Artificial intelligence is transforming everything from classrooms and workplaces to the way communities think about ethics, culture, and the environment, and to meet the challenges of those transformations, Maryville College will bring together educators, technologists, nonprofit leaders, and business professionals this spring during the second annual AI Summit at the Maryville College Downtown Center.

The two-day event, which takes place May 12 and 13, will convene participants from a wide range of disciplines to examine how AI technologies are shaping teaching and learning, professional practice, and society more broadly. Organizers say the summit reflects the College’s liberal arts approach to emerging technology — encouraging conversations that bridge academic fields and professional sectors.

“This year, we’re expanding the conversation,” said Dr. Niklas Trzaskowski, director of the Maryville College Career Center and one of the summit’s organizers. “We want to bring together educators, business professionals, nonprofit leaders and technologists to talk about how AI is affecting their work and how it is shaping our communities and our world.”

The 2026 summit builds on the success of last year’s inaugural event, which brought nearly 50 educators and professionals to the Downtown Center to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education and the classroom experience. This year’s program broadens that focus to include the growing influence of AI in the private sector, nonprofit organizations and public life.

Organizers say the expanded scope reflects Maryville College’s ongoing AI Initiative, which encourages thoughtful exploration of artificial intelligence through the lens of the liberal arts. Rather than approaching AI solely as a technical innovation, the initiative invites students, faculty and community partners to examine its ethical implications, social impact and practical applications across disciplines.

“Artificial intelligence raises questions that go far beyond technology,” Trzaskowski said. “A liberal arts environment is the perfect place to bring different perspectives together — people thinking about education, business, ethics and culture — and ask how these tools should be used and what kind of future we want to build with them.”

To encourage a wide range of voices in those conversations, organizers are currently accepting proposals for 50-minute summit sessions. Potential presenters are invited to submit proposals addressing topics such as:

  • Teaching and learning in the age of AI;
  • Applications of AI in business and nonprofit organizations; and
  • The social, cultural, and environmental implications of artificial intelligence.

Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on March 18, 2026, and presenters whose proposals are accepted will receive complimentary admission to the summit.

Additional programming details — including keynote speakers, panel discussions, and the full event schedule — are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Organizers also plan to offer one- and two-day ticket options for members of the public interested in attending.

The Blount Partnership will again serve as the summit’s key sponsor, continuing its support of collaborative conversations that connect education, industry, and the broader community. Organizations or businesses interested in supporting the summit are encouraged to contact organizers at aisummit@maryvillecollege.edu.

More information about the summit, including proposal guidelines and registration updates, is available at www.maryvillecollege.edu/ai.

Maryville College is a nationally ranked institution of higher learning and one of America’s oldest colleges, located in Maryville, Tennessee, between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the city of Knoxville. Maryville College offers more than 60 majors, seven pre-professional programs and career preparation from their first day on campus to their last, in the words of our Presbyterian founder, to “do good on the largest possible scale.”

Karen Eldridge, Executive Director of Communications: karen.eldridge@maryvillecollege.edu.

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