The University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce that John Thompson has been named Innovator in Residence Fellow for 2026. In this role, Thompson will work closely with center leaders and teams to advance the university’s work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, learning design, and workforce-relevant education.
The Innovator in Residence Fellowship brings faculty innovators into close partnership with center staff to explore emerging challenges and opportunities in higher education. Recent innovators have included professors Pete Bodary, School of Kinesiology; Liz Gerber, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and College of LSA; and Dr. Rajesh Mangrulkar, Medical School.
“John brings a rare combination of strategic clarity, creative energy, and deep understanding of how AI is reshaping learning and work,” said James DeVaney, associate vice provost for academic innovation and founding executive director of the Center for Academic Innovation. “We are excited to welcome him as a CAI Innovator in Residence Fellow and to collaborate closely as we continue to build high-impact, responsible AI-enabled learning experiences for learners and organizations around the world.”
Thompson is a lecturer at the U-M’s School of Information and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, where he teaches courses in AI and analytics leadership. Previously, Thompson served as the Global Head of AI at EY. He has more than 38 years of experience spanning data, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence. Before EY, his roles included executive partner at Gartner and the head of AI at CSL Behring and Dell Technologies.
During his 2026 residency, Thompson will collaborate with the center across three interconnected areas of focus, each designed to strengthen the university’s AI education and innovation portfolio.
Expanding non-credit AI course design and delivery
Thompson will partner with center staff to grow and refine the university’s portfolio of non-credit AI learning experiences. This work will emphasize identifying priority AI topics, shaping course concepts and learning outcomes, and supporting the design of cohesive, market-relevant offerings. The focus will be on creating high-value learning experiences that support AI fluency, practical application, and leadership, while aligning with the center’s broader credentialing and lifelong learning strategy.
Advancing short-form AI content through Michigan Online
The second area of focus will be developing short-form content in support of Michigan Online. Thompson will collaborate with the center’s content strategy and creative studios teams to ideate, plan, and produce accessible, high-quality content that helps learners understand and engage with Michigan Online’s AI-related offerings. This work will support increased visibility and stronger engagement with Michigan Online as it continues to grow as a central platform for the university’s digital learning ecosystem.
Piloting cohort-based and work-embedded learning with enterprise partners
Thompson will also collaborate with the center’s education solutions team to pilot team-based experiences for employees, utilizing Michigan Online to deliver learning relevant to individual roles throughout an organization. These pilots will explore how Michigan’s expertise in AI can translate into meaningful outcomes for organizations, including managers, emerging leaders, and executives.
“CAI has built an incredible ecosystem for translating academic and industry expertise into learning experiences that matter,” Thompson said. “I’m excited to join as an Innovator in Residence Fellow and to work alongside the CAI team on AI-focused initiatives that connect thoughtful design, practical application, and real impact for learners and organizations through Michigan Online.”To learn more about AI-related learning experiences available at Michigan Online, visit the Michigan Online Artificial Intelligence Collection. To learn more about Michigan Online solutions for organizations, visit the site’s Organizations page.
