As artificial intelligence transforms how organizations make decisions, solve problems and reframe the work humans do, our NIU College of Business is helping ensure that higher education has a voice in the conversation.
Earlier this month, Dean Joan M. Phillips-Hernandez joined business leaders at “Ready or Not: Gain the AI Advantage Before Your Rivals Do,” a conference hosted by Armanino, one of the top 20 largest independent accounting and business consulting firms in the United States. Held at Armanino’s Chicago office, the event brought together leaders from firms like software company Coupa, financial planning platform Abacum, and insurance and financial services firm OneDigital, with panelists discussing how organizations use AI, where it creates value and how leaders can approach technology with a more practical viewpoint.
Phillips-Hernandez served as the voice of higher education in that discussion, connecting the rapid adoption of AI in industry with the responsibility business schools have to prepare students for an AI-ready workforce.
“I left even more convinced that curiosity must guide us as educators,” Phillips-Hernandez said. “We need to keep exploring how AI is changing business and, just as importantly, how we can give our students meaningful opportunities to experience and work with AI in the classroom.”
Our NIU College of Business’s commitment to AI education is apparent in student experiences. AI education and experiential AI learning have been incorporated throughout our college’s courses where students learn to apply tools effectively, ethically and strategically. Faculty bring current coding and applications into the classroom while continuing to emphasize the foundational business knowledge and softer skills students need to evaluate results, make sound decisions and create value.
The Armanino discussion also reinforced an important point: AI is not a story about replacing people. It is changing the nature of work, employee responsibilities and the ways human judgment and technology interact.
“Our responsibility is to prepare students to identify and understand business problems, collaborate to solve them and work effectively in a world where some of their colleagues may be AI agents,” Phillips-Hernandez said. “That will require students to learn how to manage AI-assisted work, exercise sound judgment and, ultimately, remain accountable for the outcomes.”
That combination of technical and business expertise, and ethics and accountability is central to our college’s approach to workforce readiness. Students are encouraged not only to use AI, but also to ask better questions, analyze outputs and understand when human insight must guide the decision. The result is an education designed to help graduates contribute immediately while continuing to adapt as technologies and business needs evolve.
Our college is also expanding graduate education for professionals who want to lead at the intersection of AI and business. Our Master of Science in Business Analytics and AI emphasizes analytics, machine learning, AI applications and data-driven business strategy. Our Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business prepares students to align information systems and AI solutions with business strategy to improve organizational processes through AI, analytics and intelligent automation.
Phillips-Hernandez noted the event also created promising connections with business leaders. “I’m optimistic that some of the relationships we began building this week could lead to valuable opportunities for our students in the future,” she said.
The dean’s participation in this event is one of many ways the college has embraced AI in business. At its core, our NIU College of Business remains committed to bringing together classroom practice, faculty expertise, reimagined degree programs and relationships with employers — all with the end goal of preparing students to lead businesses in the age of AI.
Explore our college’s approach to AI in business and discover how students gain hands-on, responsible AI experience.
Read more about our college’s AI-focused master’s degrees and how they are preparing graduates for an AI-driven workforce.
