Smarter Campus Podcast

In this episode of Smarter Campus, host Zach Kinzler sits down with Lara Taylor, Purdue Polytechnic doctoral candidate and instructional technologist at Mississippi State, to trace her journey from library stacks to AI frontlines. Lara shares how her masters research on machine-learning chatbots and search algorithms in SEC libraries ignited her passion for generative AIlong before ChatGPT put it on everyones radar.

They dig into the early wins and growing pains of launching an Emerging Technologies Committee (think VR, AR, and AI), building a techliteracy framework, and shifting a traditionally slowmoving library world into high gear. Lauras top advice? Dont fear the futurejump in and join the party. Whether youre an educator, administrator, or simply AIcurious, youll come away with concrete strategies for overcoming resistance, empowering students, and unleashing creativity far beyond the classroom. Tune in to see how AI can transform your campusone chatbot at a time.

 Join Zach Kinzler on Smarter Campus as he sits down with Joe Faith, Assistant Professor at Harding University and PhD candidate in AI & Machine Learning at George Washington University. They dive into Joe’s journey from “tinkerer” to AI educator—how a clever academic “loophole” fast‑tracked his rise, the launch of Harding’s brand‑new AI program, and his hands‑on approach to teaching Python, R, and data analytics. Learn why Joe believes breaking down fear, ditching the rigid “checklist” mindset, and infusing fun into the classroom are the keys to cultivating future-ready engineers. Whether you’re curious about making AI approachable or reimagining higher-ed pedagogy, this episode is packed with practical insights and 

Join host Zach Kinzler as he sits down with Dr. Tawnya Means, Assistant Dean for Educational Innovation at UIUC’s Gies College of Business, to explore how generative AI is reshaping teaching and learning. With over 15 years driving technology-infused pedagogy, Dr. Means shares:

• Her journey from designing K-12 and higher-ed learning systems to leading large-scale online innovation programs
• Why the “AI-proof assignment” mindset is a dead end—and how embracing AI can unlock richer, more personalized learning experiences
• Practical strategies for supporting faculty as they adopt and integrate the latest AI tools
• Real-world examples of generative AI in action, and how it can elevate both student engagement and instructional design

Tune in for a forward-looking conversation that moves beyond fear of cheating to a vision of AI as a powerful partner in education’s next chapter.

In this heartwarming episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, 9-year-old AI enthusiast Emily joins Zach to show us why artificial intelligence isnt as scary as it seems. Drawing on her brilliant shadow analogyhow a dark shape can feel frightening at first but soon becomes just another way to see yourselfEmily walks us through the simple steps anyone can take to get hands-on with AI. Tune in for her inspiring stories, playful outlook, and practical encouragement that prove AI is for everyoneno magic wand or secret password required!

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Marc Watkins, Assistant Director for Academic Innovation at the University of Mississippi, to explore how AI is actually being used in the classroom today. Marc shares real-world best practices for integrating AI into teaching, from assignments to academic integrity. They also dive into what big AI companies are doingwhats working, whats notand where this technology might take us next. If you want a grounded, practical look at AI in education, this is the episode to hear it.