From Baltimore to Austin: What I’m Exploring at SXSW EDU 2025

I’m back in the saddle at SXSW EDU 2025! This conference has become a key space for those invested in the future of learning, bringing together educators, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the evolving intersections of technology, pedagogy, and student success. As I roam the Austin Convention Center, I’m also gearing up for something new: leading my own discussion. Tomorrow, I’ll be serving as a Roundtable Mentor to discuss integrating generative AI into the classroom. This session isn’t your typical panel or lecture; it’s a space for hands-on dialogue where educators will rotate between discussion tables, exploring AI’s role in learning.

Of course, my week isn’t just about my own session. SXSW EDU is always packed with thought-provoking conversations, and I’ve got my eye on a some sessions that align with the work we’re doing at UBalt and CELTT, including:

• Keynote – Rewiring How We Learn: The Power of an Experimental Mindset
  Anne-Laure Le Cunff and Vanessa Van Edwards will break down the neuroscience behind curiosity and learning, sharing ways we can embrace an experimental approach in education. As we integrate new tools and teaching methods, I’m eager to hear how we can help students and faculty navigate change with confidence.
• AI & Edu: Sharing Real Classroom Successes & Challenges
  This session, led by Zhuo Chen Dylan Ruediger from Ithaka, is especially relevant to UBalt since we’re part of Ithaka’s Making AI Generative in Higher Education cohort. I’m looking forward to hearing how other institutions are implementing AI in the classroom—what’s been successful, what still needs work, and how we can bring these insights back to our own faculty and students.
• Neighborhood Change & Campus-Community Partnership Changes
  This session, led by Suchitra Gururaj, will explore how universities engage with their surrounding communities—especially in the face of corporate development and gentrification. As I continue looking for ways to support “a University of Baltimore for Baltimore,” I’m excited to learn more about best practices for building meaningful, lasting partnerships that benefit both students and the city.

There’s always more to see than time allows, but I want to make the most of my time here. If something on the SXSW EDU schedule stands out to you, let me know! I’d be happy to check it out and share insights when I return.