Objectives
The AI enablement team will be led by the Deputy CIO and Chief Operating Officer, Tom Van Gilder, and will regularly update the ITS Senior Leadership team, the AI Task Force and the campus community.
The primary objectives of the AI enablement team include:
Promoting AI literacy: Educate students, faculty and staff on AI concepts, applications and ethical considerations.
Enhancing teaching and learning: Leveraging effective AI tools for the academic enterprise.
Supporting research: Facilitate AI-driven research across various disciplines and areas of identified excellence.
Enhancing administrative efficiency: Implement AI tools to streamline administrative processes.
Fostering innovation: Encourage the development of AI-based solutions to address real-world challenges.
Key Responsibilities
The team will undertake the following responsibilities:
Professional development: Design and implement AI-related workshops based on approved university tools.
Research support: Provide technical assistance and resources for AI research projects.
Administrative automation: Identify and deploy AI solutions to optimize administrative tasks.
Community engagement: Organize events and seminars to foster a culture of AI innovation.
Ethical oversight: Ensure that AI initiatives adhere to ethical guidelines and best practices.
Implementation Plan
The implementation of the AI enablement team will involve several stages:
Needs assessment: Conduct a thorough analysis of the university's current AI capabilities and requirements.
Team formation: Recruit and onboard qualified individuals to form the AI enablement team.
Resource allocation: Secure funding and resources necessary for the team's operations.
Pilot projects: Launch initial AI projects to demonstrate the team's value and impact.
Continuous improvement: Regularly evaluate the team's performance and make necessary adjustments.
AI Enablement Team Leads
AI Technical Team
Michelle Melton
Business & Technical Applications Specialist, ITS–Academic Technologies
The AI Technical Team is one of the main development units responsible for engineering applied AI solutions across campus. Our primary purpose is to transform teaching, learning and operational efficiency by building custom applications, intelligent agents and conversational assistants. We partner directly with faculty, staff and students to leverage AI for specific, high-impact use cases that enhance the academic experience and streamline campus operations.
AI Policy
Mark Bradbury
Interim Vice Provost for Academic Programming and Planning, Professor of Public Administration, Academic Affairs
Tom Van Gilder, Deputy CIO & Chief Operating Officer
Keith Werner, Chief Information Officer
AI Teaching & Learning
Jason LaFrance
Associate Professor, School Administration, Program Director of School Administration, Reich College of Education
The AI Enablement Teaching and Learning Committee is contributing to App State's responsible use of AI. The group created a campus-wide survey, has been exploring applications of AI in teaching and learning and is organizing panels and webinars for Spring 2026 to support informed, effective adoption.
AI & Research
Karen Fischer, Director of Grant Resources & Services, Office of Research and Innovation
Gabriele Casale, Assistant Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, Office of Research and Innovation
The AI Research Enablement team is dedicated to helping faculty and researchers explore the potential of artificial intelligence in scholarship by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among faculty and staff around the opportunities, challenges and ethical considerations of integrating artificial intelligence into research practices across campus.
AI Literacy
Michael Vaughn
Academic Technologist, ITS-Academic Technologies
The purpose of the AI Literacy Working Group is to ensure a future-ready campus by:
- Identifying emerging AI literacy needs and opportunities at App State.
- Preparing the App State community to safely engage with AI-powered tools and platforms with practical guidance and vetted resources.
- Influencing the integration of AI literacy across the campus community, including academic programs, research and operational practices.
- Strategize the delivery of literacy efforts through an array of mediums to accommodate learning and demographic differences.
AI & Operations
Tom Van Gilder
Deputy CIO & Chief Operating Officer, ITS-Office of the CIO
Emory Maiden
Director, ITS-Academic Technologies
AI Interns
- Patrick Masterson, Jr., Senior, B.S.B.A. in Computer Information Systems and B.S. in Cybersecurity
- Carson Patterson, Graduate, B.S.B.A. in Computer Information Systems, Appalachian State University
Current M.S. Student in Applied Data Analytics
Contact
To get involved or share suggestions for the team, contact Deputy CIO and Chief Operations Officer Tom Van Gilder at vangildertm@appstate.edu.