Alliance for Catholic Education
Notre Dame, IN – The Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) at the University of Notre Dame is excited to announce that Father Nate Wills, CSC, Ph.D., will serve as a keynote speaker at the 2025 National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Convention in Orlando, Florida. His keynote, titled “Artificial Intelligence and Catholic Education: Helpful, Harmful, or Hopeful?”, will be delivered on Thursday, April 24, from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM.
Fr. Wills is a faculty member in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program and Director of Blended Learning Initiatives in the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). His scholarship focuses on the effective integration of technology in Catholic schools, with a particular emphasis on the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence and its potential to enhance personalized learning while remaining rooted in the Gospel.
“In a time of rapid technological advancement, Catholic educators are called to lead with both courage and conscience,” said Fr. Wills. “This moment invites us to consider how AI can serve—not replace—the human dignity and formation at the heart of Catholic education.”
Fr. Wills’s address will explore the promise and perils of artificial intelligence in K-12 Catholic schools, examining how AI tools can be thoughtfully implemented to support educators, advance student learning, and animate the mission of Catholic schools across the country.
The NCEA 2025 Convention, themed “Be the Light,” will gather thousands of Catholic school educators and leaders from across the nation to collaborate, grow in faith, and share strategies for excellence in Catholic education. The full schedule is available at ncea.org/NCEA2025.
About the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE)
Founded in 1993, the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame works to sustain, strengthen, and transform Catholic schools. ACE forms teachers and leaders; develops and disseminates innovative tools and research to integrate academic excellence and spiritual growth; and enhances financial accessibility and operational vitality to ensure that all children—especially those in historically marginalized communities—have the opportunity to experience the gift of an excellent Catholic education. ACE annually serves more than 300 schools and 250,000 students in over 40 states.
To learn more, visit https://ace.nd.edu.
About the Institute for Educational Initiatives
Founded in 1996, the Institute for Educational Initiatives consists of more than two dozen initiatives that strive to improve education for all youth, particularly the disadvantaged, paying special, though not exclusive, attention to Catholic schools. Through research, the formation of teachers and leaders, and direct service to educational systems, the IEI’s scholars and practitioners pursue interdisciplinary collaborations to better understand and improve PK-12 education both in the United States and internationally.
For more information about the IEI and its initiatives, visit https://iei.nd.edu.