Clark, Amazon Web Services convene inaugural AI Agents Academy

Clark University, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), convened more than 400 leaders from over 100 universities, healthcare organizations, foundations, and nonprofits for an inaugural AI Agents Academy in downtown Worcester on Tuesday, August 18. The national forum explored how AI agents are transforming mission-driven organizations.   

The academy brought together advancement leaders, nonprofit executives, technologists, and institutional decision-makers from across the country to explore how AI is reshaping fundraising, alumni engagement, operations, communications, and organizational design.

Participants engaged in day-long discussions that involved case studies, demonstrations, and hands-on learning exercises focused on the opportunities and challenges presented by AI Agents; sessions explored human + AI organizational design, fundraising, advancement operations, workflow automation, governance, ethics, institutional risk, and practical roadmaps for AI adoption.

“Universities and nonprofits have a unique opportunity, and responsibility, to shape how artificial intelligence is adopted in ways that reinforce trust, human connection, and institutional values,” said Clark President David Fithian. “The AI Agents Academy reflects Clark University’s commitment to convening leaders around one of the defining challenges and opportunities of our time. By learning from one another and sharing practical approaches, we can ensure AI strengthens the people, relationships, and missions that define our institutions.”