Recorded on-site amid the bustle of the HETMA Nashville Roadshow at Vanderbilt University, this month’s roundtable trades polished studio quiet for real-world energy and candid conversation. Ryan sits down with Chris Kelly (Creighton University; HETMA Advisory Board Chair), Rebecca Wade (Igloo Vision), and Scott Ramsayer (Shure, Market Development) to ask a simple prompt with big implications: one year from now, what will feel genuinely different in higher-ed AV? The group wrestles with AI’s real value versus the hype, where automation helps (and where it doesn’t), and why human-centered assessment and experiential learning should keep pushing forward. 

The panel moves from AI skepticism to pragmatic adoption—using AI to speed routine work or coding, while keeping humans responsible for outcomes—and calls out a cautionary tale about replacing people without oversight. They also explore the shift from passive work (and passive learning) to active, human experiences: think voice-enabled control, hands-on tech spaces, and authentic demonstrations of learning (e.g., recorded podcasts) instead of easily AI-generated essays. The episode closes with October-appropriate fun and a quick save-the-date: a HETMA Roadshow at Creighton University in Omaha is planned for July 9, 2026.

Topics Discussed

• On-site recording at Vanderbilt University during the HETMA Nashville Roadshow. 
• Intros: Chris Kelly (Creighton; HETMA Advisory Board Chair), Rebecca Wade (Igloo Vision), Scott Ramsayer (Shure).
• “AI reality check”: less magic, more useful automation—benefits with clear limits. 
• Where automation helps AV teams (auto-DSP/auto-tune) vs. why humans still matter on site. 
• Coding assist: using AI for Python/Lua snippets to “punch above your weight.” 
• Oversight matters: a pointed example of AI-driven decisions going wrong without humans in the loop. 
• Radical acceptance in higher ed: students already use AI; pedagogy must adapt. 
• Experiential learning: prioritize authentic demonstrations over AI-generable essays. 
• Near-term hopes: more voice-enabled control and fewer logistical/Cost barriers for advanced tech installs. 
• Roadshow note: Creighton University in Omaha targeted for July 9, 2026.

Host: Ryan Gray
Email: editor@higheredav.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray
Website: https://www.HigherEdAV.com

Guests: 
Chris Kelly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kelly-272155122/
Rebecca Wade LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-wade-979094154/
Scott Ramsayer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ramsayer-71167824/

This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for new content every day.