Auburn College of Education alumna shaping the future of AI in education - Auburn University

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Over the past year, visitors to the College of Education Building likely noticed a familiar face greeting them from a featured banner outside: alumna Katelyn Nelson. For Nelson, the visual spotlight was a full-circle moment in a journey defined by hard work, purposeful innovation and meaningful collaboration across campus.

Now serving as the academic innovation and emerging technologies specialist for Auburn’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Nelson is using the foundation built during her doctoral studies in the College of Education to help faculty, staff and students navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in higher education and beyond.

A foundation Built on Mentorship and Hands-on Experience

Earning her doctorate in the Administration of Higher Education program provided Nelson with both the technical expertise and the collaborative leadership framework necessary to thrive in an institution-wide role.

“Earning my doctorate from Auburn’s College of Education equipped me with the knowledge and skills to grow professionally, while also giving me a network of mentors and colleagues who supported me along the way,” Nelson said. “I’m grateful for the experiences and relationships that helped prepare me for where I am today.”

Nelson credits her graduate assistantships and strong mentorship with preparing her for her current career. Mentors like David Marshall, associate professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology, and Asim Ali, executive director for the Biggio Center, encouraged her to embrace new challenges, model dynamic leadership and pursue ambitious goals.

“The program helped me understand how important collaboration and teamwork are to leadership in higher education,” Nelson noted. “Meaningful change often requires bringing together people with different expertise and perspectives to work toward a shared goal.”

Driving Emerging Tech at the Biggio Center

In her day-to-day work at the Biggio Center, Nelson wears several hats. She partners with faculty and staff on grants and research, spearheads artificial intelligence initiatives – with a particular focus on K-12 education – and directs marketing and communications efforts for the center.

“I’m fortunate to work alongside a fantastic team of people who make the work we do possible and who I learn from every day,” she shared.

Her scholarship and outreach have quickly gained national and international visibility. In recent months, Nelson has presented her research on AI in education across multiple venues, including an international conference, and recently co-led two workshops at the 2026 Noyce Summit in Washington, D.C.

“It has been rewarding to share what we are learning through our work at Auburn with educators and researchers beyond the university,” Nelson said.

Reframing the AI Conversation

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape teaching and learning, Nelson has observed a decisive pivot in how educators view emerging tools.

“One of the biggest changes has been a shift from asking what AI is and whether it is here to stay to thinking about how we can integrate it into teaching, learning and our everyday workflows effectively, efficiently and responsibly,” she explained.

Addressing common misconceptions remains a central part of her outreach. Where some view artificial intelligence as a replacement for human input, Nelson emphasizes that AI functions best as an augmentative tool.

“AI can sometimes be viewed as a replacement rather than a tool or resource,” she said. “When used thoughtfully, it can help us work more efficiently while still requiring important skills like critical thinking, judgment and creativity.”

Nelson’s focus on practical, human-centered technology adoption is evident in the results of the university's recent Microsoft 365 Copilot Beta Program. Findings from the pilot revealed that participating students increased their AI usage for academic tasks and reported gains in productivity, greater efficiency and reduced mental exhaustion.

For institutions looking to launch similar initiatives, Nelson emphasizes that tool deployment is only the first step.

“For universities considering a similar program, one of the biggest takeaways is that access to AI is only one piece,” she advised. “Students also need support in learning to use these tools thoughtfully, ethically and effectively.”

Giving Back to the Auburn Family

Reflecting on her transition from graduate student to alumna and full-time professional, Nelson takes pride in the persistence that brought her to this point and the opportunity to give back to the institution that shaped her career.

“I’m most proud that I worked hard and took advantage of the opportunities available to me,” Nelson said. “Through my time as a student and now as an alumna and professional, I’ve come to understand what it means to be part of the Auburn Family, and I’m grateful to now have the opportunity to contribute to the community that gave so much to me.”