On Monday, May 19, faculty from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine gathered in the Tinkham Veale University Center ballroom for the Spring 2025 Faculty and Staff Retreat. The full-day event offered a dynamic lineup of presentations and discussions aimed at strengthening academic operations, upholding student privacy and exploring the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and research.
The morning session featured a joint presentation from Carmina Mares, Esq., LLM, MBA, Associate University Compliance and Privacy Officer, and Carlier Myers, MNO, MSSA, MBA, Associate Registrar from the Office of the University Registrar. The pair led an important discussion on FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), emphasizing the legal and ethical responsibilities of faculty and staff in protecting student data and respecting privacy in academic settings.
Later in the day, David Rolf, associate dean for academic affairs, provided remarks on ethics and professionalism, reinforcing the school’s commitment to fostering a respectful and accountable educational environment.
The afternoon focused on the university’s strategic initiative around artificial intelligence. The AI Task Force hosted a 30-minute Gen AI Roadshow Presentation, offering a concise overview of university policies, tools and the recently launched AI Hub website. Attendees were introduced to practical examples of AI in action and were encouraged to consider how emerging technologies could enhance their teaching, research, and administrative workflows.
Following the roadshow, representatives from UCITE (University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education) led an interactive workshop on AI in Teaching and Learning. This hands-on session invited faculty to explore specific ways AI tools could improve course design, student engagement, and real-time feedback. Attendees actively engaged in the session using their personal devices, leaving with concrete strategies to apply in their own classrooms.
The retreat concluded with a strategic plan annual review, again facilitated by Dr. Rolf, and a special discussion led by Ali Syed, special advisor to the dean on Craniofacial Imaging and AI. Syed provided insight into the implications of AI in dental imaging and diagnostics, sparking thoughtful conversation on the future of AI in clinical practice.
The Spring 2025 Faculty and Staff Retreat served as a valuable platform for collaboration and professional development, underscoring the School of Dental Medicine’s commitment to innovation, integrity and excellence in dental education.