[CED/CD/EAT] FW: Call for Applications! Three Different Opportunities - Inaugural AI Campus Champions Cohort, AI Fellows Program, and Associate AI Directors

Wed May 6 16:09:22 MST 2026

Dear Directors,

I had an inquiry about this. Can you share it with others in your department and see if anyone else wants to apply?

Dominic and Ayman already expressed interest.

Are there others?  Please let me know ASAP, and we will try to coordinate our applications prior to the May 20th deadline.

Ed

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From: Faculty <faculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu> On Behalf Of Chorover, Jon - (chorover)
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2026 7:40 AM
To: CALS Faculty listserv (faculty at list.cals.arizona.edu) <faculty at list.cals.arizona.edu>; staff at list.cals.arizona.edu
Subject: Re: [Faculty] Call for Applications! Three Different Opportunities - Inaugural AI Campus Champions Cohort, AI Fellows Program, and Associate AI Directors

Dear Colleagues,

Please see the three opportunities below from David Ebert, Chief AI and Data Science Officer, and the Office of Responsible AI (ORAI).

Jon

Call for Applications for Opportunities with the Office of Responsible AI

Dear Colleagues,

The Office of Responsible AI (ORAI) and the Arizona Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Society (AI²S) would like to invite you to apply invite you to apply for one or more of the following three opportunities: Inaugural AI Campus Champions Cohort, AI Fellows Program, and Associate AI Directors.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

University of Arizona Inaugural AI Campus Champions Cohort, an AI leadership opportunity designed for faculty and staff committed to advancing institutional transformation through the applied use of artificial intelligence.

This summer program is an experiential, production-oriented learning community where participants collaborate to build real-world AI capabilities across teaching, research, student support, operations, and administration. This will be followed by serving as an AI Campus Champion throughout the academic year.

Program Timeline

  *   Application Deadline: May 20, 2026
  *   Announcement of Selected Members: June 5, 2026
  *   Cohort Dates: June 15 – July 29, 2026

Program Structure

  *   Duration: 6 weeks
  *   Weekly Commitment: Approximately 4 hours

     *   1-hour synchronous group meeting
     *   3 hours of independent, applied work

  *   Format: Collaborative, hands-on, project-based
  *   Compensation: This is an unpaid professional development opportunity
  *   Receive a $5,000.00 stipend for the 6-week summer program

Program Expectations
Participants will:

  *   Apply AI tools and strategies to real work within their roles
  *   Develop tangible, meaningful artifacts that advance AI-informed practices
  *   Contribute to curriculum innovation, institutional policy, and implementation of best practices
  *   Share outcomes that can be scaled across communities of practice

Why Participate?
As an AI Campus Champion, you will:

  *   Gain hands-on experience applying AI in your specific professional context
  *   Collaborate with a cross-campus network of innovators
  *   Help shape the future of AI integration within the institution
  *   Serve as a leader and resource for responsible, impactful AI adoption

Application Requirements
Please complete the registration form<https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_egrDNS2BvqiUgNo> and submit:

  *   Name
  *   Email
  *   Position Title
  *   Department/Unit
  *   Brief description of why you are interested in participating
  *   Letter of support from your Department Head or Office Director

How to Register
Please click on this registration link<https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_egrDNS2BvqiUgNo> to complete your application.

We encourage applications from individuals across all disciplines and functional areas who are motivated to lead and innovate with AI in meaningful ways.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

University of Arizona AI Fellows Program

The University of Arizona AI Fellows Program is launching in Summer/Fall 2026.

AI Fellows play a critical role in advancing the University’s responsible, strategic, and mission-aligned use of artificial intelligence. Fellows serve as connectors, conveners, and thought partners, helping translate the University’s AI strategy into meaningful engagement. across research, teaching, and operational contexts.

This is not a technical AI developer role. Rather, we seek faculty and staff leaders who understand AI’s implications for their areas of work and are motivated to help shape how the University of Arizona responsibly adopts and governs AI in practice.

Role Overview

AI Fellows act as catalysts within their units and communities by:

  *   Engaging colleagues in thoughtful dialogue about AI opportunities, risks, and priorities
  *   Helping identify and shape AI use cases relevant to research, instruction, and/or operational practice
  *   Co‑designing workshops, forums, pedagogy, or resources that support responsible and effective AI adoption
  *   Providing feedback and insight to ORAI and AI²S on institutional AI needs and challenges
  *   Supporting alignment between the university-wide AI strategy and local contexts

Fellows help ensure that AI planning and implementation reflect the realities, values, and expertise of the communities they represent.

Appointment Details

  *   Appointment type: AI Fellow (Faculty or Staff Affiliate Role; no impact on tenure or job classification)
  *   Term: One year, renewable by mutual agreement (up to two consecutive terms)
  *   Time commitment: Approximately 4–6 hours per week
  *   Compensation: Annual $10,000.00 stipend for Fellows using ORP guidelines
  *   Start date: Summer or Fall 2026 (flexible by agreement)
  *   Reporting /affiliation: ORAI and AI²S (Program leads)

Eligibility

We welcome applications<https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1XJkyziRLQ4zYfs> from faculty and staff across the University of Arizona who bring:

  *   A current UA faculty or professional staff appointment
  *   Demonstrated interest in AI, data‑enabled tools, or emerging digital technologies as they relate to:

     *   Research and scholarship
     *   Teaching, learning, and student experience
     *   Administrative, operational, or service functions

  *   Strong collegial networks or community standing within their unit, college, or functional area
  *   Interest in responsible AI, ethical deployment, and institutional stewardship
  *   Capacity to dedicate approximately 4–6 hours per week to program activities

We encourage applications from individuals across diverse disciplines, roles, and perspectives, including (but not limited to) academic units, research administration, student services, libraries, IT, finance, HR, operations, healthcare, and community-facing functions.

What ORAI and AI²S Provide

AI Fellows will receive:

  *   An annual $10,000.00 stipend recognizing service and leadership contributions
  *   Structured onboarding and orientation to UA’s AI strategy and governance landscape
  *   Ongoing coordination and strategic support from ORAI and AI²S leadership
  *   Access to a cross‑campus peer cohort of AI Fellows
  *   Visibility and recognition through ORAI and AI²S communications
  *   Support in convening conversations, workshops, or engagement activities (e.g., templates, facilitation assistance, shared resources)

Depending on role and interest, Fellows may also have limited access to enterprise AI tools or sandbox environments for demonstration or exploratory purposes, subject to institutional policy.

Responsibilities (Illustrative, Not Exhaustive)

AI Fellows are expected to:

  *   Participate in periodic Fellows meetings (approximately monthly)
  *   Serve as a local point of contact for AI‑related questions, ideas, and concerns within their community
  *   Help surface opportunities, needs, and risks related to AI use in their area
  *   Collaborate with ORAI and AI²S on light‑weight engagement activities (e.g., listening sessions, informational workshops, pilots)
  *   Share insights and lessons learned to inform institutional AI planning

The role is intentionally flexible and context‑specific, allowing Fellows to tailor activities to their expertise and environment.

Application Materials and Deadline (Apply by May 20, 2026)

Apply Here: Please submit the following:<https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1XJkyziRLQ4zYfs>

  1.  Letter of interest (1 page max)

     *   Your interest in the AI Fellows role
     *   Relevant experience or perspective related to AI
     *   How you would contribute to responsible AI engagement in your area

  1.  Current resume or CV
  2.  Brief statement (½–1 page)

     *   How you would approach engaging colleagues and identifying AI priorities within your context. The Initial ideas and goals you have for the fellowship.

  1.  Letter of support

     *   From a supervisor, department head, or dean, confirming support for the time commitment

Additional Information

  *   We welcome informal inquiries prior to application submission.
  *   The program is designed to complement, not replace, existing roles and governance structures.
  *   Fellows do not need prior technical AI expertise; curiosity, judgment, and community trust matter most.
  *   Selected candidates will be contacted by the Office of Responsible AI by June 5, 2026.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Associate AI Directors

University of Arizona faculty for the inaugural cohort of Associate Directors AI in a Domain — a new category of domain-focused faculty leadership roles launching in Summer/Fall 2026.

Associate Directors AI in a Domain serve as the connective tissue between AI²S and ORAI’s cross-disciplinary AI mission and the distinct expertise, cultures, and opportunities of their disciplinary community. These are not technical AI positions — we are looking for disciplinary leaders who understand AI’s implications for their field and are committed to shaping how UA engages with those implications.

Appointment details:

  *   Appointment type: Faculty Affiliate — Leadership Role (no tenure impact)
  *   Term: Two years, renewable by mutual agreement
  *   Time commitment: Approximately 8 hours per week (protected service time)
  *   Compensation: Annual stipend + dedicated support funds
  *   Start date: Summer 2026 (flexible by agreement)
  *   Reports to: Senior Director, AI²S / CAIO Office

We are recruiting Associate Directors AI in a Domain across all domains for the 2026–2028 cohort. We welcome applications from faculty at all ranks — Assistant, Associate, Full, and Research Professor — who bring:

  *   A current UA faculty appointment
  *   Demonstrated interest in or engagement with AI, machine learning, data science, or computational methods in research, teaching, or service within their domain
  *   Strong collegial networks within their domain community at the U of A
  *   Commitment to responsible AI and interdisciplinary collaboration
  *   Capacity to dedicate approximately 5-8 hours per week to this role

What ORIA and AI²S provide:

  *   Annual stipend and dedicated support funds for advancing teaching or research in the AI and Domain area.
  *   Access to the U of A enterprise AI platform (AWS Bedrock) and computing resources
  *   Onboarding, orientation, and ongoing strategic support from AI²S and ORAI leadership
  *   Staff support from AI²S research AI engineers and data scientists for domain projects
  *   Visibility through AI²S and ORAI communications
  *   A peer network with other AI Associate Directors for cross-domain collaboration

To apply,<https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2afj3cFDrhL7xhs> please submit the following materials through this link.<https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2afj3cFDrhL7xhs> (Deadline extended until May 20, 2026)

  *   Letter of interest (1 page max) — your domain AI vision, relevant experience, and how you would advance AI in your discipline at UA
  *   Current curriculum vitae
  *   Brief statement (1 page) — how you would approach building faculty community and external partnerships in your domain
  *   Letter of support from your department head or dean

We welcome informal inquiries from prospective applicants prior to submission.

If you have any questions, please contact David Ebert at ebertd at arizona.edu<mailto:ebertd at arizona.edu>

David

Dr. David S. Ebert

Chief AI And Data Science Officer

Associate Vice President of Research and Partnerships

Computer Science Engineering Endowed Innovation Chair, Dept. of ECE

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ

ebertd at arizona.edu<mailto:ebertd at arizona.edu>

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