The Human Advantage: Navigating the Path to
Learning in an AI World
Join the Education Alliance for a conversation about preparing West Virginia students for an AI-enabled future while keeping teaching at the center. Special Guests Dr. David Wiley, Chief Academic AI Officer at Marshall University, and Laura Presley, 2027 State Teacher of the Year.
Meet Our Sponsors
Together, this year’s EDTalks speakers, Dr. Wiley and Ms. Presley, bring complementary perspectives from the forefront of AI innovation to today's classroom realities, showing how West Virginia can prepare students to learn, lead, and thrive in an AI-driven world.
Dr. David Wiley
Chief Academic AI Officer, Marshall University
Dr. David Wiley is a nationally recognized education innovator and Marshall University's inaugural Chief Academic AI Officer. A pioneer in open education and co-founder of Lumen Learning, he has dedicated his career to making learning more accessible, meaningful and effective. His groundbreaking work has been featured in The New York Times, TIME, Forbes, WIRED, MIT Technology Review, NPR, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Recognized by Fast Company as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business, Dr. Wiley explores how artificial intelligence can transform teaching and learning while preserving the creativity, critical thinking, and human connections essential to student success.
Laura Presley
2027 West Virginia Teacher of the Year, Princeton Senior High School
Laura Presley is a National Board Certified English teacher at Princeton Senior High School in Mercer County and West Virginia's 2027 Teacher of the Year. A passionate advocate for student engagement and literacy, she serves as English department chair, mentors fellow educators, and creates innovative learning experiences that connect students to the world beyond the classroom. Her commitment to empowering students and strengthening the teaching profession brings an important classroom perspective to the future of education.