What's Happening?
Dartmouth College Provost Santiago Schnell has named three professors as inaugural Provost Leadership Fellows, an initiative designed to empower faculty in shaping institution-wide academic strategy, policy, and innovation. The fellows are Nathaniel Dominy,
Roopika Risam, and Jonathan Smolin, whose terms will range from one to three years. Professor Roopika Risam, chair of the Department of Film and Media Studies, will focus her fellowship on developing Dartmouth’s Artificial Intelligence strategy. She will provide critical faculty guidance and perspective as the institution defines its approach to AI in teaching, learning, and research, building on previous work by Jed Dobson and the Faculty Leadership Group on AI. Professor Risam will report to Dean Madden, vice provost for research, and her work will ensure Dartmouth’s AI approach reflects its commitment to the liberal arts, incorporating technical, historical, and humanistic aspects.
Why It's Important?
This initiative is significant for higher education in the U.S. as it directly addresses the integration of Artificial Intelligence into academic frameworks. By appointing a dedicated fellow to lead AI strategy, Dartmouth College is proactively shaping how AI will influence teaching, learning, and research within a liberal arts context. This approach is crucial for ensuring that AI development and application in academia are grounded in critical inquiry, ethical considerations, and socio-political awareness, rather than solely focusing on technical aspects. The program also highlights the growing recognition that faculty expertise is essential in guiding institutional responses to emerging technologies. This model could influence other universities to adopt similar faculty-led initiatives, fostering a more thoughtful and comprehensive integration of AI across U.S. higher education institutions, ultimately preparing students for an AI-driven future with a balanced understanding of its implications.
What's Next?
Professor Risam will continue to develop Dartmouth’s AI strategy, building on existing foundational work. Her role will involve providing faculty guidance and perspective, which will likely lead to the formulation of new policies and pedagogical approaches for AI integration in the curriculum. This will include defining how AI is taught, how it is used as a research tool, and how it impacts the learning experience for students. The outcomes of her fellowship are expected to shape Dartmouth’s identity as a global institution in the context of AI, potentially influencing its academic offerings and research priorities. The Provost Leadership Fellows program itself is ongoing, with applications for the next cohort opening in early 2027, indicating a sustained commitment to faculty-driven leadership in key strategic areas for the university.
Beyond the Headlines
The appointment of a Provost Leadership Fellow specifically for AI strategy at Dartmouth College underscores a deeper institutional commitment to navigating the complex landscape of artificial intelligence. This move goes beyond simply adopting new technologies; it reflects an effort to critically examine AI's role within the humanities and social sciences, ensuring that its development is informed by a broad range of disciplinary perspectives. This holistic approach is vital for fostering a generation of graduates who are not only technically proficient but also ethically conscious and socially responsible in their engagement with AI. By integrating AI into a liberal arts framework, Dartmouth is positioning itself to address the profound societal questions raised by AI, such as data and power dynamics, and to prepare students to be thoughtful leaders in an increasingly AI-dependent world. This initiative could set a precedent for how U.S. universities approach technological integration, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical stewardship.
