AI, Innovation and Student Success take Center Stage at Palm Beach State College’s 2026 Faculty Convocation

What happens when students compare their original work with something created by artificial intelligence? Palm Beach State College associate professor Patrick Tierney wants his students to find out.

In his presentation at the 2026 Faculty Convocation, “Let’s Make AI Cry Like a Baby,” Tierney encouraged faculty to open an AI tool with their students and have them compare their work with what AI can produce. Tierney, who teaches English, hopes the exercise will allow students to see AI’s limitations and how their work is better.

This is just one example of how PBSC faculty are using artificial intelligence in innovative ways in their classrooms, which was the focus of the Convocation held Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Duncan Theatre on the Lake Worth campus.

Tierney was among six faculty presenters representing a variety of academic disciplines who showcased practical approaches to incorporating AI into teaching and learning. Each presenter was introduced by Mike Sfiropoulos, PhD, who delivered his first convocation address at the event since becoming PBSC’s new vice president of academic affairs.

The presentations offered faculty a range of approaches for using AI while preserving the importance of critical thinking and individual perspectives.

Tierney was joined by fellow English professor and PBSC alumna Robin Fiedler, who presented “From AI Policing to AI Partnership,” where she encouraged faculty to have students create a customized AI agent through Microsoft Office’s Copilot as their first assignment.

In her class, students upload the syllabus and course requirements to their AI agent, which is then not allowed to generate content, but instead ask questions and make suggestions to help students with ideation.

Hector Hernandez, an associate professor who teaches computer science, information technology, and project management, also emphasized the importance of students maintaining their own points of views in his presentation, “Teaching With AI, Not Against It.”

He urged faculty to keep four key principles in mind: define AI clearly, design for personal thinking, build in checkpoints and emphasize mastery over grades.

Jaques Stacco, an associate professor who teaches physics, offered another approach to using AI to deepen student learning in his presentation, “Comprehension Through Dialogue with AI.”

Stacco suggested a game-based assessment model where students must dialogue their way through an obstacle with an AI agent. His hope is that if students can explain the obstacle to the AI agent, they can increase their comprehension.

Other presenters were Lisa Seymour, a librarian and associate professor, and Lystra Seenath, a sociology professor. 

The faculty presentations complemented a broader message about student success delivered by President Ava L. Parker, JD, in her address.

Parker reminded faculty to keep student completion in mind and encouraged them to evaluate their core schedules to determine whether they are meeting students’ needs, use the College’s student success tools like Navigate360 and Canvas consistently and apply evidence-based practices to help students succeed.

Parker also noted that the conversation with accrediting bodies is changing, with accreditors increasingly considering whether students are benefiting from the changes institutions put in place.

Sfiropoulos, a PBSC alumnus and award-winning former professor, encouraged faculty to strive to transform students’ thinking and create ripples that extend beyond the classroom in his presentation, “Your Calling to Create Ripples.”

For Sfiropoulos, the message was personal, noting that Palm Beach State created the first ripple in his educational journey.

“The ripple begins with you,” Sfiropoulos said. “The environment where we create those ripples is changing drastically but the role of faculty in student success has not.”

Faculty members who missed the convocation can view the livestream HERE. To view photos from the event, click HERE.