Florida State University (FSU) recently hosted a remarkable Lunch and Learn graduate workshop on artificial intelligence (AI), which brought together graduate students from diverse fields to explore the transformative impact of AI on both teaching and research. This 90-minute event took place on March 14, 2025, and was organized collaboratively between FSU’s Innovation Hub, Graduate School, and Office of the Provost.
“Artificial intelligence in both teaching and research are two areas that's extremely important for our graduate students, especially those who are looking at careers in academia,” remarked Paul Marty, associate vice provost for academic innovation and event sponsor. His comments highlighted the significance of engaging students with the topic of AI as the workshop sought to facilitate dialogue across various academic disciplines.
The format of the workshop featured lectures from notable speakers: Michael Neal, associate professor from the Department of English; Joshua Morgan, academic affairs administrator at the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement; Kyung Kim, social sciences librarian; and Liz Dunne, instruction and reference librarian. They deliberated on the ethical and effective use of AI tools within academia, poised to inform and inspire the university community.
“It’s very important for Florida State University to embrace all new academic innovations,” Marty reiterated, underlining the university’s commitment to advancing educational practices. “I feel really strongly we are a university embracing innovation across academia, and one of the things we have to do is work with our students so they understand how those tools can be used and what their limitations are.” The focus on both the potential benefits and limits of AI served as a guiding principle throughout the discussions.
The workshop struck a chord with many graduate students, who found real value in the opportunity to exchange thoughts about AI's role across different subjects. Emily Lu, a doctoral student in the Department of History specializing in Japanese history, shared her experience: “I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about AI use in both classrooms and research and to discuss with fellow graduate teaching assistants from various departments their experiences with either combating or introducing it in the classroom.” Emily explained how she currently has an anti-generative AI policy implemented within her course but expressed newfound curiosity about educating her students on the ethical applications of generative AI as well.
Other participants, such as Amber Noor Mustafa, who is pursuing studies within international and multicultural education, praised FSU’s proactive approach to technological innovation. Mustafa pointed out, “I believe AI is only as effective as the user’s query, and FSU’s guidance can empower researchers and educators to learn about AI’s potential, keeping pace with cutting-edge global research. AI is here to stay, and as researchers, staying informed about the latest advancements is important, and as educators, we must strive to stay a step ahead of our students to enrich their learning experiences.” This sentiment captures the overarching goal of the workshop—to empower both educators and students alike.
With more emphasis on innovation, FSU is not just keeping up with trends but actively shaping how future generations of scholars will engage with growing technologies. For those interested, more resources on AI can be found at FSU’s dedicated website: ai.fsu.edu.