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Artificial intelligence is helping reshape how responsible leadership is taught at the University of Utah. Dr. Quentin T. Baldwin integrates AI tools to enhance personalized learning, accelerate research, and support more meaningful student engagement. From adaptive U-Bots that connect lessons to current events, to AI-assisted feedback and critical thinking exercises, these tools allow him to meet students where they are—promoting both equity and academic excellence. Rather than replacing the human element, AI serves as a partner that streamlines preparation, enriches discussion, and frees time for deeper mentorship.

At the University of Utah’s English Language Institute, AI helped streamline the complex task of creating a compliant course schedule that fits the university’s standard time blocks. Designated School Official Kirsten MacQuillin used iterative AI prompts to generate and refine multiple schedule options, ensuring accurate instructional hours and better alignment with campus systems. The result is a more efficient, compliant schedule that simplifies coordination and demonstrates how AI can enhance—not replace—administrative decision-making.

AI is transforming multilingual education at the University of Utah, where faculty and graduate students are using innovative tools to create more inclusive and culturally responsive classrooms. Through new teacher-training courses and collaborative projects with bilingual students, Assistant Professor Tuba Yilmaz and her team demonstrate how AI can empower educators to support learners from diverse language backgrounds—without needing to speak every language themselves. Their work shows how technology can strengthen cultural understanding, build social connections, and promote educational equity across classrooms and communities.

A student-led approach is redefining how AI can support learning in higher education. Kefa Akuki, a political science major at the University of Utah, teaches peers to use AI as a partner rather than a shortcut—starting with their own research and outlines, then using AI for tasks like formatting, organizing citations, and refining structure. The approach helps students stay engaged, avoid plagiarism, and focus on understanding their coursework. With more confidence and stronger study habits, students produce clearer, more thoughtful assignments. Used intentionally, AI becomes a tool that enhances learning while supporting academic integrity.

As AI becomes more integrated into classrooms worldwide, University of Utah educators Randall Davis and Rus Wilson are helping reframe the conversation. At the TESOL Ecuador Conference, they shared how AI is transforming—not replacing—the essential human work of teaching, and what skills educators will need moving forward.