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University of Florida

The AI2 Center, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Center for Instructional Technology & Training are honoring UF educators who have made significant contributions using AI in teaching and learning. These awards recognize instructors and instructional teams for adopting, implementing, creatively using, and championing AI.

 

Award Categories and Eligibility 

AI Educator of the Year  

AI Educator of the Year honors an instructor who has made exceptional contributions in the space of AI for teaching and learning. These contributions may have impacted a course, a program, a college, the UF campus, or the larger academic community.

Eligibility: Nominee must be the instructor of record for a UF course. 

AI Course Award 

AI Course Award recognizes an instructor or instructional team who has developed a high-quality credit-bearing course with an AI designation from UF.  

Eligibility: UF courses from Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and Fall 2023 are eligible for this award. The course must have an instructor of record with a unique UFID and must be identified by a UF course number. The course must also have received an official AI designation. 

AI Teaching Integration Award 

AI Teaching Integration Award commends an instructor or instructional team who has implemented AI solutions within their existing course. This award honors creative use of AI in traditionally non-AI courses. Examples include using AI to develop new assignments, experiential learning opportunities, or course content.

Eligibility: Instructors who integrated AI into UF courses in the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and/or Fall 2023 semesters are eligible for this award. The instructor must be the instructor of record with a unique UFID, and the course must be identified by a UF course number.

AI Across the Curriculum Ambassador 

AI Across the Curriculum Ambassador recognizes an individual (faculty or staff) who has championed AI adoption across the curriculum at UF. Examples may include, but are not limited to, developing new AI certificates, participating in AI Days events to promote AI at UF, giving presentations about AI for teaching to various stakeholders on campus, teaching professional development about AI on campus, and engaging UF community members in discourse around AI for teaching.

Eligibility: Nominee must be UF faculty or staff. 

AI Rising Star 

The AI Rising Star award distinguishes an individual who, as a newcomer to AI at UF, has made an enthusiastic impact on the AI community. Rising Star nominees must have participated in professional development about AI and in AI events and committees across campus. 

Eligibility: Nominee must be UF faculty or staff. 

Faculty Nominations

Applications for the 2025 awards open on April 1, 2025. A link for nominations will appear on April 1. Winners will be announced at AI Days, October 27-29, 2025. 

Get to Know the 2024 AI Award Winners

These accolades honor individual accomplishments and underscore the university’s commitment to pioneering AI education and research across various fields.

This year’s diverse group of award winners leveraged AI to enhance teaching methodologies, deepen research insights, and improve practical applications in their respective areas. Each recipient uniquely contributes to the advancement of their fields, demonstrating the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on both the university and the broader global community.

AI Educator of the Year

Dr. Sanethia Thomas is a master at leading and cheering students simultaneously. Her teaching philosophy provides students with project-based learning experiences using real-world scenarios. She provided valued assistance with the AI Days Hackathons, UF Career Showcase, and UF’s first AI study abroad program in Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Thomas is an assistant instructional teaching professor in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.

More About Sanethia

AI Educator of the Year

Diego Alvarado’s tireless efforts to make AI knowledge accessible to all students exemplify his passion for inclusive education. He has empowered more than 2,000 students from varied academic disciplines to delve into AI. Mr. Alvarado is an instructional assistant professor in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.

More About Diego

AI Teaching Integration

Dr. Kaitlin Alexander developed a unique drug information/AI activity that she piloted with her APPE (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences) learners in fall 2023. Students appreciated comparing their responses against AI-generated content, which helps to educate students on information literacy and responsible use of AI. Dr. Alexander is a clinical associate professor in the UF College of Pharmacy.

More About Kaitlin

AI Across the Curriculum Ambassador

Garrett Beatty provided extensive leadership and involvement in AI activities across campus, including integrating the use of AI in courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and service on the AI Curriculum and AI Scholars Review committees. He helped organize AI Days events and student competitions part of this UF weeklong showcase of all things AI at UF. Dr. Beatty is director of academic technology and innovation and instructional associate professor in the College of Health and Human Performance.

More About Garrett

AI Course Award

Dr. Ruogu Fang’s course, BME4931, Medical Artificial Intelligence, stands out for its innovative curriculum, exceptional teaching methodologies, and significant impact on students from diverse academic backgrounds. Dr. Fang is an associate professor and Pruitt Family Endowed Faculty Fellow in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering.

More About Ruogu

AI Rising Star

Dr. Mickie MacKie has been instrumental in enhancing UF’s AI education by designing two AI courses: Data Science and Machine Learning Methods in the Geosciences, and Quest 2:AI in a Changing Climate. These courses empower students with practical skills and theoretical knowledge in AI. She also regularly involves undergraduate researchers in her work. Dr. MacKie is an assistant professor in geological sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

More About Mickie

Contact AI at UF

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University of Florida
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