The formation of the UC Merced AI Advisory Council is a strategic initiative designed to guide and support our university’s integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the campus’ core mission and administrative operations. As AI technologies rapidly evolve, they are reshaping the landscape of higher education - offering both unprecedented opportunities to enhance our mission and significant challenges that call for thoughtful, ethical, and equitable implementation.
The AI Advisory Council brings together diverse perspectives from academic and administrative units, along with technical experts, to serve as a collaborative body that will:
- Share knowledge and highlight AI work already underway
- Identify and recommend opportunities for campus-wide AI investment
- Advise on ethics, equity, privacy, and responsible usage
AIA Council
Chair: Avi Badwal, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enterprise Technologies in the Office of Information Technology
Executive sponsorship:
- Betsy Dumont, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
- Nick Dugan, Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer
- Gillian Wilson, Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development
Membership
- Co-chairs of workgroup for AI in Teaching and Learning
- Co-chairs of workgroup for Research
- Co-chairs of workgroup for Administrative Processes
Workgroups
AI in Teaching and Learning with membership including:
- Senate Co-Chair: Mindy Findlater (SNS), UGC Representative•
- Administrative Co-Chair: Amy Bergerson, Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education•
- GC rep: Zach Grossman (SSHA)
- SSHA rep (provided by dean): Estee Beck
- SNS rep (provided by dean): Sylvain Masclin
- SOE rep (provided by dean): Siddaiah Yarra
- Non-Senate Academics Council Rep: (Identified) Shauna Bennett
- Library representative: Bronwen Maxson
- Admin Unit reps at the discretion of unit leads: Grad Div, CETL, Student Affairs and Engagement.
AI in Research & Innovation with membership including:
- Senate co-chair: Brad LeVeck (SSHA) CoR Rep
- Administrative co-chair: Josh Viers, Associate Vice Chancellor for Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic Initiatives
- GC Rep: Wan Du (SOE)
- SSHA rep: Colin Holbrook
- SNS rep: Teamrat Ghezzehei
- SOE rep: Stefano Carpin
- Non-Senate Academics Council Rep: (Identified) Parveen Kumar
- Library: Erin Mutch
- Admin unit reps at the discretion of unit leads: VCR’s designee (Leslie Teixeira-Porto), Grad Div.
AI in Administrative Services & Digital Transformation with membership including:
- Senate co-chair: Catherine Keske (PROC member, UGC Vice Chair, SOE)
- Administrative co-chair: Avi Badwal, AVC for Enterprise Technologies, OIT
- SSHA staff or faculty rep: Becky Smith
- SNS staff or faculty rep: Angie Salinas
- SOE staff or faculty rep: German Gavilan
- Staff Assembly rep: (Identified) Robert Romero, Staff Assembly Vice President and Senior Systems Administrator with the OIT
- Libray: Tom Bustos
- Admin unit reps at the discretion of unit leads: DFA, POPD, EM, APO, CIE, SAE, EJIE, HR, etc.)
You can read the full scope of this council and workgroups in the approved charge document.
