Ashley McGraw to Present at 2026 NYAPPA Winter Conference on AI in Higher Education

Sara Berg, CPHC, Fitwel Ambassador; Roxanne Button, AIA, CSI/CCS, LEED/WELL/LF Accredited; and Madeline Silva, NCIDQ, LEED GA, will co-present alongside David Furney, Dean of Health & Technology at Onondaga Community College, at the NYAPPA Winter 2026 Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. Their session, AI in Higher Education – A Vision of a Changing Landscape, will take place on Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00 AM.

The presentation will explore how generative AI is impacting the higher education landscape—from its current use in teaching and learning strategies to a broader vision of the classroom of the future through the lens of architecture and facility planning. The presentation will examine how this rapidly evolving technology is being used today, highlight student and faculty perspectives on GenAI, and review emerging university policy guidelines. The team will also share hypotheses for how AI may shape the spatial and operational future of higher education environments.

Designers from Ashley McGraw Architects and the Dean of Health & Technology at Onondaga Community College will present findings from their collaborative research, including surveys and interviews, and will guide participants in an active discussion about how generative AI might impact both pedagogical methods and the physical spaces where learning occurs. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of the current status of GenAI, curiosity about what lies ahead, and practical insight for evaluating AI’s implications for the future of higher education.

Learning objectives include:

  • Analyze current and future uses of generative AI for teaching and learning at colleges and universities.

  • Explore how generative AI adaptations will change educational outlooks and impact the future of higher education.

  • Compare current student and faculty perspectives towards AI in higher education and university policies regarding its use in teaching and learning.

  • Predict possible spatial implications of AI use on the design of student and learning spaces within Higher Education facilities and analyze how AI may change campuses into the future.

About NYAPPA
The New York Chapter of APPA connects leaders in educational facilities management across New York State for knowledge sharing, networking, and professional development. The NYAPPA 2026 Winter Conference will take place February 3-4, 2026 at the Saratoga Hilton.

Derek Goodroe