AI Advisory Board

Metropolitan State University of Denver proudly announces the launch of its AI Advisory Board, a distinguished council of industry experts, innovators, and thought leaders dedicated to shaping the University’s strategy in the era of artificial intelligence. This executive board reinforces MSU Denver’s commitment to providing equitable, high-quality education that prepares students for meaningful careers and lives beyond the classroom. Its formation marks a strategic milestone in strengthening the connection between academia and the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The board will be co-led by Dr. Samuel Jay, Executive Director of Digital Learning, and Dr. Ethan Waples, Interim Dean of the College of Business.

Purpose and Mission

The MSU Denver AI Advisory Board provides the University with grounded, real-world insight into how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, industry, and the competencies required for long-term success. Board members bring direct experience with where AI is advancing, where it is falling short, and how these shifts may shape MSU Denver’s academic programs and institutional practice. This includes guidance on how AI is changing the way people consume information, build knowledge, solve problems, and make decisions, as well as how teaching may need to evolve to prepare students for AI-mediated learning environments.

The Board also advises on how AI can strengthen MSU Denver’s internal operations by streamlining workflows, reducing friction in accessing accurate information, improving cybersecurity and data protection measures, enhancing decision-making, and supporting employees with more efficient digital tools. Its purpose is to offer informed, ethical, and actionable guidance that helps MSU Denver integrate AI responsibly across teaching, learning, and operations while remaining aligned with the University’s mission.

Board Impact

The AI Advisory Board supports MSU Denver in four key areas:

Preparing Students: Aligning academic curricula and experiential learning opportunities with industry needs so graduates are ready to thrive in AI-influenced careers.
Strengthening Operations: Advising on the strategic use of AI across university functions – including administration, finance, HR, and student support – to improve workflows, reduce friction in accessing accurate information, and support more efficient decision-making.
Advancing Ethical AI: Championing responsible, transparent AI adoption that centers human judgment, opportunity, and MSU Denver’s equity-driven mission.
Building Partnerships: Connecting the University with businesses, civic organizations, and thought leaders to expand innovation initiatives and collaborative opportunities.

Meeting Format

The AI Advisory Board convenes quarterly for 90-minute sessions, typically in a virtual or hybrid format to ensure active participation from leaders across industries. Meetings feature updates on MSU Denver’s strategic AI initiatives, industry-led analyses of emerging trends, focused discussions on operational or educational challenges, and open forums for strategic guidance.

AI Advisory Board meetings are open to the campus community. Individuals who are not Board members are welcome to attend as observers. To maintain clarity and focus in the discussion, observers do not participate unless invited to do so by the co-chairs. Those interested in listening in may request access by emailing [email protected].

MSU Denver will publish public meeting summaries on this website following each session.

Meeting Expectations

Advisory Board members are expected to provide candid, actionable insights and constructive critiques, sharing real-world AI applications and lessons learned from their industries. Members also leverage their networks to connect MSU Denver with partnerships and resources that strengthen the University’s AI strategy. In doing so, Board members serve as essential bridges between the University and the broader community, helping MSU Denver lead in responsible AI innovation.

Board Members

Below are the inaugural members of the MSU Denver AI Advisory Board. Each brings a unique expertise to help MSU Denver integrate AI in transformative, ethical ways. Members were invited based on their demonstrated leadership within their industries, their ability to translate emerging technological shifts into practical insight, and their commitment to advancing opportunity and workforce readiness in Colorado. Taken together, this group provides MSU Denver with a diverse, forward-looking perspective on the future of AI in education, work, and society.

Scott Love

CEO & Founder, Blue Raven

Scott Love is the CEO and founder of Blue Raven, a Denver-based technology leadership and AI consulting. He brings decades of experience from Silicon Valley -including roles at Apple and Adobe- and led two service businesses to the Inc. 5000 list.

Beginning his career as an English teacher, Scott has a passion for mentorship and is a frequent tech speaker and author. A Denver native deeply connected to Colorado’s business community, he is committed to helping organizations leverage technology and AI to work smarter and more collaboratively.

Crystal Street

Head of Strategic Communications, Bast AI

Crystal Street leads strategic communications at Bast AI, a company specializing in transparent, explainable AI solutions. She is a seasoned documentary photojournalist-turned-technologist with over two decades of experience in storytelling, media, and technology leadership.

A strong advocate for human-centered innovation, she brings a uniquely accessible perspective to AI ethics and safety, bridging the gap between complex technology and the communities it impacts.

Alex Weinert

Chief Product Officer, Semperis

Alex Weinert is the Chief Product Officer at Semperis, an industry-leading cybersecurity firm focused on AI-powered identity security and cyber resilience. A globally recognized authority on digital identity protection, Alex previously served as Microsoft’s Vice President of Identity Security, where he led teams safeguarding billions of users and developing core authentication technologies.

In his role at Semperis, he drives product strategy and innovation to help organizations prepare for and rapidly respond to cyberthreats. His deep expertise in identity management, security, and AI informs the board’s work in preparing students for careers at the intersection of technology and trust.

Jeff Connors

Engineering Director, Communications & Power Industries

Jeff Connors is the Site Director at Communications & Power Industries (CPI), a Colorado-based aerospace engineering firm known for designing and manufacturing advanced composite structures for spacecraft, aircraft, and unmanned systems. He oversees technical teams and R&D initiatives at CPI, leveraging a strong background in mechanical and systems engineering.

By bringing insights from the aerospace and defense sector, he helps the board understand how AI and automation can drive innovation in engineering, manufacturing, and beyond.

Todd Madison

English Teacher, Denver East High School

Todd Madison is an educator at Denver East High School, where he teaches English. A veteran teacher, Todd provides the AI Advisory Board with a crucial K-12 perspective on how AI is impacting education and student learning. He is committed to fostering critical thinking and ethical literacy in the classroom, ensuring that tools like AI do not replace student creativity and integrity.

Todd’s on-the-ground experience with today’s learners helps MSU Denver align its AI initiatives with the needs and expectations of incoming students and the broader community.

Michelle Baum

Co-Founder and COO, The Nova Method

Michelle Baum is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Nova Method, an audience-first, AI-driven marketing and communications firm based in Denver. She is a trusted advisor with a reputation for building brand value and guiding organizations through high-stakes challenges such as turnarounds, acquisitions, and crises. Michelle’s diverse background includes leading her own PR agency, corporate communications roles, and a decade as a faculty member at MSU Denver, where she oversaw the public relations program and earned the PRSA Colorado Mentor of the Year award.

Her blend of industry and academic expertise in strategic communication helps the board advance ethical AI usage and public trust in technology initiatives.

Mike Oliphant, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, University of Colorado-Anschutz

Dr. Mike Oliphant is a cancer biologist and Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He co-leads a breast cancer research lab and investigates how early genomic alterations and metabolic reprogramming drive breast cancer development and treatment resistance. His recent findings – from identifying tumor-like genetic changes in pre-cancerous tissue to uncovering how certain metabolic shifts enable therapy resistance – have earned him a Rising Star Endowed Chair at the CU Cancer Center. Mike’s expertise in data-driven biomedical research and emerging AI-driven lab techniques provides invaluable insight into the ethical and effective use of AI in science and healthcare.

Nasim Mansurov

Senior Vice President of Information Systems, Stonebridge Companies

Nasim Mansurov is the Senior Vice President of Information Systems at Stonebridge Companies, a leading hotel development and hospitality management firm. With over 20 years of top-level IT management experience, he oversees all aspects of Stonebridge’s technology strategy and infrastructure, from enterprise software (ERP systems) to telecommunications and data centers. Nasim is responsible for evaluating new technologies (including AI solutions) to improve operational efficiency and guest experiences across a nationwide portfolio of hotels.

Fluent in four languages and adept in global IT best practices, he offers the board a broad industry perspective on digital transformation and the human considerations of implementing AI in large organizations.

Jim Chaffee

Associate Professor, Business Analytics, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa

Jim Chaffee is an Associate Professor of Business Analytics and the Executive Director of Learning Innovation & Technology at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. He has over 30 years of leadership experience in higher education technology, including service as a Chief Information Officer and as a faculty member in education and computer science.

An expert in academic technology and data analytics, Jim is co-author of one of the first textbooks on the ethical use of AI in business – a groundbreaking work examining how AI is applied in industry and its societal implications. His blend of technical expertise and educational insight helps the board ensure that MSU Denver’s AI strategies are grounded in sound pedagogy and ethical considerations.