Shaping the future of business education: AI integration at William & Mary
The business landscape is being transformed by artificial intelligence (AI), and the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary is at the forefront of preparing students for this new reality. While many institutions of higher education initially hesitated to embrace AI technologies, the Mason School recognized their transformative potential early on and took bold steps to integrate it into its curriculum.
This progressive approach has positioned the Mason School as an ideal destination for students eager to gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving digital economy. The school’s early adoption of AI tools was not just about staying ahead of the curve—it was about reimagining what business education could be. By embedding AI into every facet of learning, from strategic decision-making to business analytics and marketing, the Mason School has created an environment where students from all disciplines can access cutting-edge technology without needing a deep technical background.
For students, this means an educational experience that removes traditional barriers—such as complex coding requirements and inaccessible data science concepts—and replaces them with AI-enabled tools that enhance learning, innovation and strategic thinking. From finance majors to aspiring marketers to visionary entrepreneurs, the Mason School ensures that AI is not a barrier but a bridge to success through strategic initiatives, faculty innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
AI as a Strategic Initiative in Business Education
Recognizing the critical role AI will play in shaping industries, the Mason School has embedded AI into its curriculum and research agenda. This initiative ensures that students, faculty, and industry partners engage with generative AI (GenAI) in ways that enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic decision-making.
“AI is more than a tool—it’s a fundamental shift in how we approach business problems,” says Dean Todd Mooradian. “Our goal is not just to teach students how to use AI, but to help them critically evaluate its applications, understand its ethical implications, and leverage it effectively in real-world business contexts.”
To support this mission, the Mason School established an AI Integration Team, led by an executive committee chaired by faculty leaders including Professor Dawn Edmiston and Karen Conner, Director of Academic Innovation. The team ensures that AI is seamlessly integrated across disciplines, breaking down traditional silos between the technical and acumen sides of business education.
“Our approach to AI integration is about empowering students and faculty to think beyond automation and toward innovation,” says Conner. “We are creating an educational environment where technology enhances—not replaces— critical thinking, creativity, and strategic decision-making. This ensures our graduates are not just proficient in AI tools but also prepared to lead in an evolving world.”
Transforming the Classroom Experience
A notable shift in business education at the Mason School involves enhancing accessibility to technical concepts, particularly in business analytics and machine learning. Addressing the challenges traditionally associated with programming and data science, the school has integrated AI-enabled tools that streamline coding tasks, allowing students to focus on high-level analytical reasoning rather than overcoming technical roadblocks.
“By eliminating the technical barriers that once hindered students, we can focus on the core principles of data analysis,” explains Professor Monica Tremblay, Hays T. Watkins Distinguished Professor of Business and a leading expert in business analytics and AI. “Students can now dive into the concepts that matter most, learning to extract meaningful business insights rather than getting bogged down in technical obstacles.
As a key advocate for AI integration in the classroom, Tremblay’s machine learning courses have evolved to incorporate these tools, ensuring that all students—regardless of technical background—can fully participate in data-driven problem-solving. “AI is not just about making tools more accessible,” she notes. “It’s about ensuring that students are prepared to understand and apply AI in a way that creates value in the business world, all while fostering critical thinking.”
In addition to Tremblay, other faculty members are also taking the initiative to pioneer new ways to integrate AI into coursework, providing students with hands-on experience using AI tools in professional settings.
In her marketing strategy course, Edmiston’s students leverage Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity Pro to refine their LinkedIn profiles, craft industry-relevant content, and analyze trends. This hands-on approach enhances students’ ability to strategically position themselves in an increasingly AI-driven job market.
Similarly, Professor David Long is using AI-powered voice interaction tools to develop persuasive communication skills. In a change management case study on Boeing, students engage in simulated business negotiations with AI-driven role play, refining their ability to handle complex leadership scenarios.
“AI is transforming how we teach by allowing students to engage with business challenges in real time,” said Long. “By integrating AI simulations and interactive role-playing into our coursework, we’re helping students refine their ability to think on their feet, adapt their communication strategies, and navigate complex negotiations—skills that are critical in today’s fast-paced business environment.”
AI Research and Ethical Considerations
As AI becomes more integrated into the classroom, it brings both opportunities and challenges. The Mason School is committed to leveraging AI while maintaining core educational principles. Faculty members are actively addressing critical questions surrounding AI’s role in academia and industry.
“We have to ask ourselves difficult questions,” says Tremblay. “How do we ensure academic integrity in an AI-driven world? How can we encourage students to maximize efficiency while continuing to value their educational experience? And most importantly, how do we help students discern between AI-generated truth and fabrication?”
These questions drive ongoing research at William & Mary, where faculty, including Tremblay, collaborate with experts from leading institutions to advance AI transparency and trustworthiness. One such initiative focuses on enhancing predictive models in the juvenile justice system by integrating data across multiple agencies.
“This is not just about improving accuracy,” Tremblay explains. “It’s about making AI decisions more interpretable and ensuring they are grounded in human judgment and expertise. Our goal is to help practitioners trust AI as a decision-making tool in critical sectors.”
A Cross-Disciplinary Approach
The Mason School’s unique interdisciplinary approach bridges AI expertise with core business disciplines, preparing students for real-world applications. Faculty members bring a wealth of experience in artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and digital marketing, equipping students with both technical knowledge and strategic insight.
“We are committed to preparing our students to lead in an increasingly AI-driven world,” says Dean Todd Mooradian. “Our goal is not only to teach them how to use AI, but to help them understand how to blend technology with human expertise to drive ethical, impactful business decisions. In this transformative era, we believe the leaders who will succeed are those who know how to harness the power of AI while maintaining the core values of business and human judgment.”
Tremblay added, “AI is not a separate discipline; it’s a tool that enhances everything we teach at the business school. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures that AI is woven into the fabric of our curriculum and research, preparing students to make informed, strategic decisions.”
Preparing Leaders for an AI-Powered Future
The future of business education requires a paradigm shift that extends beyond technical literacy, requiring a hybrid skill set that combines domain expertise with AI fluency. At William & Mary, students learn not only how to use AI but also how to enhance its capabilities with human judgement and industry-specific knowledge.
“Developing hybrid skills is paramount,” says Tremblay. “Our students must learn to recognize where AI can add value and where human expertise remains irreplaceable. The ability to structure business problems so that AI can effectively solve them and integrate data from diverse sources will set successful leaders apart.”
As AI continues to reshape the business landscape, the Mason School is committed to cultivating leaders who do more than use AI— they refine, validate, and guide it. “The future of AI in business is not about replacing human judgment—it’s about enhancing it,” says Tremblay. “Our goal at William & Mary is to produce graduates who don’t just follow AI’s recommendations but understand how to integrate those recommendations with their own insights to drive better business outcomes.”
Driving Innovation Beyond the Classroom
The school’s commitment to AI extends beyond students and faculty—it’s an evolving resource for alumni and industry leaders. The upcoming “AI in Business Education Summit” scheduled for April 4, 2025 will showcase faculty research, student projects, and industry applications of AI. Additionally, the school’s public-facing website focused on AI, launching in spring 2025, will provide case studies, tools, and insights to support lifelong learning.
“AI is changing how businesses operate, and our graduates must be at the forefront of this transformation,” says Mooradian. “The leaders who succeed in this era will be those who understand how to blend AI with human expertise to drive ethical, impactful business decisions.”
As AI continues to redefine industries, the Mason School is prepping the next generation of business leaders to navigate, leverage, and innovate with AI. Through cutting-edge education, strategic research, and a commitment to ethical leadership, William & Mary ensures that its graduates are not just users of AI, but informed decision-makers shaping the future of business.
This piece originally appeared as a featured article in Poets & Quants in the February 26, 2025 digital newsletter under the title, "Shaping The Future Of Business Education: AI Integration At William & Mary."
