The next frontier
Campus Catalyst
The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies annual gathering of UT faculty and campus leaders to shape new intercollegiate curricula will be held on Monday, October 19, 2026, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM in the Pilot Ballroom at the Student Union.
This year’s theme, The Next Frontier, explores how AI, quantum technologies, autonomous systems, and new models of healthcare are reshaping what graduates need to succeed.
RSVP for Campus Catalyst
Faculty across campus have been instrumental in shaping CECS’ curriculum and in the college’s success in developing intercollegiate programs and experiences. As CECS continues to build innovative campuswide programs, we value the partnership, collaboration and expertise of every college as we continue to align curriculum to prepare students for the rapidly changing workforce and jobs of the future.
RSVP for lunch and share any dietary restrictions using the link below.
Agenda Highlights
Monday, October 19, 2026
- 8:30 AM – Check-In
- 9:00 AM – Welcome to the Next Frontier, Vice Chancellor Deborah Crawford
- 9:15 AM – Sharing Our Collective Success, Vice Provost & Founding Dean Ozlem Kilic
- 9:45 AM – The Frontiers, CECS Senior Director of Academic Operations Elis Vllasi
- 10:15 AM – Coffee Break and Transition to Breakout Sessions
- 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM — Breakout Sessions I:
- Future of Health: Who Will Build the Future of Health and What Will They Need to Know?
- Quantum & Next-Gen Computing: Who Will Be Ready When the Impossible Becomes Computable?
- Humans + AI: What Will Humans Be Hired to Do When AI Can Create?
- 12:00 PM – Lunch & Provost’s Panel: “From the Frontier to the Graduate: What Does Higher Education Need to Do Differently?”, featuring Provost John Zomchick and guests
- 1:15 – 2:30 PM — Breakout Sessions II:
- Build Faster, Think Better: AI as an Entrepreneurial Accelerator
- Cybersecurity & Digital Trust: Who Will Protect a World We Can No Longer Trust?
- Intelligent Machines & the Physical World: Who Will Build, Manage, and Work Alongside Intelligent Machines?
- 2:30 – Breakout Session Report-Outs
- 3:00 – Closing Remarks, President Randy Boyd
Breakout Sessions I
Future of Health: Who Will Build the Future of Health and What Will They Need to Know?
Carolyn Anderson
Preeminent Hire | Tickle College of Engineering
Kimberly Powell
Preeminent Hire | College of Nursing
Graham Thomas
Preeminent Hire | College of Education, Health & Human Sciences
Emam Fatah, Facilitator
College of Emerging & Collaborative Studies
Paige Johnson, Facilitator
College of Medicine, UT Health Science Center
Quantum & Next-Gen Computing: Who Will Be Ready When the Impossible Becomes Computable?
Ahmedullah Aziz
Tickle College of Engineering
Rebekah Herrman
Tickle College of Engineering
George Siopsis
College of Arts & Sciences
Jimmy Ardiansyah, Facilitator
College of Emerging & Collaborative Studies
Humans + AI: What Will Humans Be Hired to Do When AI Can Create?
Nathan Fleshner
College of Music
Cary Staples
College of Architecture & Design
Provost’s Panel
From the Frontier to the Graduate: What Does Higher Education Need to Do Differently?
Join us for a panel discussion moderated by UT Knoxville Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, John Zomchick, with special guest panelists:
Ozlem Kilic
Vice Provost and Founding Dean,
UT College of Emerging & Collaborative Studies
Amarda Shehu
Vice President and Chief AI Officer,
George Mason University
Dimitrios Peroulis
Senior Vice President for Partnerships & Online,
Purdue University
Breakout Sessions II
Build Faster, Think Better: AI as an Entrepreneurial Accelerator
Timothy Munyon
Haslam College of Business
Maurice Stucke
Winston College of Law
Jay Niblick, Facilitator
Haslam College of Business
Cybersecurity & Digital Trust: Who Will Protect a World We Can No Longer Trust?
Edmon Begoli
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Catherine Luther
College of Communication & Information
Nick Nugent
Winston College of Law
Elis Vllasi, Facilitator
College of Emerging & Collaborative Studies
Intelligent Machines & the Physical World: Who Will Build, Manage, and Work Alongside Intelligent Machines?
Chetan Badgujar
Herbert College of Agriculture
Laurent Capolungo
Preeminent Hire | Tickle College of Engineering
James Rose
College of Architecture & Design
Katie Cahill, Facilitator
College of Emerging & Collaborative Studies
