A One-Day Working Conference · Friday, October 16, 2026 · Kalamazoo, Michigan

AI in the Econ Classroom.

What AI is doing to teaching, assessment, and hiring, and the cross-institutional conversations we need to keep pace.

When
Friday, October 16, 2026
Where
Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan
Host
Department of Economics College of Arts and Sciences
Organizing Committee
Rodrigo Aranda
Jason Beasley Department of Economics
Format
Keynotes and invited talks
+ Contributed presentations
RSVP for the conference Free · takes about 30 seconds
Themes

Four threads, one conversation.

The program sits at the intersection of how we teach with AI, how we assess what students have learned, what the labor market is asking of graduates, and the peer networks that make any of this tractable across institutions.

Pedagogy Assessment Workforce Readiness Networking
Speakers

Keynotes and invited talks.

Five confirmed voices anchor the day, drawn from research, teaching, and the labor-market side of the AI question.

See the full agenda, hour by hour
Agenda

The day, hour by hour.

Friday, October 16, 2026 in Dunbar Hall, Room 0302. Registration opens at 8:45 a.m. and the conference closes at 4:55 p.m. All times Eastern.

Morning

Learning, teaching & assessment
8:45–9:25
Registration and coffee
9:25
Welcome and framing
Carla Koretsky, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Jason Beasley, Western Michigan University
Session I · AI for learning & tutoring
9:45
AI-Enhanced Learning
Antonio Mele, London School of Economics
10:15
Proactive AI TutorsVirtual
Kevin Bryan, University of Toronto
10:45
Guiding Proper LLM Usage for Studying Outside of the Classroom
Justin Farmer, Graduate Fellow, Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation, Michigan State University
10:55
Do-It-Yourself AI Companions: Equitable, Ethical, and Instructor-Controlled LLM Development
Rodrigo Aranda, Western Michigan University
11:25–11:35
Coffee break
Session II · Pedagogy in practice
11:35
AI vs HI: Artificial Intelligence vs Human Ingenuity
John Kessler, Purdue University Fort Wayne
12:00
Integrating AI into Introductory Programming: A Structured Framework for Learning and Assessment
Wassnaa Al-Mawee, Western Michigan University
12:25
One Prompt Away? Redesigning International Trade Assignments in the AI Era
Warren Browne, Lawrence Technological University
12:50
Beyond Ban or Embrace: A Middle Path for Generative AI in Applied Calculus
Jon Davis, Western Michigan University

Afternoon

Workforce, curriculum & tools · times shown are p.m.
1:15–1:30
Coffee break
Session III · Workforce, curriculum & tools
1:30
AI Exposure and the Future of Work: Tasks, Skill Demand, and EducationKeynote · working lunch
Michael Horrigan, President, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
2:20
Who Adjusts to AI? Students’ Field Choices and Managers’ Decisions
Cassandra Merritt, Assistant Director of Data Science Services, Notre Dame Population Analytics
2:50–3:00
Coffee break
Classroom tools · Publisher perspectives
3:00
From Learning Science to Classroom Impact: Designing Meaningful AI for Economics
Kasia Bulgarski and Michelle Garcia-Juchter, Macmillan Learning
3:30
Teaching in a Changing World: The Role of AI in Higher Education
Carlos Canizares, Pearson Education
4:00
Closing keynote50 minutes
Justin Wolfers, University of Michigan
4:50
Closing remarks
4:55
Conference concludes
After the conference. Informal offsite networking at Bell’s Eccentric Café, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., in downtown Kalamazoo. Stay and keep the conversation going.
Getting here

Everything you need for the day.

The conference is in person and free to attend. Parking is free, no permit needed, and lunch is provided during the midday keynote.

When
Friday, October 16 Registration opens 8:45 a.m., closes 4:55 p.m.
Where
Dunbar Hall, Room 0302 Western Michigan University, main campus
Parking
Lot 33, free Next to Miller Auditorium, no permit needed
Food
Coffee and lunch Refreshments at every break; lunch at 1:30 p.m.

Driving and GPS

For GPS, use Miller Auditorium, 1341 Theatre Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Lot 33 is directly south of it, along Howard Street.

Open in Google Maps →

Park in Lot 33

Parking in Lot 33 is free for conference guests on October 16. You do not need a permit, a meter, or the Parkmobile app. Please park only in Lot 33: the free parking does not extend to other campus lots or meters.

Walk to Dunbar Hall

Head north past Miller Auditorium and continue toward Sprau Tower. Dunbar Hall is just beyond it. Follow the signs to Room 0302, where registration and coffee open at 8:45 a.m.

Driving to Lot 33

From the north
US-131 South to exit 36, Stadium Drive. Keep left at the fork, merge onto Stadium Drive east, then turn left onto Howard Street.
From the south
US-131 North to exit 36, Stadium Drive. Turn right onto Stadium Drive, then left onto Howard Street.
From the west
I-94 East to exit 74B for US-131 North, then follow the directions from the south.
From the east
I-94 West to exit 75, Oakland Drive. Continue on Oakland Drive to Howard Street and turn left.
Download the visitor guide PDF · two pages, with a campus map
RSVP

Tell us you're coming.

Friday, October 16, 2026 at Western Michigan University. Free to attend. Let us know you're joining so we can plan the room and the lunch.

Questions? Write to rodrigo.aranda@wmich.edu or william.beasley@wmich.edu