AdoptAI Champions
ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø #AdoptAI Champions are staff members and MPPs who elevate and accelerate AI fluency and value across ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. This group of AI enthusiasts are available to help colleagues translate AI knowledge into action, apply AI to everyday workflows, offer resources to help you on your journey, and model effective and ethical AI adoption across campus. Champions receive specialized training and participate in 16-week cohorts to engage with the latest in AI best practices. The #AdoptAI Champions program supports the university's #AIEverywhere initiative to integrate artificial intelligence across academic and administrative domains.
The first group of #AdoptAI Champions are listed below. Please feel free to reach out to any of the Champions below, whether it's a colleague in your area or someone whose day-to-day work is similar to yours. We're all here to help.
Find Your Spring 2026 AI Champion
| Name | Division | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Eva Chavez | Academic Affairs | Assessment |
| Jed Soliven | Academic Affairs | Provost |
| Jennifer Sclafani | Academic Affairs | Enrollment Management |
| Erlinda Yañez | Academic Affairs | College of Social Sciences |
| Patricia Rodriguez | Academic Affairs | University Library |
| Michele Musson | Administration & Finance | Finance Support & Innovation |
| Danielle Ortuno | Administration & Finance | FD&O |
| Ramya Chakravarthy | Administration & Finance | UP |
| Cottrell Hill | Athletics | Asst Ath Dir Facilites & Event |
| Amy Villa | Athletics | Director of Media Relations |
| Ravi Pisupati | IT | IT Prog Mgt & Ops Excellence |
| Rock Fredell | Office of the President | University Marketing & Comm |
| Kamryn Williams | Office of the President | University Marketing & Comm |
| Myles Reed | Research & Innovation | Research Foundation Central Office |
| Barbara Sasso | Research & Innovation | Research Services |
| James Ursin | Student Affairs | Case Management |
| Kednel Jean | Student Affairs | Student Affairs |
| Ben Falter | Student Affairs | Student Affairs |
| Jen Jurgensen | University Advancement | Annual Giving |
| Claire Orozco | University Advancement | Advancement & Campaign Ops |
ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø IT AI Subject Matter Experts
The majority of ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø IT full-time staff have completed AI skills training similar to our #AdoptAI Champions. Contact your department's technician or your favorite IT coworker with any quick AI questions you might have.
Become an AI Champion
Interested in becoming a champion? There is no minimum technical requirement to be an AI Champion. Rather, we’re focused on giving Champions the resources and knowledge to apply generative AI to everyday work across a variety of roles and workflows.
AI Champions engage in a 16-week train-the-trainer program to equip them with an AI literacy baseline to support their colleagues. Please ensure that you have the ability and bandwidth to complete the training. Throughout the program, AI Champions share their enthusiasm for AI with their peers. They are the local point-of-contact for AI questions and support.
In order to be an AI Champion, please first speak with your immediate supervisor or manager – our Champions are asked to commit 3-5 hours every week to facilitate AI events, discussions, and continuous growth.
Please complete the to let us know you’d like to become a champion for a later semester.
