ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington Chancellor Gary Liguori announced this week that Chung-Nan Tzou, assistant teaching professor of computer science, has been named to fill the new role of artificial intelligence (AI) coordinator, effective June 1.
“I am confident that Chung-Nan will help us advance Abington’s work at the intersection of AI and student success,” Liguori said. “With talented employees like Chung-Nan and the creativity of our faculty and staff, Abington is well-positioned to explore and manage these opportunities thoughtfully, collaboratively and in ways that benefit our students and the community.”
Tzou will assist faculty in integrating AI literacy into key introductory and foundational courses — the courses that help prepare students for more advanced work — in coordination with academic leadership and instructional designers.
“I plan to collaborate with our academic division heads, the Office of Information Technology, and Career and Professional Development to identify opportunities for AI integration in gateway courses and experiential learning,” he said.
To support these efforts, Tzou and Career and Professional Development staff will collaborate in two key areas:
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AI-focused career-readiness programming.
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AI-related learning through industry and community partnerships.
“My goal is to help ensure that our students are prepared for an increasingly AI-driven workforce while promoting responsible and ethical use of these technologies,” Tzou continued. “I look forward to acting as Abington’s academic liaison with the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost to help connect Abington’s efforts with broader University initiatives and conversations around AI in higher education.”
At Abington, Tzou will also advise and serve as a thought partner for AI-enabled teaching, learning and academic operations, and he will convene a faculty advisory group.
The new AI coordinator role at Abington is a strategic investment aimed at navigating emerging technologies and preparing students and the campus to thrive in a future shaped by artificial intelligence. It also supports the Abington Experience, a roadmap that aims to take students from campus to career by building the in-demand skills and confidence proven to increase job offers, salaries and lifelong success.
Tzou joined Abington in 2021 and teaches a wide array of mathematics courses. He earned his doctorate in mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after obtaining master’s and bachelor’s degrees from National Taiwan University and National Chung-Cheng University, both in mathematics.
About Penn State Abington
Penn State Abington, home to nearly 3,000 students and just minutes from Philadelphia, offers 26 four-year majors and 14 NCAA Division III athletics teams. The Abington Experience launches students from campus to career through internships, leadership development, short-term academic travel and faculty-led research. Penn State Abington — where the city’s energy meets the best of the suburbs.