Ethics Day
Ethics Day
Join us on Tuesday, September 23 for our annual Ethics Day! We will be holding a expert panel on Artificial Intelligence during the lunch hour and an eye-opening talk in the evening from prestitigious guest lecturer, Dr. Joel MacClellan. Both events will include a reception with FREE SWAG for the first 100 attendees!
Noon Panel: "Ethical Field Applications of AI"
Date: Tuesday, September 23 at 12 p.m. Reception to follow.
Location: Mabry Theatre, University Center
Meet the Panelists
Woonhee SungAssistant Professor of Instructional Technology
Dr. Sung's research focuses on integrating AI literacy in teacher education and K-12 education. Her published work examines how educators and students navigate AI tools, emphasizing the importance of positioning AI as an educational assistant rather than a replacement for critical thinking. Her research addresses pressing classroom concerns including the mental health impacts of AI, helping educators make informed decisions about integrating AI while maintaining pedagogical integrity and student agency.
Matthew KellyAssociate Professor of English
Dr. Kelly's research focuses on digital literacies, the use of new media technologies in the writing classroom, and the role of pedagogy in video games and gaming communities. He has taught classes on Digital Media Studies, Professional and Technical Communication, Critical Writing, and First-Year Composition. His panel contribution will focus on the ethical complications of designing AI platforms to be agreeable to human users, regardless of the validity or safety of the ideas being discussed.
Scott DillinghamAdjunct Lecturer, Director of the Office of Digital Learning
As someone who has stood on the wing of an airplane at 10,000 feet, Scott values the embodied experience while constantly testing the utility of AI platforms. Whether it’s finding items on a crowded store shelf or generating music and artwork for a fundraiser, extending human capacity is one of the benefits of AI tools. He has presented on AI for several East Texas organizations as well as at an international conference. He currently teaches an undergraduate course on the impact of AI on culture and society.
Evening Lecture: "Ethics Through Animals' Eyes"
Date: Tuesday, September 23 at 6 p.m. Reception begins at 5 p.m.
Location: Mabry Theatre, University Center
Talk Summary: To become more human, we must first become more animal.
We live in times of rapid technological and cultural change, challenging our evolved primate brains’ capacity to understand and adapt, both as individuals and collectively. Regrounding ethics through animals’ eyes replenishes our moral perception and imagination to help us overcome today's crises and enable us to live better, more empowered and more authentic lives.
Joel MacClellan
"Dr. Mac" is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Environment Program at Loyola University New Orleans. His work has been published in prominent ethics journals, books, and encyclopedias, and he has given talks at NYU, Cornell, and Vanderbilt, and abroad. He is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Panama’s Community Environmental Conservation Program. You can find an accessible interview with him on the Sentientist Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
What is Ethics Day?
Ethics Day, hosted by the Center for Ethics, is a series of talks and panel discussions from esteemed faculty and guest speakers on different topics relating to ethics. These talks are open to all students, faculty, staff and community members who would like to attend, completely free. The goal of Ethics Day is to encourage learning and critical thinking on topics that affect us all, no matter what fields in which we may be studying or working. We hope these discussions lead us to become better and more ethical leaders and contributers in our lives and careers.