Leading a Language Program in the Time of AI
Colloquium Title: Leading a Language Program in the Time of AI
Colloquium Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant prospect -- it is an active force shaping higher education, including language teaching and program administration. For program leaders, the challenge is not simply adopting new technologies but guiding faculty, students, and institutions through a period of rapid transformation.
This presentation explores what it means to lead a language program in the time of AI. Together, we will examine opportunities AI presents for language teaching and learning, including adaptive platforms that personalize instruction, automated feedback tools that extend practice opportunities, and data-informed insights that support curricular innovation. At the programmatic level, we highlight how AI can assist with marketing efforts, assessment reporting, and workload management, creating new efficiencies for administrators and staff.
Central to this discussion is the human dimension of AI integration. Faculty training and buy-in are critical: without intentional preparation and support, even the most promising technologies can falter. We will discuss a model used at Rice University for building AI literacy among instructors, strategies for fostering a culture of experimentation, and ways to address common concerns around academic integrity, workload, and the evolving role of the language educator. Attendees will also be encouraged to consider policy making and ethical imperatives, including equity of access, bias in AI tools, and data privacy.
Rather than framing AI as a disruptive threat, we position it as a catalyst for reimagining leadership in language education. Participants will gain a framework for evaluating potential applications of AI, strategies for supporting faculty and students in the transition, and tools for aligning technological innovation with institutional mission. This session invites attendees to critically and creatively envision the future of language teaching and program leadership in an AI-driven academic environment.
Please register ahead of the colloquium through this link to get the Zoom information. Contact GIDP-SLAT@arizona.edu for questions or details.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Rachel Kraut (Ph.D. SLAT - University of Arizona; M.A. Theoretical Linguistics - University of North Texas) is the Director of Innovative Academic Programs, Language Programs, and an adjunct professor at the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University. She works as part of the administrative team of the Intensive English Program, the Foreign Language Program, and as leader of the language programs online initiative. She also serves as a volunteer peer reviewer for the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) and is a Director-at-Large for the EnglishUSA board. Previously, she chaired TESOL International's Professional Development professional council and has served in various positions for her local TexTESOL affiliate.
Beyond language program management, Rachel has also worked as a consultant in language teacher professional development for public school districts and universities abroad, as a content developer, an ESL instructor, and in pre-service ESL teacher education.
Her research interests lie in language program administration, language teacher training, program evaluation, online language learning, and AI in language learning and teaching.
