UVM AI Team

As AI continues to evolve, it becomes crucial for UVM to establish a dedicated team focused on advancing AI research, education, and application, allowing UVM to stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

About the AI Team at UVM

About The Team

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The following folks are helping lead broad AI efforts across the university, including efforts around AI governance, strategy, workforce development, and more. The university has over 40 folks from across the university engaged in the AI taskforce to ensure a university-wide and thoughtful approach.  To learn more about the sub-committees of the taskforce, see below.

UVM's AI Task Force

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Kellie Campbell

Chief Information Officer

Kellie.Campbell@uvm.edu

Kirk Dombrowski

Vice President for Research and Economic Development • Professor of Anthropology

Kirk.Dombrowski@uvm.edu (802) 656-2918
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Steve Goldman

Chief Information Officer

Stephen.Goldman@med.uvm.edu (802) 656-9770
Mike Austin

Mike Austin

Chief Technology Officer

Bettyjo Bouchey

Chief Officer for Professional and Continuing Education

Bettyjo.Bouchey@uvm.edu
Alexa Woodward, Executive Director of the Vermont Complex Systems Center

Alexa Woodward

Executive Director, Vermont Complex Systems Center

alexa.woodward@uvm.edu

Priyantha Wijesinghe

Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering • Director of Curricular Enrichment

Priyantha.Wijesinghe@uvm.edu (802) 656-3305

Susanmarie Harrington

Professor • Director of Writing in the Disciplines

Susan.Harrington@uvm.edu
A portrait of Joshua Defibaugh

Joshua Defibaugh

Research Communications Coordinator

Joshua.Defibaugh@UVM.edu (802) 656-1329

Contact the AI Task Force

Ask Your AI Questions

Working Groups

About the Working Groups

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The Artificial Intelligence Taskforce Team at UVM has divided into seven core working groups to ensure a broad and thoughtful conversation around AI adoption and use within higher education and across the university.
 

Strategy

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Chair: Kirk Dombrowski, Kellie Campbell

  • Develop a clear vision of how and why we want to implement AI
  • Review and ensure clear policies and guidelines for the use of AI
  • Engage in AI-related thought leadership through external community engagement/partnerships
  • Ensure stakeholders at our institution, including senior leaders, faculty, staff, and students, have opportunities to engage/contribute to the strategy
  • We have change management in place to support faculty and staff transitioning to new technologies  
  • Engage stakeholders across the institution to align on our AI-related strategy, including how AI tools should be used and deployed  

Technology

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Chair: Mike Austin

  • Review technology infrastructure to ensure current and expanded technologies are in place to support researchers’ and administrative use of AI tools
  • Continue to invest in technology infrastructure to run AI models on-premise or as infrastructure as a service
  • Review of current vendor partnerships to leverage AI services and getting most out of current investments
  • Review and ensure all IT procurement processes, including policies and guidelines, include consideration of AI features and functionality
  • Review data privacy and security are encoded into AI contract terms
  • Data readiness in partnership with governance/data streams readiness
  • Review that data sovereignty, including indigenous data sovereignty, is protected by AI data use agreements 

Governance

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Chair: Steve Goldman

  • Review AI policies and guidelines to ensure
    • They are transparent and make practical distinction between appropriate and inappropriate use
    • Are aligned with relevant regulations
    • AI noncompliance processes are transparent (misuse)
    • Develop an auditing process to ensure compliance with policies and guidelines  
  • An individual or group of individuals is responsible for institution-level AI-related decision-making (formalize governance)
  • Commitment to monitoring AI-related trends and tools to stay up-to-date and identify new opportunities and areas for consideration
  • Review our cybersecurity policies and guidelines to ensure adequate to address AI-specific risks
  • Data streams are streamlined and integrated across the institution so data can be ready to support AI tools
  • Review our procurement processes include evaluating the impact of AI tools in our environment 

Research and Innovation

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Chair: Alexa Woodward 

  • Develop a program to have funds to support pilots and innovations
  • Develop a framework for our understanding of AI ethics for all community members
  • Program to ensure UVM faculty and researchers understand
    • The use of AI in Research Compliance
    • The use of AI in Human Subjects Protection
    • Data ownership in the use of AI
    • What tools are available for research and how to use them 

Workforce

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Chair: Bettyjo Bouchey

  • Develop university-wide and local-specific training to help faculty and staff develop AI literacy
  • Invest in technical expertise to create AI tools and integrate AI tools into existing technology  
  • Ensure faculty and staff (including student workers) have equitable access to AI tools for work  

Teaching and Learning

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Cochairs: Clayton Cafiero and Susanmarie Harrington  

  • Identify two Ethics in AI modules, one for faculty and one for students
  • Draft AI-specific language for UVM’s academic integrity policy
  • Collaborate with the Patrick Leahy Honors College to organize an August 2025 2-day seminar that contributes to:
  • Educating faculty
  • Creating a Brightspace course where faculty can learn from each other
  • Develop guiding principles around AI for faculty, for review and approval by the Faculty Senate in Fall 2025