Ribbon cutting, robots at University of Tennessee’s ‘wackiest’ college
The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies launched in 2023, and the newer college is getting ready to graduate its first class in May.
- Leaders face the challenge of discerning valuable AI information from a flood of predictions and hype.
- Tennessee is investing in AI, quantum computing, and workforce development to prepare for the future.
- The University of Tennessee is training leaders in AI and related fields through new programs and colleges.
Anyone who has tuned an old radio remembers the sound: a little music, a little static, and a lot of patience. Somewhere inside the crackle was the station you wanted.
That is also the leadership challenge of the artificial intelligence (AI) era.
In communication systems, signal-to-noise ratio is a measure of performance. A message may be present, but if the noise overwhelms it, the system fails. Today’s leaders face a similar problem. Every day brings a new AI prediction, expert, warning, product, platform, breakthrough and business strategy. Some are real. Some are premature. Some are exaggerated. Some are threats. Some are golden opportunities.
The loudest is not always the strongest signal.
Tennessee’s AI future requires asking the right questions
For leaders in Tennessee, from state government to classrooms, boardrooms, city halls and community organizations, the most important skill is discernment. We need leaders who can ask: What problem are we solving? What evidence supports the claim? What data is required? What are the risks? Who benefits? How will success be measured?
Communication systems use filters to pull useful information out of noise. Leadership needs filters, too. Those filters include trusted advisors, diverse perspectives, clear goals, pilot projects, measurable outcomes, proven qualifications, and teams that can see beyond conventional silos. AI is a workforce issue, an education issue, an economic development issue, a public trust issue and an infrastructure issue.
AI adoption means workforce preparation, targeted investment
Tennessee is already showing signs that it understands this broader picture. TNWorks is designed as Tennessee’s single source for the workforce, connecting businesses to workforce solutions through a seamless and coordinated experience. Its mission is exactly the kind of “single gateway” thinking that will matter in a fast-moving economy.
The state is also making significant investments. The recently passed FY26-27 budget includes $38.5 million to continue Tennessee’s efforts to lead in AI adoption and make government work more efficiently, $43 million to accelerate quantum computing, $25 million more for the Nuclear Energy Fund, and $20 million to complete relocation of the North Data Center. Together, these point toward a future in which AI, advanced and applied computing, energy, workforce, and public service are deeply connected.
University of Tennessee training leaders for the AI future
That is where Tennessee’s land-grant mission becomes essential. The University of Tennessee’s College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies was built for this moment: a model that helps learners explore emerging areas such as AI, data science, cybersecurity, and applied computing across disciplines. CECS Online Academy serves as a simple entry point for professionals, employers, educators and citizens who need to move from curiosity to capability.
CECS is also not alone. The UT System’s Center for Industrial Services is a complementary platform with statewide reach, helping companies and communities improve, grow, create quality jobs and connect to consulting, training, university expertise, federal labs and industry partners. Its six offices across Tennessee make it a powerful bridge between innovation and execution.
The future will reward states that can move quickly, but not recklessly; boldly, but not blindly. Tennessee has the assets: research strength, energy leadership, industry partnerships, workforce momentum, and statewide educational reach. The opportunity now is to align legislators, policymakers, educators, technologists, employers and communities around clear goals and measurable outcomes.
Static is inevitable. Confusion is optional. Stagnation is detrimental. With the right filters, Tennessee can tune in the signal and lead.
Ozlem Kilic is Vice Provost and founding dean of the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is an expert in emerging technology and higher education innovation.
