Awards

2026 A.I. Innovation in Education Award Winners

Celebrate this year’s BrAIn Hub Educator Award winners—and watch for the next faculty & student community contest.

Coming up

Faculty & student community contest

Introduced at the November 13 Educators’ Exchange · Mars Hill University

Led by Steven Young · Blue Ridge Community College

A contest for faculty and students working together—using AI on projects that help Western North Carolina communities. Official name and full packet are forthcoming; here’s what we know so far.

We’ll keep this page light. Full criteria, deadlines, and how to enter will live in a downloadable guide once sponsors confirm the details.

Guidelines download coming soonNov 13 program →Ask a question

Who
Faculty and students from WNC campuses, entering as teams on community-facing AI projects.
What
Projects that put AI to work for local communities—not only classroom demos, but real regional impact.
When
Steven Young will walk through the contest during the Nov 13 afternoon program; timelines and entry steps follow in the guidelines packet.

Portrait of Elizabeth Dellinger, Mayland Community College

2026

Think first, AI second

Elizabeth Dellinger

Mayland Community College · Business Administration

2026 AI Innovator in Education Award

Student Achievement

A cross-disciplinary business simulation model that uses AI-powered scenarios to strengthen leadership, communication, and decision-making—while teaching students to evaluate, verify, and challenge AI-generated information.

AI-powered leadership and decision simulationsAI literacy woven through the curriculumCritical evaluation of AI-generated information

View profile →Certificate Download slides

Portrait of Anne Oxenreider, Western Carolina University

2026

Governance before data

Anne Oxenreider

Western Carolina University · OIPE

2026 AI Innovator in Education Award

Institutional Improvement

Integrated Enrollment Intelligence: an AI-powered weekly admissions analysis workflow—WCU’s first recurring enrollment intelligence function, with six deliverables per cycle and formal IT Security and Legal review before any data was processed.

Weekly segment-level admissions analysisSix deliverables per cycle including dashboard and briefingIT Security and Legal review before processing

View profile →Certificate Download slides

Portrait of Jason Kelley, Appalachian State University

2026

Prototype with purpose

Jason Kelley

Appalachian State University · Next Carolina Ventures

2026 AI Innovator in Education Award

Student Achievement

AI-Enabled Venture Creation: a scaffolded approach that turns management students into AI prototype builders at zero cost—teaching why and how to use AI strategically, with built-in ethical friction so students reason about AI, not only with it.

Zero-cost AI prototyping for management studentsSix-stage arc for strategic AI useEthical friction built into the workflow

View profile →Certificate Download slides

Crystal Rhynes facilitating a workshop at Southwestern Community College

2026

Practice before the room

Crystal Rhynes

Southwestern Community College

2026 AI Innovator in Education Award

Workforce Readiness

Ethical Simulation-Based Workforce Training Model—using AI for virtual human simulations that prepare students for real-world client interactions, with guided reflection and instructor feedback across Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary.

Virtual human simulations for client workGuided reflection and instructor feedbackWorkforce-ready training including Qualla Boundary

View profile →Certificate Download slides

Portrait of Dr. Renuka Gusain, UNC Asheville

2026

Teach with and against AI

Dr. Renuka Gusain

UNC Asheville · Assistant Professor

2026 AI Innovator in Education Award

Faculty excellence

Teaching with and against AI: Ethical, Reflective, and Workforce-Aligned AI Pedagogy—helping students use AI tools critically while keeping ethical reflection and workforce readiness at the center of classroom practice.

Ethical and reflective AI pedagogyWorkforce-aligned classroom practiceTeaching with and against generative AI

View profile →Certificate

Portrait of Brandy Hadley, Appalachian State University

2026

Practice with purpose

Brandy Hadley

Appalachian State University

2026 AI Innovator in Education Award

Faculty excellence

2026 BrAIn Hub Educator Award winner from Appalachian State University. Full project summary will expand as materials arrive; portrait and award certificate are available below.

Award certificate availableAppalachian State University

View profile →Certificate

Contact

Know an educator who should be here?

Send a note about faculty doing careful AI work on your campus—we will follow up.

Opens your email app to wsederburg@gmail.com