What happens when higher education moves faster than we have time to think? In this episode of Centering Centers, we talk with Adam Barger about curiosity, agency, digital fluency, and what it means to keep humans at the center of conversations about AI. Adam reflects on why higher education can sometimes approach AI from a “hunger mindset,” rushing toward new tools and possibilities before fully considering what we actually need from them. Throughout the conversation, we explore curiosity as a deeply human trait, the role of agency in teaching and learning, and why conversations about AI should include wisdom, character, relationships, and perspective-taking alongside technical skills. We also talk about educational development, communities of practice, and the value of creating spaces where faculty can wrestle with difficult questions together.

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