Development
York has developed and taught multiple courses focused on artificial intelligence in education. She teaches "Artificial Intelligence in Education" for both graduate and undergraduate students and "Artificial Intelligence in Writing for Instructional Technology" at the graduate level, both delivered online. Additionally, she designed and taught "Honors Seminar with General Education Domains: Artificial Intelligence" (HON300: Future Ready - Exploring the Role of Generative AI in Education and the Workplace) for undergraduates in Fall 2025. These courses prepare students to understand, evaluate, and ethically integrate AI tools into educational and professional contexts.
Open Educational Resources
Committed to open scholarship, York has created publicly available AI educational materials. She developed "AI in Education: An Interactive Introduction" (2024), an online module with interactive questions designed to build foundational AI literacy. All of her presentations and resources are freely available on her professional website, reflecting her dedication to accessible, evidence-based AI education for diverse learners.
Service and Leadership
York serves as a member of the NIU AI Task Force Teaching and Learning Working Group (2024-2025), contributing her expertise to university-wide AI integration initiatives.