ChatAI: Q&A With Commission Members
ChatAI
Q&A With Members of the SREB Commission on AI in Education
Get to know commission members in our new series, ChatAI, featuring recurring human interest profiles. You can also find these profiles featured in our monthly newsletter, AI in Education Insights.
Nancy Ruzycki
Birthplace: Tucson, Arizona
Professional Background: University of Florida Instructional Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering since 2013.
AI Experience: Founder of AI-themed summer camps and contests for students across Florida with funding from foundational donors in partnership with school districts. These include camps for middle and high schools. Created grades 6-12 CTE frameworks for Data Science. Created two years of curriculum for teachers aligned to the data science frameworks. Created grades 6-8 CTE Frameworks for AI aligned to the 9-12 AI frameworks. Developed two one semester curriculum in partnership with Microsoft Minecraft Education for teachers in middle school. Develop and conducted professional development for Florida Teachers to upskill for the teaching of the Florida AI Frameworks for Career and Technical Education grades 9-12 in partnership with the University of Florida AI2 Center.
Favorite AI App or Use: Napkin AI for graphics in a pinch and Claude to summarize things. I do not use AI for most work, owing to the energy resources used doing something that I can generally do myself.
Hobbies Outside of Work and AI: Gardening, thrifting, reading novels I never get through owing to work.
Why did you want to be involved in the commission and what has your experience been like so far?
Michelle Lopes Maldonado
Birthplace: Falmouth, Massachusetts
Professional Background: Former technology attorney, tech business leader and small business owner.
AI Experience: Started career as a tech lawyer and tech business leader working on backend platform technologies, online privacy and e-commerce at AOL.
Favorite AI App or Use: I use Beautiful.ai to help generate presentations for projects and community events.
Hobbies Outside of Work and AI: Roller skating, listening to music, dancing, helping kids, spending time with family and quiet time in nature.
Why did you want to be involved in the commission, and what has your experience been like so far?
Tristan Denley
Birthplace: Penzance, Cornwall, England
Professional Background: Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Innovation, Louisiana Board of Regents. Previously, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, University System of Georgia; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Tennessee Board of Regents; and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Austin Peay State.
Commission Role: Postsecondary Education Policies subcommittee member
AI Experience: Created Degree Compass, an AI and predictive analytics-based recommendation system to aid in improving academic advising.
Favorite AI App or Use: Suno
Hobbies Outside of Work and AI: I like to read, paint with watercolors, play the guitar and trumpet, and cook, though rarely all at once.
Why did you want to be involved in the commission and what has your experience been like so far?
Brad D. Smith
Co-Chair, SREB Commission on AI in Education
Birthplace: Kenova, W.V.
Commission Role: Co-Chair
Professional Background: President, Marshall University, 2021-present; President & CEO, Intuit, 2008-2019
Favorite AI App or Use: Collaborating on creative writing
Hobbies Outside of Work and AI: Physical fitness, martial arts, reading, writing poetry, playing guitar and sax
