Two Idaho professors are the first to receive a new fellowship from the Idaho State Board of Education, aimed at fostering collaboration and advancing the understanding of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. The fellowship awards $15,000 stipends to each recipient and empowers them to provide statewide leadership on generative AI. The fellows will attend relevant conferences, conduct research, and offer professional development to colleagues across Idaho’s eight public institutions. They will also collaborate with the Board staff to expand the Statewide Generative AI Alliance, a network initiated by the Office of the State Board of Education.
Board President Dr. Linda Clark highlighted the significance of understanding how generative AI can create both authentic and fake content, emphasizing the need for policies to ensure its productive and ethical use in higher education. The initiative aims to address data privacy concerns, access considerations, and practical applications of generative AI. The 2024/25 fellows are Liza Long, a professor of English at the College of Western Idaho, and Jason Blomquist, a clinical assistant professor of nursing at Boise State University. Both bring unique expertise to the program, with over 35 applicants from all of Idaho’s public institutions vying for the fellowship.
