The College 1020 Podcast: Episode 9 with UT’s Dr. Julie Schell, Director of Academic Technology

If you’re paying attention to the future of learning and generative AI, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the name Julie Schell. A nationally recognized field expert and educational researcher for the University of Texas at Austin, she’s at the center of the conversation about what AI actually means for higher education—not in theory, but in practice.

Recently named a 2026 Top 25 Higher Ed Influencer to Follow and one of the Top 50 Voices to Follow in Education, Schell isn’t just talking about the future of learning—she’s building it. One of her biggest innovations? UT SAGE—an AI-powered tutor platform and instructional design agent to support both students and instructors.