Reflecting on The AI in Higher Education Webinar Series
This spring, the AI Hub had the honor of hosting webinars featuring three skilled researchers with expertise on AI and the future of academia from multifaceted perspectives. Sean Masterman, Lauren Jones, and Brian Magerko fostered ongoing, open conversations on this timely topic.
The February webinar featured University of Minnesota’s Sean Masterman, Ed.D., who has over 25 years of experience as a technology leader and has been an adjunct professor and course designer for over 16 years for several universities, teaching at all levels of higher education, and helping prepare students to thrive in the future workforce alongside AI and robotics. With 75 registrants, this webinar titled “Partnering with AI: Redesigning Learning and Work for the Fourth Industrial Revolution” explored practical strategies for helping learners understand AI's strengths and limitations while cultivating ethical, effective collaboration with Generative AI. Sean Masterman’s webinar recording is available on our YouTube channel.
The April webinar featured Dr. Lauren Jones, an experienced administrator, scholar, and practitioner, who currently serves as the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, where she has worked since 2017. Dr. Jones’ talk, titled “Human Resource Development at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development,” encouraged 76 registrants to explore how AI impacts marginalized communities and what that may mean for other populations. Catch the full Dr. Lauren Jones’ webinar on the AI Hub’s YouTube channel.
In May, speaker Dr. Brian Magerko presented “Building an Ethical Future for AI in Research and Education.” Dr. Brian Magerko is a Regents Professor of Digital Media, Director of Graduate Studies in Digital Media, & head of the Expressive Machinery Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). He holds his bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering. The session highlighted practical approaches for engaging with AI that emphasize accessibility, equity, and academic integrity while mitigating risks related to bias, privacy, and over‑reliance on automated systems. To watch Dr. Brian Magerko’s webinar, visit the AI Hub’s YouTube channel.
With that, the AI in Higher Education Webinar Series comes to an end. To watch the previous semester's webinars, you can visit the AI Hub YouTube channel for the recorded webinars. Although our webinar series has sunset, there’s no need to worry; the AI Hub will continue to explore the responsible use, ethical implications, and mitigation of risks of AI by inviting speakers to share their research, insight, and understanding. Starting in fall 2026, the AI Hub will launch a new podcast: Prompt and Purpose.
Stay tuned for information on the launch and what we have up our sleeve for upcoming episodes, and join us as we continue the conversation on the future of AI in research, education, and society.
