Call for Papers

Reimagining the Liberal Arts in the Age of AI Call for Papers

Conference Themes and Questions

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of higher education, challenging traditional pedagogies while offering potential opportunities for innovation. This conference invites scholars, educators, instructional designers, librarians, technologists, and administrators from colleges and universities to explore the intersections of AI, teaching, and the liberal arts. 

We welcome proposals that critically and creatively engage with questions such as: 

• What are the practical uses of AI in a liberal arts classroom? 
• How is AI reshaping teaching and learning in specific liberal arts disciplines? 
• How can AI foster new understandings of interdisciplinarity?  
• What ethical and/or cultural frameworks should guide the integration of AI in the college classroom? 
• How can liberal arts educators prepare students to think critically about AI and its impact on society? 
• How can liberal arts educators prepare students to use AI tools after graduation as part of their careers and/or graduate school?  
• How does AI impact accessibility in the classroom?  

Presentation Formats

Presentation types include:

• Paper presentations (single author or multi-author presentations of a single work with audience Q&A)
• Panels (3-5 individual presenters presenting individual works on a common theme)
• Workshops (interactive hands-on experiences with facilitation)
• Roundtables (multiple presenters facilitate small group discussions about papers with the audience rotating among presenters)

Presenters will have access to AV equipment and on-site technical support.

Conference Audience

This conference is designed for scholars, educators, instructional designers, librarians, technologists, and administrators working in liberal arts contexts who are looking to participate in constructive and ethical discussions about AI use at our respective institutions.  

Conference Presentation Proposal

You will be asked to provide:

• Name
• Email
• Institutional affiliation
• Institutional role
• Name, email, and institutional role of all co-presenters
• Presentation/paper title
• 300-word abstract
• 150-word presenter bio(s)
• Format preference(s)

Questions? Contact Victoria Russell, Planning Committee Co-Chair (vrussel3@umw.edu).  

Conference Planning Committee

The Reimagining the Liberal Arts in the Age of AI Conference is organized by faculty and staff at the University of Mary Washington.

• Krystyn Moon, Professor-History & American Studies (Planning Committee Co-Chair)
• Victoria Russell, Director-Center for Teaching & Associate Professor-Education (Planning Committee Co-Chair)
• Brenta Blevins, Associate Professor-English and Linguistics
• Amy Filiatreau, University Librarian-Simpson Library
• Maya Mathur, Professor-English and Linguistics
• Suzanne Nguyen, Senior Lecturer-Chemistry & Physics
• Anand Rao, Director-Center for AI in the Liberal Arts & Professor-Communication and Digital Studies
• Jerry Slezak, Director-Digital Learning Support