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Who We Are

Serious innovation. Not so serious people.

At the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, the Academic Innovation team helps reimagine business education—through bold ideas, emerging technologies, a culture of experimentation, and the joyful chaos that comes with creativity.

At the heart of our work is the integration of generative AI into teaching, learning, and curriculum design. We partner with faculty and students to explore how tools like ChatGPT can enhance critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem solving.

But we don't stop there. From innovative assessments to classroom prototypes and cross-disciplinary collaborations, we support meaningful risk-taking that keeps education as dynamic as the world our students are preparing to lead.

We believe curiosity is contagious, experimentation is essential, and innovation should never feel like a chore.

Our goal? To turn good ideas into great transformations—and help build a culture of teaching and learning that's as dynamic as the innovation we want to inspire. Connect with us at [[w|academicinnovation]].

The People Behind the Mayhem

Katherine Guthrie

Katherine Guthrie

Assistant Dean of Academic Innovation: She doubted the hype. Then she tested the tools. Now Katherine's leading a movement—turning AI skeptics into innovators, one faculty experiment at a time.

Karen Conner

Karen Conner

Director of Academic Innovation: Behind every wild idea is someone who quietly made it possible. That's Karen. Instructional designer. Faculty whisperer. Strategic mastermind with a killer spreadsheet.

Terry Trojak

Terry Trojak

Senior Creative Producer, Academic Innovation: Terry doesn't say much—but he builds everything. He's the behind-the-scenes brain turning napkin sketches into real tools, real content, and real impact.

Dawn Edmiston

Dawn Edmiston

AI Committee Chairperson: She does not simply teach marketing—she lives it. Where others see buzzwords, Dawn sees opportunities. And now she's helping W&M lead the conversation on how AI and authenticity can coexist.

AI Steering Committee Members

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