Dr. Chelsie Dubay has been named the East Tennessee State University College of Business and Technology's (CBAT) Eastman Chair of Leadership, where she will help guide AI initiatives and strengthen relationships with industry partners.

Born out of a $1,000,000 investment by the Eastman Chemical Company in 2002, the endowed chair serves as a public-facing role with duties including:

  • Exploring ways that ETSU and CBAT educational programs can better meet the workforce needs of industry partners
  • Developing and supporting programming and activities towards ethical and meaningful AI adoption
  • Strengthening engagement and alignment among ETSU, CBAT, Eastman and other industry partners
  • Connecting faculty, students, alumni and external partners to new opportunities

"The college has recognized the importance of AI and its impact across disciplines for several years now, but what's new is people's understanding of what these technologies mean for them professionally, in workforce development and in learning environments," said Dubay. "It's being able to recognize the solutions where it would work well, as well as the solutions where it may not work well."

Who is Dr. Chelsie Dubay?

Dubay will draw on her years of hands-on experience to navigate her new role. Her career has taken her from helpdesk technician, student success coordinator, director of instructional design and assistant professorship, as this unique background has provided different perspectives to draw from.

"To me, this position is a recognition of all the times I've been on the ground and worked hard through the non-traditional route," said Dubay. "I want people to feel empowered, that they can do whatever they set their heart out to do."

Technical skills can get you far, but for Dubay, her special talent has been the skill of translator. By listening carefully and finding ways to connect the unique needs of students, industry leaders, alumni, faculty and staff, she can connect pathways between these groups. That skill will be especially important in the role of finding meaningful ways to evaluate and incorporate AI within CBAT, ensuring students are prepared for success in their careers.

"Making something better often includes navigating spaces that are unfamiliar or uncharted, and I want to make sure that our programs give people the opportunity for that exploration," said Dubay. "I'm here to empower students to make them feel more informed so that they can make the best decision for themselves in the space we're currently navigating."

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