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Elon faculty members named to leadership roles in CAA Academic Alliance AI initiative

Gary Lloyd | Nov 05,26 | 01:39 EST

Technology

Michele Lashley and Mustafa Akben will help advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence through a collaborative initiative involving 13 institutions.

Overview of the CAA Academic Alliance AI Initiative and Faculty Appointments Two Elon University faculty members, Michele Lashley and Mustafa Akben, have been appointed to significant leadership positions within a new Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Academic Alliance initiative focused on the responsible and innovative application of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. Michele Lashley, an assistant professor of strategic communications, has been named an inaugural Allied AI Collaborative Ambassador. Her selection follows her previous recognition as a member of the CAA Academic Alliance’s inaugural AI Technologies Champion Network, which was established in February 2026 to acknowledge faculty and staff who creatively and responsibly integrate AI into various aspects of academia, including teaching, research, student success, leadership development, and institutional effectiveness. Lashley's background includes a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law, providing her with a robust understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks crucial for navigating the evolving landscape of AI, communications, and education. Mustafa Akben, an assistant professor of management and Elon’s dedicated director of artificial intelligence integration, has been appointed as a director of the Allied AI Advisory Council. Akben assumed his role as Elon’s director of artificial intelligence integration in July 2024, where he has been at the forefront of efforts to strategically integrate AI across the university’s academic and administrative departments. His responsibilities include fostering innovative teaching methodologies, supporting cutting-edge research, and enhancing institutional practices through AI. The newly formed Allied AI Collaborative is designed to bring together representatives from the 13 institutions that are part of the CAA Academic Alliance. Its primary goal is to facilitate the sharing of expertise, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among member institutions, and develop practical applications for AI technologies. The initiative is structured around three core focus areas: research and innovation, teaching, learning, and assessment, and ethics and policy considerations. As an ambassador, Lashley's role will involve actively facilitating collaborative meetings, delivering impactful presentations, sharing her research and scholarly work, mentoring new participants in the initiative, and helping to shape the group's priorities throughout the academic year. Concurrently, Akben, in his capacity as a director on the Allied AI Advisory Council, will provide crucial strategic guidance. His contributions will help align the Alliance’s academic priorities with AI advancements and identify promising opportunities for research development, the establishment of external partnerships, and strategic future investments in AI. The CAA Academic Alliance, which was founded in 2002, serves as a vital network connecting the academic communities of its 13 member institutions. Its ongoing initiatives are dedicated to promoting extensive collaboration among faculty, staff, and students, while simultaneously advancing innovation, enhancing student success, and championing best practices in the realm of higher education.

Overview of the CAA Academic Alliance AI Initiative and Faculty Appointments

Two Elon University faculty members, Michele Lashley and Mustafa Akben, have been appointed to significant leadership positions within a new Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Academic Alliance initiative focused on the responsible and innovative application of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. Michele Lashley, an assistant professor of strategic communications, has been named an inaugural Allied AI Collaborative Ambassador. Her selection follows her previous recognition as a member of the CAA Academic Alliance’s inaugural AI Technologies Champion Network, which was established in February 2026 to acknowledge faculty and staff who creatively and responsibly integrate AI into various aspects of academia, including teaching, research, student success, leadership development, and institutional effectiveness. Lashley's background includes a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law, providing her with a robust understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks crucial for navigating the evolving landscape of AI, communications, and education. Mustafa Akben, an assistant professor of management and Elon’s dedicated director of artificial intelligence integration, has been appointed as a director of the Allied AI Advisory Council. Akben assumed his role as Elon’s director of artificial intelligence integration in July 2024, where he has been at the forefront of efforts to strategically integrate AI across the university’s academic and administrative departments. His responsibilities include fostering innovative teaching methodologies, supporting cutting-edge research, and enhancing institutional practices through AI. The newly formed Allied AI Collaborative is designed to bring together representatives from the 13 institutions that are part of the CAA Academic Alliance. Its primary goal is to facilitate the sharing of expertise, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among member institutions, and develop practical applications for AI technologies. The initiative is structured around three core focus areas: research and innovation, teaching, learning, and assessment, and ethics and policy considerations. As an ambassador, Lashley's role will involve actively facilitating collaborative meetings, delivering impactful presentations, sharing her research and scholarly work, mentoring new participants in the initiative, and helping to shape the group's priorities throughout the academic year. Concurrently, Akben, in his capacity as a director on the Allied AI Advisory Council, will provide crucial strategic guidance. His contributions will help align the Alliance’s academic priorities with AI advancements and identify promising opportunities for research development, the establishment of external partnerships, and strategic future investments in AI. The CAA Academic Alliance, which was founded in 2002, serves as a vital network connecting the academic communities of its 13 member institutions. Its ongoing initiatives are dedicated to promoting extensive collaboration among faculty, staff, and students, while simultaneously advancing innovation, enhancing student success, and championing best practices in the realm of higher education.