NASPA Online Learning Community

Harnessing AI to Foster Innovation and Transform Your Work

Harnessing AI to Foster Innovation and Transform Your Work

Recorded On: 04/01/2025

Colin Stewart

Associate Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students

University of Portland

Colin Stewart is a transformative leader in the field of higher education, renowned for his commitment to fostering creativity and innovation. Colin serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students at the University of Portland. As an author and administrator, Stewart has played a pivotal role in leading discussions on disruptive transformation within higher education, aiming to equip professionals with the tools necessary for cultivating a culture of innovation and change. His work spanning across the country and in international settings, emphasizes the importance of creative and innovative leadership in addressing the complex challenges faced by educational institutions today. Stewart's contributions are characterized by a deep understanding of the dynamics of higher education, a passion for enhancing student affairs, and a vision for a more inventive and inclusive future in academia. Colin also co-edited Disruptive Transformation and has a deep passion for how improv, technology, and sustainability can transform higher education.

Brandon Common

Vice President for Student Affairs

Louisiana State University

Dr. Brandon Common serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at Louisiana State University (LSU). In this role, he provides vision, executive leadership, oversight, and direction for departments whose mission critical work centers on creating the conditions that matter for student success. During his almost 20 working on college campuses Brandon has worked in multiple functional areas within Student Affairs including Greek Life, Residential Life, and Conduct. Brandon holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Ohio University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way we work in Student Affairs, offering new opportunities to enhance productivity, creativity, strategic planning, and decision-making. In this dynamic webinar, Colin Stewart, PhD (he/him), and Brandon Common (he/him) will guide you through the transformative potential of AI. From understanding foundational tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini to exploring advanced applications like prompt engineering and data management, this session will empower you to rethink your approach to work.

You’ll learn practical methods, such as the RICE prompt engineering framework, how to develop personas and paradigms that will help you master AI’s role, instructions, context, and examples. We’ll also dive into ethical considerations around AI, ensuring that your integration of this technology remains aligned with values of equity, transparency, and control. Whether you're new to AI or already experimenting with tools, this webinar is your chance to learn how to ethically and effectively use AI to reimagine your work.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand AI Tools and Applications: Participants will gain familiarity with a variety of AI tools, including ChatGPT, MS Co-Pilot, and Google Gemini (and others), and learn how these technologies can be applied to improve workflows and decision-making.

2. Learn Prompt Engineering Techniques: Explore the RICE frameworks, paradigms, and personas to develop effective prompts and maximize the capabilities of AI in diverse professional scenarios.

3. Navigate Ethical and Practical Considerations: Understand the risks and ethical implications of using AI, such as data security, control, and unknown factors, while learning strategies to ensure responsible and effective use.

NASPA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). NASPA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.

Participants who complete the course will be eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits in the Core Student Affairs Educator Certification (CSAEd).

Guidelines for earning CE credit: 1 CE is awarded for attending this live session OR on-demand for ONE category of Continuing Education. You can not receive more than 1 credit hour total.

No partial credit will be rewarded.

To receive CSAEd credit, attendees must complete the Feedback Survey in the online event offering the credit. Once the survey is completed, your Certificate will be available in the event modules for you to download at your convenience.

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