In this episode of Smarter Campus, host Zach Kinzler sits down with Lara Taylor, Purdue Polytechnic doctoral candidate and instructional technologist at Mississippi State, to trace her journey from library stacks to AI frontlines. Lara shares how her master’s research on machine-learning chatbots and search algorithms in SEC libraries ignited her passion for generative AI—long before ChatGPT put it on everyone’s radar.

They dig into the early wins and growing pains of launching an “Emerging Technologies Committee” (think VR, AR, and AI), building a tech‑literacy framework, and shifting a traditionally slow‑moving library world into high gear. Laura’s top advice? Don’t fear the future—“jump in and join the party.” Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or simply AI‑curious, you’ll come away with concrete strategies for overcoming resistance, empowering students, and unleashing creativity far beyond the classroom. Tune in to see how AI can transform your campus—one chatbot at a time.