Biography

Dr. Szymon Machajewski translates AI's promise into institutional practice building the governance, infrastructure, and policy scaffolding that let colleges and universities adopt AI responsibly instead of reactively. As Director of Academic Enterprise Applications and Operations at the University of Illinois Chicago, he leads the Digital Learning Infrastructure group for a 34,000-student R1 institution. A previous role as Faculty Fellow for Teaching with AI Technology at a community college gives him a vantage point that spans research universities and open-access institutions, informing an approach to AI adoption built for the whole sector, not just the well-resourced end of it.

That broad perspective allowed him to be a voice in national AI policy. He sits on the EDSAFE AI Alliance Council and the SAFE AI Companions Task Force, chairs the EDUCAUSE Student Success Analytics Community Group Steering Committee, and has been selected for EDUCAUSE Horizon Report expert panels. His work consistently pushes past hype toward the harder questions: what should AI be allowed to do, for whom, and who is accountable when it gets it wrong.

His technical credibility isn't recent, it predates the generative AI wave by years. He was deploying applied AI (a 2017 hackathon-winning sentiment analysis project) and building recognized open-source edtech tools while most of higher ed was still debating whether "AI" belonged in a strategic plan. That builder's instinct now shows up in the AI Instructional Framework he created for designing AI-integrated courses, and in a body of writing spanning Inside Higher Ed, EDUCAUSE Review, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and a book that argues AI should train human judgment, not replace it.

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Books & Book Chapters

Machajewski, S. (2026). The Learn-It-All Educator: A Guidebook for Training Brains, Not Replacing Them with AI (Complete ed.). ISBN: 9798249845469

Print & OER versions available.  Companion site with AI Literacy worksheets, videos, and other resources.  Also available in the Polish, Danish, and Italian.

Machajewski, S. (2026). AI-Powered Student Support and Advising in Online Higher Education. In K. S. Ives, M. Cini, & R. Schroeder (Eds.), AI applications in online higher education administration: Strategies for maximizing returns and improving outcomes (Chapter 8). Routledge.

Machajewski, S. (2017). The Well-Played Class: A Case Study on How Gaming the System Motivates Students and Restores the Joy of Teaching. Data II Press. ISBN: 979-8197300003

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Journal Articles & Essays

Beyond model capability: The pedagogical singularity as institutional reorganization | The 'pedagogical singularity' is not the moment AI surpasses teachers, it is the point when an institution reorganizes its infrastructure and teaching around AI-mediated cognition as its default mode. The real lever for sustainable learning is not how much AI students use, but sequence: the order in which human effort and machine assistance enter a task.

Machajewski, S. (2026). Beyond model capability: The pedagogical singularity as institutional reorganization. Society and AI. ISSN 3142-7154.

GPS effect in Higher Ed | GPS delivers clear benefits: fewer wrong turns, real-time traffic information and safer travel. The tradeoff seemed reasonable because the gains were immediate and tangible, while the losses were subtle. AI presents a similar bargain. This time, the territory is not geography. It is knowledge itself.

Machajewski, S., & Harding, M. (2026). The GPS effect and higher education's cognitive capital. Education Technology Insights.

How AI Is Exploding Our Illusions of Rigor |  Inside Higher Ed — Opinion essay arguing that generative AI is exposing “illusions of rigor” in common academic practices and prompting a rethink of what rigor should mean in the AI era.

Machajewski, S. (2026, January 15). How AI is exploding our illusions of rigor. Inside Higher Ed.

From Know-It-All Expert to Learn-MOR Leader. | Where in your own leadership are you most trying to be the person who already knows, when your organization most needs you to be the person who is visibly learning?

Machajewski, S. (2026, June 2). From know-it-all expert to learn-MOR leader. MOR Associates.

AI Augments, Never Replaces: What the Hybrid Advising Co-Op Teaches Us About Building an Equitable Future for Student Support. UPCEA.

Machajewski, S. (2026, May 26). AI augments, never replaces: What the Hybrid Advising Co-Op teaches us about building an equitable future for student support. UPCEA.

Red light, yellow light, green light: What 1,187 faculty decided about AI in their classrooms | Faculty set clear, enforceable boundaries on GenAI use that balance academic integrity with student suppor.

Machajewski, S. (2026). Red light, yellow light, green light: What 1,187 faculty decided about AI in their classrooms. Community College Journal, 96(4), February/March 2026. 

AI in the Classroom: From Complex Texts to Engaging Learning Experiences, NotebookLM | Teaching-focused article on using Google NotebookLM to support learning from complex sources.

Machajewski, S. (2025). AI in the classroom: From complex texts to engaging learning experiences, NotebookLM. LearnTech Digest (University of Illinois Chicago).

The AI Revolution in Chess and Its Impact on Education | The transformation of chess through AI as a lens for learning design and implications for education and learning integrity.

Machajewski, S. (2024, November 15). The AI revolution in chess and its impact on education. EdTech Digest.

English 2.0: AI-Driven Language Transformation | Article exploring how AI may influence the position of English as a programming language for knowledge, and the downstream implications for education and communication.

Machajewski, S. (2024). English 2.0: AI-driven language transformation. EDUCAUSE Review.

AI Instructional Framework: A Comprehensive Approach to Learning with AI

Machajewski, S. (2024). AI Instructional Framework: A Comprehensive Approach to Learning with AI. University of Illinois Chicago. https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.26181374

A Framework for Student Success Analytics | Institutional framework describing core elements of student success analytics initiatives and a shared vocabulary for implementation.

Almond-Dannenbring, T., Easter, M., Feng, L., Guarcello, M., Ham, M., Machajewski, S., Maness, H., Miller, A., Mooney, S., & Moore, A. (2022). A framework for student success analytics. EDUCAUSE.

Discrimination in a Sea of Data: Exploring the Ethical Implications of Student Success Analytics | Co-authored analysis of equity and bias risks in student success analytics, with implications for responsible data and AI use.

Guarcello, M., Feng, L., Panahi, S., Machajewski, S., & Ham, M. (2021). Discrimination in a sea of data: Exploring the ethical implications of student success analytics. EDUCAUSE Review.

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Reports & Contributions in Expert Panels

2026 Future proofing human flourishing | The proposed pedagogical yardstick seeks to bridge the critical gap between rapid classroom AI deployment, learning science, and national data sovereignty

EDSAFE AI Alliance. (2026). Future proofing human flourishing: The case for a learning sciences benchmark for AI. 

2026 Guidelines for the responsible use of AI in STEM education research. Institute for Advancing Computing Education.

Smith, J. M., & McGill, M. M. (2026). Guidelines for the responsible use of AI in STEM education research: Protecting our participant communities and research integrity. Institute for Advancing Computing Education. https://iacomputinged.org/graiser

2026  S.A.F.E. by Design: Policy, Research, and Practice Recommendations for AI Companions in Education

EDSAFE AI Alliance. (2026, February 2). S.A.F.E. by Design: Policy, research, and practice recommendations for AI companions in education.

2025  2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report, Data Analytics Edition

Robert, J., Muscanell, N., Arnold, K., Machajewski, S., et al. (2025). 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Data Analytics Edition. EDUCAUSE. Expert panelist/contributor.

 2025  Higher Education Generative AI Readiness Assessment

EDUCAUSE. (2025, March 10). Higher education generative AI readiness assessment. Contributor.

2023  2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Action Plan: Generative AI

Robert, J., Machajewski, S., et al. (2023). 2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Action Plan: Generative AI. EDUCAUSE. Expert panelist/contributor.

2023  Envisioning How Data-Informed Colleges Will Redefine the Student Experience

White paper on how data-informed institutions can reshape the student experience.

Machajewski, S., Carpenter, R., Hermann, K., & Heiser, C. (2023). Envisioning how data-informed colleges will redefine the student experience. Anthology Education & Research Center.

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Featured Media

2024  Lessons Learned with Dr. Szymon Machajewski

OpenStax. (2024). Lessons learned with Dr. Szymon Machajewski. https://openstax.org/blog/learn-with-us-voices-part-ii

2024  “We’re All Using It”: Publishing Decisions Are Increasingly Aided by AI

Chronicle of Higher Education — Media coverage discussing AI’s role in academic publishing decisions. Role: Featured/expert voice.

The Chronicle of Higher Education. (2024). “We’re all using it”: Publishing decisions are increasingly aided by AI. Featured/expert voice.

2023  Advancing Opportunities for AI in Higher Education

Microsoft Education Blog — Microsoft piece highlighting work to advance AI opportunities in higher education, including collaboration with Anthology. Role: Featured collaborator.

Microsoft Education. (2023, October). Advancing opportunities for AI in higher education.

2023  The Role of AI in Higher Education: Interview with Dr. Szymon Machajewski

University of Illinois Chicago. (2023). The role of AI in higher education: Interview with Dr. Szymon Machajewski.

2017  Move Over, Mario: Professor Invents Game to Engage Students in Learning

Grand Valley State University. (2017). Move over, Mario: Professor invents game to engage students in learning. Grand Valley Magazine.

2012  How the Hybrid Classroom Found a Home at Grand Rapids

EdTech Magazine. (2012, November). How the hybrid classroom found a home at Grand Rapids. EdTech Magazine: Focus on Higher Education. Featured faculty pedagogical and technical innovator.

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Presentations & Talks

2025  The Next Frontier in Education: Agentic AI and the Future of Student Support

EDUCAUSE. (2025, October 28). The next frontier in education: Agentic AI and the future of student support [Conference session].

2024  Bicycle for the Mind: AI for Accessibility

Machajewski, S. (2024, March 14). Bicycle for the mind: AI for accessibility [Conference presentation video]. YouTube.

2024  Challenges and Opportunities of Generative AI in Teaching and Learning

Machajewski, S. (2024, December 18). Challenges and opportunities of generative AI in teaching and learning [Video]. YouTube.

2024  AI Automation for Academic Projects: No-Code Options — Perplexity.ai

Machajewski, S. (2024, September 11). AI automation for academic projects: No-code options (Perplexity.ai) [Video]. YouTube.

2024  Harnessing the Power of AI in Education

Anthology. (2024, April 3). Harnessing the power of AI in education [Webinar].

2023  Generative AI and Its Future @ UIC

UIC Leadership Retreat (Aug 20, 2023) — Expert panel on generative AI applications and implications for higher education.

Machajewski, S., et al. (2023, August 20). Generative AI and its future @ UIC [Panel video]. YouTube.

2023  Learn Ultra AI Design Assistant: Let Complexity Work For You from CLI to GUI

Machajewski, S. (2023, December 18). Learn Ultra AI design assistant: Let complexity work for you from CLI to GUI [Video]. YouTube.

2021  Digital Literacy & AI: Artificial Intelligence and Disruptive Innovation in Education

Machajewski, S. (2021, December 16). Digital literacy & AI: Artificial intelligence and disruptive innovation in education [Webinar video]. YouTube.

2020  Perspectives on AI Strategy: Columbia, Wharton Online, University of Illinois at Chicago

Machajewski, S. (2020, July 16). Perspectives on AI strategy: Columbia, Wharton Online, University of Illinois at Chicago [Panel video]. YouTube.

2016  Immersive Feedback Environments for Learning and Growth

Machajewski, S. (2016). Immersive feedback environments for learning and growth [TEDx talk]. TED.

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Additional Resources

Google Scholar Profile:
scholar.google.com/citations?user=a-FePHAAAAAJ