Florida State University launched its fall Faculty Innovators Series this week at the Innovation Hub, where faculty and staff gathered to explore new ways to advance teaching and technology through collaboration.
Each Wednesday morning, the series brings together faculty and staff from across campus to explore emerging trends in education.
In September, sessions will highlight Google’s advanced tools and artificial intelligence platforms, including Gemini, NotebookLM and Veo 3. The month’s events will conclude with FSU Google Day on Wednesday, Sept. 24 — a campuswide celebration that will include appearances by Google representatives, mini-training sessions, Q&A opportunities and giveaways.
FSU is one of only 11 institutions nationwide, and the only one from Florida, selected by Google to participate in this campus training initiative.
“Innovation in higher education isn’t just about adopting new tools — it’s about cultivating a mindset of curiosity, collaboration and continuous growth.”
— Jonathan Fozard, associate vice president and chief information officer at FSU
“Innovation in higher education isn’t just about adopting new tools — it’s about cultivating a mindset of curiosity, collaboration and continuous growth,” said Jonathan Fozard, associate vice president and chief information officer at FSU. “At Florida State, we’re building a culture where our faculty and researchers are empowered to lead the way in shaping the future of teaching and learning.”
Launched in 2024 and supported by the Office of the Provost, the Faculty Innovators Series begins each Wednesday with breakfast and informal networking at 8:30 a.m., followed by presentations and group discussion from 9 to 10 a.m.
On Aug. 27, about 70 faculty and staff members gathered for the first session of the fall semester. The event was led by Paul Marty, professor in the College of Communication and Information and associate vice provost for academic innovation.
“The Faculty Innovators Series is building an innovation ecosystem at Florida State University that encourages collaboration by allowing faculty to share their expertise with each other,” Marty said. “We’re building a network of faculty innovators who can work together to solve problems and advance the future of higher education.”
Marty previewed fall topics, ranging from AI-powered tools like video generation platforms to innovative products that faculty may soon engage with, such as augmented reality glasses.
These technologies will be featured in interactive discussions and demonstrations during Innovation Wednesdays, offering a hands-on look at the future of teaching and learning.
“Universities are traditionally very siloed environments with each discipline keeping to its own geographic areas,” said Ken Baldauf, founding director of the Innovation Hub. “We understand that crossing those boundaries sparks new ideas. When a biology professor has a deep conversation with professors from art and engineering, they all open their minds to new perspectives and insights. That’s where innovation happens. That’s what we are fostering here in the Innovation Hub.”
Marty and Baldauf led group discussions, enabling faculty and staff from different departments to connect and exchange ideas. Participants identified key topics and focus areas for future sessions.
“University faculty rarely have the opportunity to connect with one another during their day-to-day lives,” Marty said. “This series brings them together, encourages collaboration beyond departmental boundaries and fosters relationships that spark new ideas. Thanks to this series, we’ve seen firsthand how these cross-disciplinary connections can lead to unexpected synergies and innovations that we might never have discovered otherwise.”
For the full schedule of events, visit innovation.fsu.edu/faculty.