ALLIANCE, OH – The University of Mount Union continues to excel as a leader in innovative and ethical artificial intelligence (AI) integration in higher education through the achievements of its AI Fellows Program.

Mount Union’s AI Fellows Program empowers faculty across all disciplines to explore AI tools and integrate them into their curricula with a focus on public health, educational integrity, and industry readiness. In total, 24 faculty members participated in the first cohort of the program from myriad areas, including art, biochemistry, business, chemistry, education, engineering, exercise science, media, physics and religious studies.

Two faculty members in the cohort, Dr. Laura Kelly, assistant professor of marketing, and Dr. Beth Canfield-Simbro, professor of education, presented their research at recent conferences. Their scholarly efforts underscore the institution’s commitment to preparing students for the evolving technological landscape across diverse disciplines.

Kelly presented at the American Marketing Association (AMA) International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, LA, in April. Her session, titled “Synthetic Consumers: Teaching AI-Generated Audience Responses in Marketing Research,” introduced a cutting-edge classroom module where students use AI-generated data in place of traditional human samples. This innovative four-week unit allows students to simulate human behavior using tools like ChatGPT to learn survey design, data analysis and prompt engineering.

Kelly presenting her research at the AMA Conference.

“By working with synthetic samples, students gain technical research skills and real-world understanding of AI’s role in modern marketing,” said Kelly. “This approach not only streamlines classroom logistics but also gives students a competitive edge in the job market.”

Canfield-Simbro brought Mount Union’s AI expertise to the national stage at the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Conference in Long Beach, CA. Her poster presentation, “Incorporating AI into Undergraduate Health Education Classes,” explored both the opportunities and challenges of using AI in teaching. From enhancing student engagement with real-time health data to confronting ethical concerns around privacy and misinformation, her work emphasized critical thinking, AI literacy and professional responsibility.

“I was amazed by how many institutions are still figuring this out on their own,” said Canfield-Simbro. “Faculty and students I spoke with were incredibly impressed by Mount Union’s institutional support and the structure of our AI Fellows Program. It sparked meaningful conversations about the future of health education.”

Through their participation in the AI Fellows Program and their national conference contributions, both professors are helping to establish Mount Union as a hub for responsible, cross-disciplinary AI innovation. Their work demonstrates how AI can enhance teaching and research while fostering thoughtful, ethical and inclusive adoption across campus.

These recent accomplishments highlight the university’s role in leading AI innovation in higher education — grounded in ethics, driven by purpose. Learn more about Mount Union’s innovative minors in artificial intelligence and applied artificial intelligence.