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���ϲ����� recently celebrated the inaugural cohort of its AI Certificate for Professionals, marking a milestone in the university’s growing efforts to equip working professionals with practical, ethical and future-focused artificial intelligence skills. Held Jan. 12–28, 2026, as a live, online cohort experience, the ���ϲ����� NEXT program brought together alumni across class years to explore how AI can strengthen day-to-day work, from communication and planning to automation and workflow design.

Created to meet rising demand for accessible, workforce-ready AI education, the certificate stands out for its hands-on format. Participants don’t simply learn about AI, they build a toolkit they can use right away, including prompt libraries and practical workflows tailored to their roles. The program culminates with a capstone presentation, where participants demonstrate an AI solution such as a chatbot, automated workflow or AI-enhanced process.

The course was designed and is taught by a team of instructors: Mustafa Akben, Rebecca Macy and Scott Oakes. Mustafa Akben, director of artificial intelligence integration, said the course is structured to move learners from curiosity to confident implementation.

“We designed our program to be deeply hands-on so that participants can start applying what they have learned from day one,” Akben said. “By the time they finish, they have both studied the theoretical foundations of AI and built a functional tool that is immediately implementable in their specific professional context.”

For alumni participants, the inaugural cohort offered a mix of technical skill-building and a mindset shift — seeing AI as a strategic partner rather than an intimidating unknown. Kenisha Walton ’99 said the experience helped her realize she could “do” AI and treat it as a strategic partner. Kenneth Page Jr. G’06 said he was surprised by “the bottlenecks that can be solved” through automation. Tracey Campbell ’99 called the program “game changing,” noting it helped her work more efficiently day to day. Haydn Stucker ’23 said the class helped him shape ideas into “realistic applications.”

The certificate is taught by ���ϲ����� faculty with expertise in AI and its real-world applications, creating an environment that fosters discussion, peer learning and ongoing connection.

“Teaching AI to ���ϲ����� alumni through ���ϲ����� NEXT is especially meaningful to me as both an ���ϲ����� alum and a faculty member in the Love School of Business,” said Scott Oakes, assistant teaching professor of management. “Bringing practical AI into real business contexts for fellow alumni feels like a true full-circle moment.”

While the program emphasizes practical skill building, it also reflects ���ϲ�����’s broader approach to learning, which is high-touch, community-driven and designed for real-world relevance.

“We wanted participants to feel supported as they explored AI in ways relevant to their own contexts,” said Kristin Walker, associate director of professional and continuing studies. “Hearing them describe leaving with deeper understanding, practical tools, renewed confidence and a sense of momentum was exciting to see.”

Offered through , a program of the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies, the certificate reflects ���ϲ�����’s commitment to meeting the emerging needs of the modern workforce while creating learning pathways that remain accessible to busy professionals. The inaugural cohort marks an important milestone in this work, with future cohorts planned.

Discover upcoming opportunities to deepen your AI skills with ���ϲ����� NEXT.