Registration is Open for the

2025 ANNY Spring Conference

2025 ANNY Spring Conference Agenda.pdf

April 28 - 29, 2025, DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Center ($109/Night), Poughkeepsie, NY

NEW THIS YEAR - $50 REGISTRATION FEE FOR STUDENTS (NON-PROFESSIONALS)

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Keynote Address

Dr. Ryan Roderick and Dr. Jennifer Bochynski, Husson University

Assessing AI Literacy Holistically: Human-AI Collaboration through a Modified Bloom’s Taxonomy

Generative AI platforms are transforming professional and academic practices, raising a critical question for educators and assessment professionals: How do we assess AI literacy holistically? This session introduces a framework for evaluating AI literacy grounded in a model of human-AI collaboration and aligned with a modified Bloom’s Taxonomy. By integrating cognitive, ethical, and creative dimensions of learning, this approach supports a more holistic understanding of AI literacy as both a technical skillset and a reflection of thoughtful, ethical engagement.

Participants will explore how a taxonomy-based model can guide the design of assessments that measure students’ proficiency in leveraging AI tools, while also fostering critical thinking, creativity, and ethical decision-making. We will discuss strategies to capture the interplay between human skills and AI capabilities in a way that reflects the complexity of real-world applications. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for holistic assessment, actionable tools, and insights into preparing students to integrate AI responsibly into their academic and professional practices.

Dr. Ryan Roderick is the Assistant Dean of the College of Science and Humanities and chair of Husson University's Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. With a PhD in Rhetoric from Carnegie Mellon University and a background teaching English and Communication, they bring expertise in analyzing how people interact, communicate, and adapt—skills that provide a critical foundation for understanding the evolving role of generative AI in human contexts. Since joining Husson in 2018, he has taught a range of courses, supported the Writing Center, and advanced interdisciplinary initiatives to foster collaboration across fields. His research, published in journals such as Written Communication and Community Literacy Journal, investigates how people develop their writing and communication capabilities in educational and professional settings. As chair of the AI Task Force, Ryan leads efforts to navigate uncertainties around AI in higher education, emphasizing experimentation, collaboration, and guiding principles to support thoughtful, adaptive approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment.

Dr. Jennifer Bochynski, PT, DPT, is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy program at Husson University with a strong interest in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. She actively incorporates AI into her classroom and is a member of Husson University's AI Taskforce.Dr. Bochynski has contributed to the national conversation on AI in physical therapy education through multiple presentations and research initiatives. She co-presented a webinar for the Academy of Education section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) titled "Integrating ChatGPT into National Board Preparation for Entry-Level Physical Therapy Students." Additionally, she has conducted research on student perceptions of AI, presenting findings at the APTA Education Leadership Conference and the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting. Her work also extends to AI applications in simulation-based education. She was a contributing author on a presentation for the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, exploring the role of AI in enhancing simulation experiences for physical therapy students.

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AI Expert Panel

Marist University Steering Committee Representatives

Marist University envisions a future where artificial intelligence enhances education while preserving human dignity, individual agency, and well-being. The integration of AI requires careful consideration of how its use aligns with our institutional values while acknowledging its impact on societal structures, cultural frameworks, and material resources. Responsible use of AI can create more equitable access to educational resources and opportunities across our community while upholding ethical standards.

This keynote session will consist of a panel of experts in various aspects of AI, from theoretical frameworks to using AI responsibly in higher education. Panelists will discuss the overarching frameworks for how institutions might approach the rapid evolution of AI, Marist’s strategic approach to AI, AI literacy, and ethical use of AI in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. A discussion of data privacy will also be included. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the panel at various points of the session.

Anne Zahradnik, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Health Care Administration

Dr. Anne Zahradnik is an Associate Professor of Health Care Administration in the School of Management at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, NY. She earned her BA in English from the University of Pittsburgh and her MA in Communication and PhD in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.

Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Zahradnik had a successful career in business-to-business and healthcare marketing. Her research focuses on rural healthcare policy, hospital-community relations, and provider retention. She has published work on the financial and policy implications of county nursing home sales and is currently researching the public discourse surrounding rural hospital closures and rural provider retention in the U.S.

Dr. Zahradnik is a former Teagle Assessment Scholar, contributing to higher education assessment initiatives that promote effective student learning outcomes. She has also served as chair of the American Society of Public Administration's Section on Health and Human Services Administration and as an editorial board member and book review editor for the Journal of Health and Human Services Administration.

Carolyn Matheus, Ph.D., Professor of Information Systems

Dr. Carolyn Matheus is a Professor of Information Systems at Marist University. In addition to teaching and leading faculty-student research projects, she is co-chair of the strategic plan implementation committee, co-chair for Marist+AI in academics, member of the AI Steering Committee at Marist, and is a member of the IEEE standard for ethics in AI. Dr. Matheus previously served as Interim Dean for the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Director of the Honors Program, and led the development and implementation of an interdisciplinary minor in applied artificial intelligence. 

Kevin Gaugler, Ph.D., Assistant Dean, School of Liberal Arts, Professor of Spanish, and Director of the Weiss Language Center

Dr. Gaugler serves as Assistant Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Marist University and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee on Artificial Intelligence, where he leads institutional initiatives on AI strategy, faculty development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He is also Co-Chair of the Modern Language Association’s Task Force on World Languages and Generative AI and serves as a review panelist for the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence program. His approach to instruction has been featured in The Language Educator, Campus Technology Magazine, Inside Higher Ed, on PBS's New York NOW and National Public Radio’s The Best of Our Knowledge.

Julin Sharp, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President – Digital Learning Platforms and Technology

Dr. Julin Sharp is the Assistant Vice President of Digital Learning Platforms and Technology for Marist University and has been at Marist since 2017.  Dr. Sharp’s teams are responsible for Marist’s public website, Learning Management System (Brightspace), web applications, technology training, and all academic technologies.  Her special areas of focus include digital innovation, hybrid teaching and hybrid events, and best practices for teaching with digital tools.  Dr. Sharp holds a bachelor’s degree in education and Spanish, a master's degree in instructional technology, and a doctorate in educational leadership.  Her research focuses on transitioning instructors to the online classroom, and best practices in digital education.

Victoria M. Ferrara, Ph.D., Director of Educational Effectiveness Assessment and Part-time Faculty

Dr. Ferrara has been supporting faculty and staff in the assessment of student learning and institutional effectiveness, and teaching at the college level for over 25 years. She is currently the Director of Educational Effectiveness Assessment at Marist University. She plays a vital role in assisting the University in using assessment for continuous improvement. She teaches undergraduate and graduate psychology and education courses at Marist and provides assessment and accreditation consultation services to other academic institutions. Dr. Ferrara is a former Vice President of the Assessment Network of New York’s Board of Directors. She is a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Dr. Ferrara holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and is an active member of the American Psychological Association, Assessment Network of New York, American Educational Research Association, Association of American Colleges and Universities, Association for Assessment of Learning in Higher Education, and EDUCAUSE. 

Tuesday Keynote Speaker

Middle States Commission on Higher Education Updates

Terence Peavy, Ed.D., Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Lead Vice President for Institutional Field Relations

Terence L. Peavy joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in July 2021 and was named Lead Vice President for Institutional Field Relations in August 2024. In this role, he supports and facilitates the work of the Institutional Field Relations unit and serves as a liaison to member institutions, provides training to institutions and volunteers, and supports the accreditation decision-making work of the Commission. Terence comes to the Commission from the State University of New York's (SUNY) Fashion Institute of Technology where he served as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management. In this role, he managed undergraduate admissions, financial aid, registrar, international student services, educational opportunity programs, and the campus card office. He has over 28 years of higher education experience and has held executive leadership roles in enrollment management at Metropolitan College of New York, Saint Peter's University (NJ), and The New School (NY). He began his professional career at Fordham University (NY) as an admission counselor in 1993. Dr. Peavy also held the position of Associate Adjunct Professor in the Marxe School of Public Policy and International Affair at City University of New York's (CUNY) Baruch College where he taught in the Higher Education Administration graduate program. In addition, he was a Board of Trustee member at York College of Pennsylvania and volunteered as a peer reviewer for MSCHE. Terence was a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC), New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC), State University of New York Chief Enrollment Officers Association (SUNYCEO), College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY) and the International Leadership Association (ILA). Terence earned his Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University (MA), M.Ed. in Educational Supervision and Leadership from Fordham University (NY), and B.A. from York College of Pennsylvania in Speech Communications.

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