Cedarville Magazine 251 N. Main St., Cedarville, OH 45314 1-888-CEDARVILLE | magazine@cedarville.edu cedarville.edu/magazine I blame — and thank — Mark Mazelin ’95 for putting AI on Cedarville Marketing and Communications’ radar. More than three years ago, this concept called “artificial intelligence” surfaced in conversations with our Web Services team. Mark, a trusted colleague who has been on staff longer than Cedarville has had a website, has always helped ensure we stay ahead of technological changes. I’m grateful for his steady leadership. Our web team had been attending conferences and reading articles that pointed to big shifts in how people search for information online. There was also early discussion about how AI might reshape marketing operations — everything from writing and editing to design, video production, coding, and analytics. I tell myself I don’t mind change. But these conversations about AI carried a lot of unknowns. Even today, it can be difficult to grasp the full capacity and impact of these tools — and to know how to prepare for what’s next. Maybe you can relate. So how do you engage with something that is still developing in real time? There isn’t a blueprint, but our team has learned a few helpful lessons. First, get people talking about AI. Early on, our division formed a small internal team to explore the possibilities and bring wise counsel to the table. Second, establish a framework before the tools arrive. In February 2024 — which feels like a LEADING THROUGH CHANGE lifetime ago in AI time — our team created simple guidelines for how we would use AI responsibly. The principles were straightforward: Human oversight is essential, truth and accuracy matter, privacy must be protected, and AI should enhance human creativity rather than replace it. Those guidelines remain remarkably evergreen. Third, start small and fun. At many team meetings, we experimented with generating an image with Adobe Firefly or asking ChatGPT to write something humorous. These small moments reminded us that learning new tools can be enjoyable. When Cedarville announced campuswide ChatGPT access, our team already had a foundation. That preparation allowed us to move quickly — exploring how AI might increase productivity, spark creativity, and serve our mission. We’re still learning, asking questions, and discovering what these tools can — and cannot — do. That’s often how meaningful change works. Technology will continue to evolve, sometimes faster than we want. But Cedarville’s Marketing and Communications team — the group that brings you this magazine three times each year — will continue telling Cedarville stories for God’s glory, using new innovations wisely to share them faithfully and well. Janice (Warren) Supplee ’86 serves as Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Dean of Graduate Studies. She earned her PhD in educational administration and higher education from the University of Nebraska. 48 IN CLOSING
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