2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Break

2:45 - 3:30 p.m. Mastering AI Prompts for Effective Communications

Stan Skrabut will explore the art and science of crafting effective Al prompts to enhance communication strategies and content creation. Attendees will learn the fundamentals of prompt engineering, including how to formulate clear, specific, and context-rich prompts that yield valuable insights and creative outputs from Al tools. We will discuss practical applications in public relations, such as generating press releases, creating social media content, and conducting audience analysis. By analyzing real-world examples, participants will gain hands-on experience in designing prompts that elicit the best responses from Al, ultimately leading to more impactful messaging.

PRESENTER: Dr. Stan Skrabut - Stan Skrabut is the Director of Instructional Technology and Design at Dean College, helping faculty and students weave technology into their teaching and learning. He has over 30 years of experience as an instructional technologist and trainer. He has a doctorate in education through the University of Wyoming. While at UW he was an instructional technology educational specialist for Extension. He is the author of several books including 80 ways to Use ChatGPT in the Classroom and Strategies for Success.

3:30 - 4:00 p.m. Inclusive Design & Gameplay - NMSU Extension

NMSU’s Innovative Media Research and Development group has focused quite a bit on inclusive design, and ways to integrate it meaningfully into their gameplay. In this session, we’ll fight zombies and improve our credit score with their soon-to-be-released web game, “Night of the Living Debt”.

PANEL: Dr. Barbara Chamberlain - Dr. Barbara Chamberlin is the Extension Instructional Design and Educational Media Specialist at New Mexico State University. She directs the NMSU Learning Games Lab, where she conducts research on games preferences and use and tracks trends in computer games for education. She leads research on game development at the lab, and serves as an instructional designer on new educational projects. In addition she submits several grants each year, seeking funding for the development of educational media in many content areas. NMSU recently launched the "Exergames Unlocked" Website, exegamesunlocked.com, a resource to help others use exergames in programs and classrooms.

4:00 - 4:45 p.m. Beyond Automation: AI as a collaborative partner for MarComm Excellence

Explore the top 10 essential ways MarComm professionals can leverage AI to transform workflows and revolutionize productivity to craft compelling content, streamline processes, enhance knowledge transfer, and amplify creativity. We’ll highlight AI’s powerful tools and the critical human touches needed in every AI application. Through hands-on exercises and real-world case studies, you'll gain actionable insights to harness AI for MarComm excellence while stressing the indispensable value of human intelligence and expertise as we navigate this next communications phase together.

PRESENTER: Carrissa Nelson 

4:45 - 5:00 p.m. Membership Presentation & Wrap Up and Preview of Day 2

Day 2

1:00 Welcome Back & 2025 Milwaukee Conference Preview

1:10 - 1:40 p.m. Using AI to Create Land Grant Impacts Panel

Description Coming Soon

PRESENTER: Nick Gosling & Kim Scotto

1:40 - 2:10 p.m. Navigating the Future: AI and Regulatory Challenges

This presentation explores the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, and the regulatory frameworks needed to ensure its safe and ethical use. We will discuss current challenges, emerging policies, and the balance between innovation and oversight in a rapidly advancing technological world.

PRESENTER: Cayce Myers - Cayce Myers is a professor of public relations and director of graduate studies at the School of Communication at Virginia Tech. His work focuses on laws, regulations and ethics that affect public relations practice. He is the author of Public Relations History: Theory Practice and Profession and Money in Politics: Campaign Fundraising in the 2020 Presidential Election. He is also the coauthor of the 4th and 5th editions of Mass Communication Law in Virginia and has also published over sixty peer reviewed articles, book chapters, law review articles, and trade press articles about public relations history, public relations strategy, political campaigns, and laws and policies that affect public relations practice.

2:10 - 3:00 p.m. Break

3:00 - 3:45 p.m. AI Tools to Improve Workflow

Description Coming Soon

PRESENTERS: Cassie Ann Kiggen

3:45 - 4:00 p.m.  Sparking creativity: How to “get” it, how to nurture it and how to encourage others to master their own creativity

Creativity is not an asset only practiced by graphic designers, photographers and artists. Everyone can possess a creativity edge and nurture it to bring success and fulfillment to their professional and personal experiences.  So, what is creativity and how does one “get” it? Join this interactive …and creative…session to learn more about this essential skill.

PRESENTER: Ruth Borger - Ruth Hohl Borger, Ed.D., is a communicator with over 40 years’ experience working at higher education institutions and non-profits.  From a communications specialist to strategic leader of communications departments, she has advanced the work of those who are improving our global communities through their research, teaching, and outreach.  Along the way, she has created opportunities for those in the public relations profession as well as advancing organizations committed to serving others.  She holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame, George Washington University and Arizona State University. She recently retired from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and also worked at Michigan State University, Arizona State University and Michigan community colleges. She was recognized as a Fellow of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in 2023.

4:00 - 4:45 p.m.  Empowering Extension Through AI

Mark Locklear and David Warren of the Extension Foundation will talk about AI basics, policy issues related to AI in Extension, and the ExtensionBot project. This session will provide valuable insights into how AI can enhance communication strategies within Extension Services.

PRESENTER: David Warren & Mark Locklear

4:45 - 5:00 p.m. ACE C&A Presentation & Wrap up of Day