For the AV/IT team at Emerson College, Dante-based networking and RedNet technology revolutionized student and faculty workflow efficiency throughout Emerson's facilities.

Higher ed is facing pressure from all sides. Enrollment patterns are shifting. Technology is advancing rapidly. But even in uncertain moments, there are ways forward.

The chief AI officer role is an emerging leadership position in higher education, designed to create and oversee comprehensive campus-wide AI strategies. Unlike traditional IT leadership, CAIOs report to administrative arms or operate across departments, focusing on integrating AI into research, teaching, administration, and public service. The position is still evolving, shaped by the need to address ethical challenges, faculty concerns, and varying attitudes toward AI adoption while building internal expertise and guiding long-term innovation.

Stony Brook University's library has appointed Nicholas Johnson as its first director of AI, a pioneering role dedicated to coordinating AI initiatives across campus. Johnson brings experience in human-centered data analysis from government and academia. His responsibilities include fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on AI, guiding ethical and practical implementation, and building a community of practice for students and faculty. Johnson emphasizes that his position is not about following AI trends but about ensuring thoughtful, responsible integration of AI in academic life.