In this episode of DeanCast, we sit down with Tucker Peters ’28, a finance and government double major and president of William & Mary’s AI Club. Tucker shares how an investment in Virgin Galactic when he was in 8th grade sparked his interest in markets, how leadership in Model UN shaped his approach to incentives and engagement, and why he believes curiosity is the most important skill students can cultivate today.

From scaling a market trading algorithm using DeepQ networks to teaching himself full-stack development, Tucker discusses the power of interdisciplinary thinking in the age of AI. He reflects on the mentors who challenged him to “adapt or die,” the value of failure as a pathway to growth, and how the AI Club is expanding research and professional opportunities for students across campus.

Tune in for a conversation about risk, resilience, and building meaningful impact at the intersection of finance, government, and AI.

In this episode of DeanCast, Associate Professor of Data Science Dr. Cristiano Fanelli explores what happens when artificial intelligence meets the deepest questions in physics. Describing himself as a “centaur”—half physicist, half data scientist—Fanelli shares his journey from contributing to the Higgs boson discovery to leading cutting-edge research that uses AI to probe the origins of mass and search for dark matter. He explains why 99% of the mass of ordinary matter does not come from the Higgs mechanism, but from the dynamic energy of the strong force inside protons and neutrons, and how modern machine learning tools are transforming the way scientists investigate these fundamental mysteries.

Fanelli also discusses how AI-assisted experimental design, real-time detector control, and emerging physics-specific foundation models are reshaping large-scale experiments at facilities like Jefferson Lab and the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider. From NSF- and DOE-funded research to collaborations with national labs and industry partners, his work highlights how the fusion of physics and AI is not only advancing our understanding of the universe, but also shaping the future of technology and scientific discovery.

In this episode of DeanCast, we sit down with Dr. Justin Stevens, Associate Professor of Physics and spokesperson for the international GlueX Collaboration. Justin explains how GlueX uses high-energy photon beams to probe the strong nuclear force, search for exotic hadrons, and reveal new structures of quarks and gluons. He also shares how large-scale, international collaborations drive discovery and how collaborations with other William & Mary departments are transforming particle identification and detector simulation. The conversation highlights the powerful partnership between William & Mary and Jefferson Lab, which provides students extraordinary access to world-class research.

In this episode of DeanCast, we sit down with Andrew Yowell, a sophomore at William & Mary studying economics and serving as Vice President of the AI Club. Andrew shares how a spirit of curiosity and a willingness to “learn by doing” have shaped his journey - from implementing accessible AI tools in commercial real estate to helping build one of W&M's fastest growing student organizations. 

Andrew discusses the link between economics and machine learning, the challenges of leading an AI Club with a diverse level of AI fluency, and the importance of lowering the barrier to entry for those new to using AI. He also reflects on the influence of mentors, the balance between AI use and critical thinking, and his evolving interests in applying AI for societal benefit. This conversation highlights how students are taking the lead in shaping William and Mary's AI culture and preparing for a future where AI fluency is essential.

In this episode of DeanCast, we sit down with Professor Evgenia Smirni, Chair of William & Mary’s Department of Computer Science, to explore the department’s extraordinary rise in national prominence. From a dramatic 28-place leap in the U.S. News & World Report rankings to groundbreaking faculty hires in AI, cybersecurity, and robotics, Evgenia shares how strategic growth, innovative teaching, and student excellence are redefining computing at William & Mary. Hear how the department balances cutting-edge research with the university’s hallmark personalized approach — preparing graduates not just to keep pace with the AI revolution, but to lead it.

In this episode of DeanCast, Dean Schmidt sits down with Dr. Dan Runfola, Chair of Data Science at William & Mary, to explore the fascinating intersection of satellites, artificial intelligence, and human well-being. From mapping poverty from space to modeling thousands of online personalities, Dan’s work asks a powerful question: what makes humans thrive?They discuss how a childhood art competition led to a lifelong curiosity about technology, why solving climate change requires understanding people as much as the planet, and how global satellite data can help predict, and ideally prevent,human crises. Dan also shares how his GeoLab empowers undergraduates to lead real-world projects and how William & Mary is preparing students for the era of generative AI through innovative coursework and a new minor in AI.

In this episode of DeanCast, we sit down with Dr. Denys Poshyvanyk, Chancellor Professor of Computer Science at William & Mary, whose pioneering research bridges AI and software engineering. From early skepticism about machine learning to the dawn of self-repairing code, Denys shares how AI is transforming how developers debug, test, and trust their tools and the future of teaching computer science in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.