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Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering

SEC Engineering Leadership Summit Agenda

July 27-29, 2026
UA Student Center and Styslinger College of Engineering
751 Campus Drive W. | Tuscaloosa, AL

SEC Engineering Leadership Summit Deans Programming Council

SEC Engineering Leadership Summit Coordinator Contact Information

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Monday, July 27

Noon-5 p.m.

Check-In | H.M. Comer Hall Lobby

Parking available in the Student Center Parking Deck (800 Campus Drive W., Tuscaloosa, AL 35487) directly west of H.M. Comer Hall (245 7th Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL 35487). No code required for entry.

1-4 p.m.

OPTIONAL: Hands-on Artificial Intelligence Workshop Hosted by Google

H.M. Comer Hall Room 1026

4-5:30 p.m.

OPTIONAL: Tours of UA Styslinger College of Engineering Departments and Facilities, including E-Bus Program Highlights

Meeting and Departure Point: H.M. Comer Hall Lobby at Tour Desk

All Tours depart at 4 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. unless noted otherwise

6-8 p.m.

Opening Reception and Continued Check-In
North Zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium
See parking map. Enter stadium at Gate 2.
Meet onsite
Options available for those with dietary restrictions throughout the summit. 

Tuesday, July 28

7-7:45 a.m.

Breakfast Buffet | Student Center Ballroom

7:45 a.m.

Welcome Remarks and Overview of SEC Engineering Leadership Summit

Student Center Ballroom

Dr. Peter Mohler, President of The University of Alabama
Dr. Clifford Henderson, Dean of the Styslinger College of Engineering

8-10 a.m.

SESSION 1: Keynote Talks & Panel Discussion – AI and Its Influence in Engineering, and Computer Science Practice and Education | Student Center Ballroom

10-10:30 a.m.

Refreshment Break for Informal Discussions

Student Center Ballroom

10:30 a.m.-Noon

SESSION 2: Disciplinary Breakout Meetings #1 | See map with locations

Suggested Discussion Topics: How are you and your units using AI today?  What problems are you encountering because of AI?  What are your plans for future AI use?  How are you integrating AI into degree programs, curricula, and student experiences?

Deans, Associate/Assistant Deans, Development Officers, Communications Leaders

 Department Heads

Noon-1:15 p.m.

Lunch Buffet| Student Center Ballroom

 1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

SESSION 3: Cool Ideas #1 – 5 Five-Minute Talks | Student Center Ballroom

  1. College-Wide Multi-Disciplinary Capstone Design Program
    Dr. Stephan Durham, The University of Georgia
  1. Capstones as a Talent to Research Mechanism
    Dr. Beth Hood, The University of Texas
  1. Preparation for Professional Practice: Establishing a Senior Design AI Use Policy
    Dr. R Keith Stanfill, The University of Tennessee
  2. Freshmen Success Initiatives
    Dr. Janet Moore, Auburn University
  1. Increasing Freshman Student Success and Persistence through a Math Readiness Compass Course
    Dr. Clifford Henderson, The University of Alabama

1:45-3:15 p.m.

SESSION 4: Disciplinary Breakout Meetings #2 | See map with locations

Deans, Associate/Assistant Deans, Development Officers, Communications Leaders

Department Heads

3:15-3:45 p.m.

Refreshment Break for Informal Discussions | Student Center Ballroom

3:45-4:15 p.m.

SESSION 5: Cool Ideas #2 – 4 Five-Minute Talks | Student Center Ballroom

  1. CoExist: Engineering, Math, and AI
     Dr. Chase Rainwater, The University of Arkansas
  1. A Student Learning Assistant Program in Engineering and Computer Science: Improving Faculty and Student Success
    Dr. Sandy Pettit, The University of Alabama
  1. First Year Scholars Program
    Dr. Stephan Durham, The University of Georgia
  1. The University of Alabama’s Fleet of Connected, Automated, and Electric Buses
    Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian, The University of Alabama

4:15-5 p.m.

SESSION 6: Cool Ideas Tabling Session | Student Center Ballroom

15-minute “speed dating” sessions to allow people to meet and discuss Cool Ideas topics

5-5:30 p.m.

Departure for Reception and Social Event
PopStroke Tuscaloosa (680 Harper Lee Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404)

5:30-7:30 p.m.

2026 SEC ELS Reception and Social Event | PopStroke Tuscaloosa
680 Harper Lee Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
Meet onsite.
Food, fun, games, mini golf, and more with your SEC colleagues.
Options available for those with allergies/dietary preferences.

Wednesday, July 29

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast Buffet| Student Center Ballroom

8:30-10:30 a.m.

SESSION 7: Disciplinary Breakout Meetings #3 | See map with locations

Deans, Associate/Assistant Deans, Development Officers, Communications Leaders

Department Heads

10:30-11 a.m.

Refreshment Break for Informal Discussions | Student Center Ballroom

11 a.m.-Noon

SESSION 8: Breakout Sessions Report Outs & Action Items to Share with Group

Student Center Ballroom

Noon-1 p.m.

Lunch Buffet | Student Center Ballroom

1 p.m.

Adjourn

1:30-4:30 p.m.

OPTIONAL: Hands-on Artificial Intelligence Workshop Hosted by the Styslinger College of Engineering, UA Department of Computer Science, and the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
H.M. Comer Hall Room 1026

Session Details

OPTIONAL: Hands-on Artificial Intelligence Workshop Hosted by Google: All are invited to attend this optional free 3-hour workshop presented by Google. Designed to help both beginner and experienced AI/LLM users gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities of such tools, attendees will walk away with new skills that can help them in their daily work.

SESSION 1 – Keynote Talks and Panel Discussion: Attendees will meet as one group initially on Tuesday morning for keynote talks and a follow-on panel discussion session where six invited experts from industry will address their views on the topic of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in engineering and computer science practice today and into the future.  Following their short 10-to-15-minute talks, a panel discussion will be held with the group which will allow the audience to ask questions.

SESSION 2 – Disciplinary Breakout Meetings #1: This is the first of three planned sessions where attendees will have the opportunity to meet by role type (i.e. Deans, Associate Deans, Department Chairs/Heads, Development Leaders, and Communications Leaders) to discuss topics of interest to their roles in a deeper and more focused manner.  For this session, each group should discuss AI’s impact at two levels: broadly across engineering and computer science, and specifically within their own teams and functions.

SESSION 3 – Cool Ideas #1: This is the first of two 30-minute sessions that will feature 5-minute talks on ideas and programs contributed from across our SEC engineering programs.  In Session 6, attendees can meet with “Cool Ideas” presenters at a tabling session.

SESSION 4 – Disciplinary Breakout Meetings #2: This is the second of three planned sessions where attendees will have the opportunity to meet by role type (i.e. Deans, Associate Deans, Department Chairs/Heads, Development Leaders, and Communications Leaders) to discuss topics of interest. Groups are encouraged to develop their own list of topics for this session.

SESSION 5 – Cool Ideas #2: This is the second of two 30-minute sessions that will feature 5-minute talks on ideas and programs contributed from across our SEC engineering programs.  In Session 6, attendees can meet with “Cool Ideas” presenters at a tabling session.

SESSION 6 – Cool Ideas Tabling Session: Each of the “Cool Ideas” topics and presenters will have their own table in this session. Attendees are encouraged to visit with presenters at their tables to learn more about and discuss topics that were of interest to them in the “Cool Ideas” sessions.

SESSION 7 – Disciplinary Breakout Meetings #3: This is the final of three planned sessions where attendees will have the opportunity to meet by role type (i.e. Deans, Associate Deans, Department Chairs/Heads, Development Leaders, and Communications Leaders) to discuss topics of interest to their roles in a deeper and more focused manner.  Groups are encouraged to develop their own list of topics for this session.

SESSION 8 – Breakout Sessions Report Outs & Wrap Up: This final session before the Summit transitions to lunch and adjourns and is designed to allow the groups who met in their breakout sessions to report back ideas and action items they feel are important to share with the group.  Discussion leads for the various breakout groups will summarize their breakout group discussions and present priority observations, recommendations, and action items. A short survey to provide information for improving nest year’s Summit will follow.

OPTIONAL: Hands-on Artificial Intelligence Workshop Hosted by the Styslinger College of Engineering, UA Department of Computer Science, and the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence: This optional, free three-hour workshop builds on the Google AI workshop and helps attendees dive deeper into advanced AI/LLM tools. All attendees are invited.

Breakout Session Locations

Floor plan map

Summit Locations with Walking Directions

map of the student center and HM Comer parking
Student Center Parking Deck: 800 Campus Drive W. | Tuscaloosa, AL

Student Center: 751 Campus Drive W. | Tuscaloosa, AL

Reception at Bryant-Denny Stadium

July 27, 2026 | 6-8 p.m.
Parking and Gate Entry Map
Map of denny stadium
Wallace Wade Lot: 720 Wallace Wade Avenue | Tuscaloosa, AL
NW Stadium Lot: 825 Wallace Wade Avenue | Tuscaloosa, AL
Denny Court Lot: 824 Wallace Wade Avenue | Tuscaloosa, AL

Driving Directions to Bryant-Denny Stadium

map of campus to stadium

Directions

map of campus

Return to SEC Leadership Summit Homepage

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