Choosing an AI speaker for a university starts with the audience. Faculty may need help rethinking teaching and assessment. Campus technology leaders may need a discussion of data, security and AI governance. Presidents, provosts and trustees may need a shared way to decide what the institution should adopt and who is accountable.

For an enterprise or cross-industry event, see Mark Lynd’s executive AI keynote approach.

This editorial shortlist is published on Mark Lynd's own website and includes Mark as a featured speaker. His placement is promotional, not an independent award or a claim that he is the best fit for every campus. Use the profiles to compare areas of expertise, then verify current roles, speaking availability and the proposed session directly.

Match the Session to the Campus Audience

  • Faculty development. Ask for concrete teaching or assessment examples and how the session handles AI limitations.
  • Academic integrity. Ask how the discussion distinguishes learning goals, permitted assistance and assessment design.
  • CIOs, CISOs and campus leadership. Ask how the session connects AI adoption with data handling, oversight and incident readiness.
  • Presidents, provosts and trustees. Ask for the decisions leadership should make after the session, not just a technology forecast.

For an executive discussion connecting AI adoption, governance and cybersecurity, explore Mark's higher-education keynote topics. For a teaching-focused or academic-integrity event, compare the relevant specialists in the list rather than assuming one speaker covers every need.

Ten Profiles to Consider

The display order is not a numerical assessment of speaker quality. The linked primary profiles support the role summaries; they do not establish booking availability or an endorsement of this shortlist.

  • Mark Lynd. Head of Executive Advisory and Corporate Strategy at Netsync, with an AI and cybersecurity focus for executive audiences. Featured publisher; discuss campus leadership needs directly. Mark Lynd: source profile.
  • Ethan Mollick. Associate Professor of Management and Co-Director of Generative AI Labs at Wharton. His research covers AI, work and education. Ethan Mollick: source profile.
  • Tricia Bertram Gallant. Director of UC San Diego’s Academic Integrity Office and Triton Testing Center. Her work focuses on academic integrity, ethics and assessment. Tricia Bertram Gallant: source profile.
  • Sarah Elaine Eaton. Professor in the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education. Her research includes academic ethics, integrity and AI in higher education. Sarah Elaine Eaton: source profile.
  • Phillip Dawson. Professor and Co-Director of Deakin University’s Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning. His research includes feedback, cheating and AI in assessment. Phillip Dawson: source profile.
  • C. Edward Watson. Vice President for Digital Innovation at AAC&U. His work includes AI, faculty development and technology-enhanced learning. C. Edward Watson: source profile.
  • José Antonio Bowen. Educator, author and consultant whose resources and workshops include Teaching with AI. José Antonio Bowen: source profile.
  • Ravi Pendse. Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at the University of Michigan, providing university-wide technology leadership. Ravi Pendse: source profile.
  • Randy Marchany. University information technology security officer emeritus at Virginia Tech. His background includes university cybersecurity leadership and security-controls work. Randy Marchany: source profile.
  • Lev Gonick. Chief Information Officer at Arizona State University. His technology leadership covers enterprise infrastructure, applications and services. Lev Gonick: source profile.

Prepare a Useful Event Brief

Share the date or window, campus audience, approximate size, location or virtual format, and the questions the session should help people address. Ask for an outline suited to that audience. Confirm customization, resources and any follow-up work in the agreed scope rather than assuming they are included.

A faculty-development session and a leadership briefing need different briefs.

Next Steps

Discuss your university AI event. Include your audience, event date and the outcome you want, or explore all speaking topics.