Haslam College of Business - UT Haslam Appoints First Director of AI-Enabled Education

Allen Ammerman, a teaching associate professor in the Department of Finance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, has been appointed the college’s director of AI-enabled education. In this new role, Ammerman will work with college faculty to meet three goals: preserve confidence in the quality of a Haslam degree, selectively redesign learning where AI creates meaningful opportunities and develop education deliverables that help graduates succeed in a business world that increasingly uses AI.

Uniquely Suited for the Job

Chad Autry, Haslam’s associate dean of research and faculty, Myers Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management and R. Stanley Bowden II Faculty Research Fellow, explains one reason Ammerman was selected as director of AI-enabled education is because of his initial skepticism of the technology. After researching AI, however, he became a passionate advocate for how it can be used to improve teaching and learning and to help students become the best professionals possible.

“Because he made such a deep transformation, Allen brings enormous credibility when speaking to people who remain today where he was a year ago,” Autry says. “He is both compassionate and tireless, and he will be there for people who initially struggle, just want to talk or have new and exciting ideas they are not sure how to execute.”

Ammerman brings substantial project leadership experience from his administrative role at Georgetown University and six years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps. Autry also praised his ability to listen to all stakeholders and help teams move forward toward shared goals.

“I have full confidence Allen will help us smoothly adopt AI into the college’s programming,” Autry says.

Addressing the Issue

Ammerman will partner with Haslam’s technology-enhanced education (TEE) team, which provides tools, training and support for integrating technology into teaching, learning and research. Together, they will give faculty practical guidance, resources, examples and opportunities related to AI-enabled teaching and learning. Their work will strengthen assessment practices as AI evolves, support experimentation, identify shared needs, connect colleagues addressing similar challenges and extend promising approaches across disciplines.

A new steering committee of faculty, staff and students will advance high-quality, AI-enabled education at Haslam, with Ammerman serving as chair. Recognizing that AI will look different across disciplines, courses and classrooms, the committee will turn varied perspectives into practical ideas for research, curricula and teaching. Its faculty-led, collaborative approach will accelerate innovation while keeping solutions rooted in the expertise of Haslam’s programs and departments.

Gratitude for Meeting the Challenge

Stephen L. Mangum, Haslam’s dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair expressed his appreciation to those involved for their willingness to undertake this pressing challenge in addition to their regular duties.

“The college extends its thanks to Allen for taking on this crucial responsibility,” he said. “I am grateful as well to the TEE team and our academic leadership for the substantial work underway in this area and for their future partnership with Allen as we build the next phase of this effort.”

Ammerman expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to help lead AI incorporation efforts in the college:

“I am honored to serve the college in this role, and I look forward to working with TEE and others in the college to usher us into an era of AI being fully integrated into our functions, enhancing our teaching and enriching our students’ educational experience.” Ammerman said.

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CONTACT:

Scott McNutt, senior business writer/publicist, [email protected]