AI Network
Overview
The NIU AI Network is a community of practice dedicated to exploring and advancing AI in ways that are ethical, equitable, and aligned with our campus mission and values.
By fostering collaboration and sharing of resources, the AI Network equips the community to navigate AI’s complexities. Our goals are to:
- Provide a space for connecting NIU community members (including faculty, staff, and students) who work with, or are curious about AI, to learn from and with each other.
- Facilitate the discovery and sharing of AI use cases, needs, and approaches that support NIU’s mission and values.
- Promote understanding of AI’s risks and trade-offs to support teaching and learning.
Meetings
The AI Network meets via Microsoft Teams every other Wednesday from noon to 1 PM. Session topics will be selected by the coordinating team, which will consist of faculty, staff, and student representatives.
Fall Semester
- September 10 - A Framework for AI Literacy
- September 24 - Employer Perspectives on AI Literacy
- October 8 - Ethical Guidelines and Evaluation
- October 22 - Book Club on Teaching with AI by José Antonio Bowen & C. Edward Watson
- November 5
- November 19
- December 3
Spring Semester
- January 14
- January 28
- February 11
- February 25
- March 25
- April 8
- April 22
Membership
Membership in the NIU AI Network is open to all NIU faculty, staff, and students. Once you join the network, we will add you to the Microsoft Team and send you meeting invitations for the upcoming sessions.
Leadership
The AI Network Coordinating team will include faculty, staff, and student representation from across the university. The team helps to shape session themes, recruits presenters, and serves as leaders within the AI Network.
- Federico Bassetti, Associate Director for Innovation Ecosystem Development, Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships
- Heidi Frostestad, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Law
- David Grewell, Dean, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
- Ruperto Herrera, Information Technology Director, Division of Information Technology
- Wei-Chen Hung, Chair, Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment
- Andy Jeon, Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing
- Ryan Shepherd, Associate Professor & Director of First Year Composition, Department of English
- Bradley Wiles, Associate Professor & Head of Special Collections, University Libraries