Dr. Belinda Biscoe delivered the 2025 State of Outreach presentation highlighting the college’s positive financial standing and a call to action to accelerate the integration of AI tools and platforms across college departments. Biscoe’s remarks reflected a commitment to innovation and continuous learning as she stated, “nothing beats a failure but a try.”

Dr. Biscoe pointed out that the college’s 2024 financial report shows that CCE’s departments are trying new things, making strong moves, and increasing the bottom line in multiple ways; 2024 participant numbers are the highest in a decade topping one million.

The state of the college is “strong and healthy,” Biscoe said, and participant comments suggested appreciation for forward-looking leadership and an engaged community ready to further embrace the future of work with AI.

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Mr. Josh Cavalier, a pioneering leader and trusted voice in Learning and Development, with over thirty years of experience, as well as an inspirational speaker at national conferences regarding his vision for the future of AI education gave the morning keynote address titled Humans & AI: Building the Future of Learning Together in which he addressed Understanding AI, Benefits of Integrating AI, Practical Tools and Strategies, Challenges and Ethical Considerations and Future Trends.

Takeaway statements following Cavalier’s keynote address reflected a wide range of perspectives on AI. Many participants emphasized AI’s transformative potential, practical applications, and importance in modern work environments. Others described AI as a powerful, evolving tool that can enhance productivity, creativity, and learning when paired with human input and oversight. Several attendees voiced the need for AI literacy, equitable access, and continued conversation about its ethical use and sustainability.

Afternoon workshops focused on a variety of AI topics and formats. Virtual participants engaged in Cavalier’s two afternoon workshops while in-person participants self-selected two 50-minute breakout sessions from a list of ten AI-related topics.

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Awards

The 2025 Collaboration Award recognized the “Oklahoma’s Preschool Development Grant” lead by E-TEAM for innovative, unique and collaborative programming with impactful outcomes.  Partner teams included: The Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work and The Department of Sociology (OU Dodge Family College of Arts & Sciences) in collaboration with The Early Childhood Education Institute and The Instructional Leadership & Academic Curriculum Department (OU Jeanne Rainbolt College of Education) [IMAGE]

An Honorable Mention Certificate for Collaboration went to the Center for Public Management (CPM) in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, innovation services/HOPE team for their project “Investing in You”. [IMAGE]

The former Innovation Award was reframed this year as the 2025 AI Innovation Award. The Southwest Prevention Center (SWPC) Regional Prevention Initiatives RED CUP Podcast Project Team was the inaugural winner. [IMAGE]

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Years of Service Recognition

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Takeaways

Attendees highlighted a wide range of valuable takeaways from the event, with a strong emphasis on the relevance and practicality of AI content. Many appreciated the introduction to AI tools, platforms, and prompt strategies, noting how the event helped increase their understanding, comfort, and confidence in using AI for daily work tasks. The hands-on workshops, particularly those offering real-world applications, were praised for helping bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Networking emerged as another major benefit, with numerous comments noting the value of connecting with colleagues across departments to share ideas and experiences.

Several attendees specifically called out engaging speakers, including Dr. Anthony Natale and Sean Harrington, for providing clear, applicable insights. Others valued the supportive environment that encouraged exploration, collaboration, and continued learning around AI.

In addition to the content, many praised the venue, food, and event organization, describing the overall experience as both informative and enjoyable.

Altogether, feedback indicates that the event successfully fostered professional growth, collaboration, and future-oriented thinking within the University Outreach community.

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In Recognition and Appreciation

Master of Ceremonies: Dick Pryor

The event planning team: Amber Romo, Andrew Rowley, Barbara Perkins, Dr. Belinda Biscoe, Dalila McGee, Darlynn Dietrich, Debbie Collum, Dollaya Hirunyasiri, Greg Gibson, Dr. Nina Barbee, Richard Feinberg, Shannon Johansen, Susan Hosler, Spencer A. Brickell, Teri Clark, Dick Pryor, and special thanks to Lisa Pryor for serving as the team’s chair.