Five College AI Day 2026

A Collaborative Event Exploring AI's Impact On Higher Education.

This is a free event open to all faculty and staff from institutions across the Five Colleges

Date: Tuesday, May 12th, 2026

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Mount Holyoke College-Willits Hallowell Conference Center, Morrison & Andreola Rooms

Link to post-event survey

Schedule

9:30-10:00am-Light Breakfast

10-10:05am-Welcome Remarks and Overview of Sessions

Speaker:

Speakers:

  • Tara Pauliny -- Director of the Writing Program, Senior Lecturer at UMass Amherst
  • Kristina Reardon -- Interim Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Senior Lecturer in English at Amherst College
  • Miranda McCarvel -- Multilingual Writing Specialist, Lecturer in Writing & Public Discourse, Education & Child Study, & Anthropology at Smith College

12-1:00pm-Lunch

Speakers:

  • Brendan O'Connor -- Associate Professor in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences at UMass Amherst 
  • Mara Breen -- Professor and Co-Chair of Psychology and Education at Mount Holyoke College
  • Ben Baumer -- Professor of Statistical & Data Sciences, Co-director of Journalism Concentration at Smith College

1:50-2:20pm-Q&A with Panel and Open Discussion

2:20-2:30pm-Closing Comments and QR for Survey

Co-Sponsors

Five College AI Day 2026 is a collaboration of Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the Five College Consortium.