AI Forward Expands AI Learning Across TCU Neeley
Artificial intelligence is changing how business is taught and practiced, and the Neeley School of Business is preparing students to lead in that evolving landscape through Neeley AI Forward, an initiative that expanded AI learning across the school during its first semester.
Launched in January 2026, Neeley AI Forward was designed to move beyond isolated AI efforts and create a coordinated, thoughtful and practical approach that benefits students, faculty and the broader community. The initiative quickly translated that vision into programs, partnerships and resources shaping the future of business education at Neeley.
The initiative reached more than 600 stakeholders, delivered more than 20 workshops, talks and events, embedded AI training across every major, introduced new tools for faculty, staff and students, and established an advisory board of senior industry leaders from companies including Dell, Gartner, MVB Financial Corp., EY, McKesson Corp., Point B and Dallas AI. The Neeley AI Leadership Club, a student-led organization, launched alongside the initiative and already counts more than 200 members.
"Preparing business leaders has typically come down to two things: human skills like emotional intelligence and leadership judgment, plus domain expertise. AI literacy is the new third pillar, not a replacement for the first two," said Will Drover, founding director for Neeley AI Forward and advisor to the dean for AI and digital innovation.
"The students who win in this market are the ones who can communicate, think critically and lead well, and who know how to put AI to work.
We're not teaching shortcuts. We're teaching judgment with better tools in hand.”
The first semester reinforced how quickly demand for AI fluency is growing, Drover
said. Employers increasingly expect graduates to know how to integrate AI into their
work, while students, parents, donors and faculty want assurance that business education
is keeping pace.
One example of that preparation came this spring when Matt Neves, a finance and entrepreneurship and innovation major, won the student category in the inaugural Chancellor's Innovation Prize with an AI-powered platform designed to boost student attendance at TCU Athletics events through predictive insights and personalized incentives.
"Everyone is asking the same question: Will business graduates be ready?” Drover said. “The answer at Neeley is yes, and we're building the infrastructure to keep that answer true as the technology evolves."
To help meet that demand, Neeley AI Forward is organized around five strategic focus areas—students, faculty, infrastructure, community and research—designed to integrate AI throughout the Neeley experience.
The student pillar, led by Elijah Clark, assistant director for Neeley AI Forward and marketing instructor, expanded opportunities for students to apply AI through coursework, programming and campus activities. The student-run Neeley AI Leadership Club grew to approximately 200 members, hosted events and supported workshops with the TCU chapter of the American Marketing Association, the Management Club and the Venture Ideas MBA program. Google AI micro-credentials are being integrated across every Neeley major, while graduate and undergraduate AI certificates are in development. In July, the inaugural Neeley AI Forward Business Innovation Academy will bring 80 juniors and seniors from 50 high schools to campus to shape an AI-driven business idea and pitch it, extending the pillar's reach to students years before they choose a college.
Faculty programming, led by Beata Jones, professor of professional practice in business information systems, focused on helping instructors move from AI awareness to practical classroom adoption. Neeley AI Forward delivered three faculty development opportunities: Tinker Time through the Center for Teaching Excellence on designing AI-informed assignments and assessments, a custom learning tool development session, and a faculty exchange on emerging practices and concerns. Faculty also participated in dozens of one-on-one consultations exploring classroom applications and AI tools such as Breakout Learning and NotebookLM. Faculty are now recurring contributors to Neeley’s weekly AI newsletter. Insights from a faculty survey on AI use, perceptions and needs informed the development of an AI readiness model that will guide faculty programming during the upcoming academic year.
Led by Eric Arseneau, associate director of Neeley AI Forward and associate professor of entrepreneurship and innovation, the infrastructure pillar developed systems to support AI adoption across the school. The Syllabus Hub, a custom internal tool, processed more than 400 syllabi with more than 10 feature upgrades shipped in semester one alone, with an AddRan College pilot lined up for Fall 2026. A registrar-endorsed scheduling application was built and deployed for Spring 2027.
AI Forward secured an exploratory ChatGPT Pro license and access to on-premise, open-source models, and the Neeley AI Studio is now under development as a central, online hub for faculty and staff AI development. More than 20 coordinating meetings were held with TCU Central IT to elevate the school's AI capability.
Community engagement, led by Zain Ali, an associate professor of professional practice in information systems and supply chain management, strengthened industry partnerships while expanding opportunities for students and executives alike. The inaugural Neeley AI Forward Symposium drew approximately 150 students, faculty, staff, industry partners and board members, and included discussion panels and a mentoring lunch. Seven advisory board seats are set and a new AI industry fellow role has been created to support growing interest from industry partners. Active partnership conversations are underway with additional high-profile business partners. More than 200 executives were trained through Neeley’s Executive Education courses focused on AI.
The research focus, led by Drover, expanded faculty collaboration and opportunities for externally funded scholarship. A cross-departmental AI research panel drew more than 50 faculty. Neeley AI Forward is the business school partner on a major federal research pursuit, in collaboration with two other TCU units, focused on AI applications for legacy energy infrastructure. A Neeley AI research database is underway to map the school's full AI scholarship footprint, and multiple AI-for-research tool pilots are underway across faculty users.
The kickoff of Neeley AI Forward focused on building a foundation. The next phase will expand AI learning opportunities, deepen industry partnerships and continue integrating AI throughout the Neeley experience, said Craig Crossland, the John V. Roach Dean of the Neeley School of Business.
"What we accomplished this spring is only the beginning," Crossland said. "The future of business will be shaped by leaders who know how to pair human judgment with the responsible use of AI. Neeley AI Forward is helping our students build that confidence while bringing together faculty and industry partners to shape what's next. As the initiative continues to grow, our focus remains the same: preparing Neeley graduates to lead with curiosity, integrity and the ability to create meaningful impact in a rapidly changing world."
In a single semester, Neeley AI Forward delivered:
- 5 pillars launched
- 20+ workshops, panels and events hosted
- 600+ stakeholders directly engaged
- 400+ syllabi processed through the AI Syllabus Hub
- 200+ student members joined the NAIL Club
- 200+ executives reached through AI Executive Education
- 12 Executive Education courses on AI delivered
- 7 Advisory Board seats occupied
- Hosted the inaugural Neeley AI Forward Symposium
- Google AI micro-credentials embedded across all majors
- Neeley AI Studio under active build
- More than 500+ followers engaged on new LinkedIn account