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Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is having significant impacts across society, and academia is no exception. To help the Queen’s community navigate this new reality, the university has created the position of special advisor, generative AI.

“Given how quickly this field is evolving, it is imperative for Queen’s to be able to provide guidance to faculty, staff, and students as new technological developments and best practices continue to emerge,” says Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans. “This new advisory position will help us harness the potential of AI in an ethical and effective manner.”

The role will be filled by Eleftherios (Terry) Soleas, who will advise the provost on this pressing topic. Since the emergence of generative AI, Dr. Soleas has been contributing to national and international conversations about the ethical, professional, and educational use of the technology in postsecondary and professional learning contexts.

Dr. Soleas co-chairs a national subcommittee on generative AI under the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, focused on continuing professional development. He also serves on the University Health Network’s Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, contributing to institutional strategy on AI integration. He has authored 10 policies related to the use of artificial intelligence in medical and higher education settings, and he has delivered invited presentations on the educational use of AI, ethics, and professionalism at Queen’s, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and at national academic meetings.

Dr. Soleas earned a PhD from the Queen’s Faculty of Education and has served as the director of Continuing Professional Development in Queen’s Health Sciences since 2018, and as a term adjunct professor since 2015.

“Generative AI has enormous potential to support and enhance the work of the university, but we need to make sure we’re using it responsibly and in a way that is in line with our institutional values,” says Dr. Soleas. “I look forward to working with people from across Queen’s to understand how we’re already successfully using generative AI, identifying future opportunities for embedding it in our work, and finding ways to make sure we’re keeping any possible downsides of it in check.”

In this role, Dr. Soleas will collaborate across the university to support decision making, implementation, and risk management related to the technology. He will also work to align use of generative AI with the university’s Strategic Artificial Intelligence Framework as well as the broader Queen’s Strategy. And he will play a key role in advising the Queen’s Digital Planning Committee and leading the implementation of an AI Centre of Excellence.

Learn more on the Queen’s AI website.