On August 19, leaders from the University of Rhode Island—including senior administrators, IT professionals, and business unit representatives—gathered for a half-day strategy session focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in advancing URI’s mission. The session, From Ideas to Impact, featured Mary Strain, Amazon Web Services (AWS) leader for AI and Machine Learning in Education. With over two decades of experience bridging technology and education, she helped spark a practical, forward-looking conversation.
Key highlights and outcomes
- Shared vision: Participants connected AI opportunities directly to URI’s mission, identifying ways AI can enhance teaching, research, and operations—all while aligning with institutional values.
- Real-world use cases: During collaborative working sessions, teams developed high-impact, URI-specific AI concepts—from increasing student engagement to strengthening data-informed decision-making.
- Cross-campus collaboration: Faculty, staff, and administrators made new connections across disciplines, laying the groundwork for a unified AI strategy.
A shared realization
Attendees shared realizations that highlighted both the potential and the practicality of AI at URI. Learning from use cases at other institutions sparked creativity and confidence. Reflecting on URI’s own data—what it is and where it resides—emerged as a key first step in realizing long-term value.
Examples from the community
Participants shared examples of how AI is already creating value at URI:
- One director shared how his team uses AI to convert customer conversations into functional requirement documents and automate standard documentation—saving hours of manual work.
- A faculty researcher explained how AI tools help him write, verify, and refine code—accelerating research workflows.
Looking ahead
This session marks the beginning—not the end—of a campus-wide AI initiative. Grounded in shared insights and practical examples, it represents a key milestone in URI’s thoughtful approach to AI: collaborative, mission-aligned, and responsibly implemented. With clear priorities and growing engagement, URI is well positioned to turn ideas into measurable outcomes. The next steps will be shaped by our collective creativity, commitment, and action.