When Aubrey Ide ’27 was a first-year student at Lehigh, she recalls the use of artificial intelligence (AI) not being welcome in her classes. “It was frowned upon,” Ide said. “You would get in trouble for using AI.” Now, just two years later, she found herself thanking Ozias Moore, associate professor of management, for integrating AI in his Leadership in Organizations (MGT 243) course. Leadership in Organizations has been taught at Lehigh for six years, created because recruiters said Lehigh students need more than an intro course in organizational behavior, which was the only related course offered at the time, according to Moore. He said recruiters expected students to enter organizations prepared to lead, manage and motivate teams. For the Fall 2025 semester, Moore made a major update to the course—he added an AI component. Changing Course When Moore thinks about possible changes to his courses, he often refers to a report compiled by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). “It’s the leading organization that provides best practices and thought leadership for business schools,” Moore said. Among the report’s findings is something Moore has been keeping an eye on himself—student interest in hands-on AI classroom experiences. Students not only want to know how to leverage AI for themselves, he said, but also how they can apply it in their careers. He noted the data reflects much of Provost Nathan Urban’s fall “Becoming AI-Ready” email to students, faculty and staff surrounding AI use as a tool for students. One main takeaway from the revamped course is students completing the Microsoft and LinkedIn Professional Certification in AI for Managers program through LinkedIn Learning. The certification not only shows employers students have current training in how to use AI in their industry as it rapidly develops, but it also sets Lehigh students apart from other job applicants. Eventually, Moore expects other AI and tech companies to develop their own certifications and employers to require certifications for many job applicants. For now, the certification keeps Lehigh students competitive in an evolving market. He stressed that it’s not a course completion certificate. It’s an industry-recognized credential and something students can add to their resumes and LinkedIn profiles as well as reference in job interviews. Moore’s own research on AI literacy examines how trust and AI literacy shape effective human-AI team collaboration—insights that inform his approach to preparing students for AI-integrated workplaces. Another major aspect of the course is a student-created, personalized 12-month leadership “INITIALLY, A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS TOOK IT AS SOMETHING THAT THEY VIEWED AS THIS NEGATIVE, CHEATING TOOL, AND PEOPLE DIDN’T SEE THE STRATEGIC NEED FOR IT.” —Ozias Moore, associate professor of management Ozias Moore, associate professor of management, interacts with students during his Leadership in Organizations course. Adding AI to the Classroom Professor Ozias Moore used a GMAC report to bring AI into his management and leadership course. By Stephen Gross CHRISTA NEU
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