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From Crisis to Catalyst: AI Strategy Takes Center Stage at Juniata Lecture
(Posted March 6, 2026)
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Eddie Watson
Eddie Watson
HUNTINGDON, Pa. — The Office of the Provost at Juniata College will host its annual Will Judy Lecture, presented by Eddie Watson. His talk, titled “From Crisis to Catalyst: Transforming Higher Education Through Intentional AI Strategy,” will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Neff Lecture Hall, von Liebig Center for Science, Juniata College.
As vice president for digital innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Watson provides leadership for the association’s national and state-level advocacy efforts.
Watson directs AAC&U’s Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum; the Institute on Digital Equity; the Institute on Open Educational Resources; and the Forum on Digital Innovation. He also co-directs the Institute on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment and the Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment.
The Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum is a seven-month, team-based program designed to equip colleges and universities to respond to the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents in higher education. Over the past two years, 296 institutions, including Juniata College, have participated.
The Will Judy Lectureship was established in 1958 to support an annual series of lectures that supplement and enrich the College’s academic programs. It was founded by Captain Will Judy, Class of 1911, of Chicago, Ill. Each year, the lectureship brings leaders in government, education, the arts, natural sciences, business, and other fields of interest to the campus community.
About Juniata College Sesquicentennial
Juniata College is celebrating its 150th anniversary during the 2025–2026 academic year. Founded in 1876 as Huntingdon Normal School by Andrew B. Brumbaugh and his cousins, the College has grown from a single classroom above a print shop into a nationally recognized liberal arts institution preparing students for lives of leadership, purpose, and meaningful impact. The sesquicentennial year features lectures, performances, exhibits, and special programs highlighting Juniata’s history and vision for the future. Learn more at juniata.edu.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.