Maryville University AI Summit explores artificial intelligence across education, business, and society

Artificial intelligence is transforming everything from classrooms and workplaces to how communities think about ethics, culture, and the environment, and to meet the challenges of that transformation, Maryville College will bring together educators, technologists, nonprofit leaders, and business professionals this spring at the second annual AI Summit at the Maryville College Downtown Center.

The two-day event on May 12th and 13th will bring together participants from a wide range of sectors to explore how AI technologies are shaping teaching and learning, professional practice and society more broadly. Organizers say the summit reflects the university’s liberal arts approach to emerging technologies and fosters dialogue that bridges academic and professional fields.

“This year, we are expanding our dialogue,” said Dr. Niklas Trzaskowski, director of the Maryville University Career Center and one of the summit organizers. “We want to bring together educators, business professionals, nonprofit leaders, and technologists to discuss how AI is impacting their work and how it is shaping our communities and the world.”

The 2026 Summit builds on the success of last year’s inaugural event, which brought nearly 50 educators and experts to the Downtown Center to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education and the classroom experience. This year’s program expands its focus to include the growing influence of AI in the private sector, nonprofits, and public life.

Organizers say this expanded scope reflects Maryville University’s ongoing AI initiative, which encourages thoughtful exploration of artificial intelligence through a liberal arts lens. Rather than simply approaching AI as a technological innovation, this initiative invites students, faculty, and community partners to consider AI’s ethical implications, social impacts, and practical applications across disciplines.

“Artificial intelligence poses problems that go far beyond technology,” Trzaskowski said. “A liberal arts environment is a great place to bring together different perspectives, including people who think about education, business, ethics, and culture, to think about how we should leverage these tools and what kind of future we want to build with them.”

To encourage a wide range of voices in these conversations, organizers are currently accepting proposals for 50-minute summit sessions. Potential presenters are asked to submit proposals that address topics such as:

Teaching and learning in the age of AI.
Applications of AI in business and nonprofit organizations. and
The impact of artificial intelligence on society, culture, and the environment.

Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on March 18, 2026, and presenters with accepted proposals will receive free admission to the summit.

Additional program details, including keynote speakers, panel discussions, and the full event schedule, will be announced in the coming weeks. Organizers also plan to offer one-day and two-day ticket options to the public interested in attending.

The Blount Partnership will once again serve as the summit’s lead sponsor and continue to support collaborative dialogue that brings together education, industry, and the broader community. Organizations and businesses interested in supporting the summit should contact organizers at aisummit@maryvillecollege.edu.

More information about the summit, including proposal guidelines and registration updates, can be found at www.maryvillecollege.edu/ai.

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