Dear alumni & friends,
Stepping into the role of Interim Dean this summer is incredibly exciting, but it also comes at a dynamic — and, frankly, complex — moment for both the College of Letters & Science and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. As I look ahead, I want to talk directly about a topic I know is on many of your minds: the potential, but also the concerns and skepticism, surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). Whether you are an alumnus, a parent or a friend of L&S, you are likely wondering how these fast-moving technologies impact the way we teach, how we conduct research and what they mean for our students’ careers after graduation.
We are also on the cusp of a major structural milestone. On July 1, the university will officially launch the new, standalone College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence (CAI). This is the culmination of a journey that began back in Fall 2019, when the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) was created under the leadership of the late Chancellor Rebecca Blank — uniting the Departments of Computer Sciences and Statistics and the Information School as a new division within L&S. While CAI is becoming its own college, our enduring bond remains unbroken. L&S students will continue to take CAI classes, collaborate on research and pursue double majors across our colleges. At the same time, CAI students may continue to rely on L&S for essential courses to ensure their technical expertise remains grounded in a broad liberal arts and sciences foundation.
But a transition like this naturally raises a very practical question: Where does this leave L&S? My answer is simple: It makes what we do here more vital than ever. It means we are going to approach AI “the Badger way,” with deep curiosity, rigorous critical analysis and an unwavering commitment to the public good.
I know there is deep, valid skepticism about AI’s impact on society. But I want to reassure you that L&S students are not and will not be passive consumers of these tools. Instead, they will shape how these technologies are developed and deployed. Our historic commitment to “continual and fearless sifting and winnowing” — to testing assumptions and seeking truth — uniquely positions us to lead this moment. Because of our foundation, L&S students do not just learn how a piece of technology works; they examine its evolution, question its ethics and analyze its profound social impacts.
L&S teaches skills that are completely “un-AI-able.” We show students how to think critically, solve problems creatively and communicate with clarity. These are the exact qualities employers are actively seeking, and in a world full of algorithms, we ensure that our graduates are ready to place the human perspective at the center of every solution.
This is a mission I have lived every day during my 25 years on campus. My own research focuses on the social impacts and social shaping of information technologies, so this is more than an academic talking point for me. I am also currently co-chairing the campuswide AI Readiness and Competency Working Group. We are actively thinking through how these technologies affect our classrooms and our world-class research enterprise, ensuring that UW–Madison leads while protecting our academic core.
But we cannot do this work in a vacuum. I want to hear directly from you. Please take a moment to visit go.wisc.edu/LSAISurvey26 to share your thoughts, your concerns and your insights on how L&S can best shape this moment.
I am profoundly grateful to work alongside all of you who make the College of Letters & Science such a vibrant community and the heart of this great university. Thank you for your continued support of L&S, and I look forward to navigating this next chapter together.
On, Wisconsin!
Kristin R. Eschenfelder
Interim Dean, College of Letters & Science
Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Information Science
University of Wisconsin–Madison