From Farm to Future: How Betty Young is Revolutionizing Education with AI and Support from AI Owl

In the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio, a young Betty Young never imagined she'd become a pioneer in artificial intelligence education. 

Growing up on a 500-acre farm with her heavy equipment operator father and cosmetologist mother, college wasn't part of the plan. 

"Back then, unless you were going to be a teacher or a nurse, girls didn't go to college very much," Young reflects.

Her journey into higher education began at 28, sparked by a colleague's simple suggestion to get "a piece of paper" to advance at work.

A single mother to her daughter Shoshana, Young balanced classes at Washington Technical College with multiple jobs, including running a health club, pet store and even a tavern.

This early entrepreneurial spirit and determination would later define her leadership style. 

Starting with an associate’s degree in math and science, Young went on to earn multiple degrees: a bachelor's in business from Ohio University, a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, and a law degree. 

The 48-mile commute to Ohio University became a symbol of her persistence – a journey she made while working in sales and raising her daughter.

"I never worked just one job," Young says, a philosophy that carried her through roles as varied as college professor, business owner, and eventually college president. 

Her understanding of the transformative power of education fueled her.

In 2014, Young took the helm at Hocking College during a critical period. 

The institution was facing significant challenges: questionable enrollment practices, a 30% student loan default rate, and financial instability. 

Rather than playing it safe, Young implemented bold reforms: eight-week class terms, all-inclusive pricing that covered everything from textbooks to knife sets for culinary students, and even a controversial decision to start athletics programs, including football.

But it was her approach to artificial intelligence that truly set Hocking College apart. 

In early 2024, when ChatGPT was capturing headlines, Young took an unprecedented step: she dedicated 90 days to understanding AI's potential impact on education.

"I went to the board and told them that I felt this would have the same impact on us, both as an institution and more globally, that the PC had back in the day," she explains.

Under Young's leadership, Hocking College became an early adopter of enterprise-wide AI implementation. Rather than leaving AI adoption to individual faculty members, the college embraced a comprehensive strategy spanning operations, curriculum development, and student learning. 

They partnered with AI Owl to provide hands-on training for faculty and staff in small cohorts, aligning with the college's technical institute culture of practical, applied learning.

One of their most innovative approaches addresses a common challenge in higher education: student writing levels. 

Instead of banning AI, Hocking College uses it to help students evaluate and improve their writing. "We know that generally college students in the United States are writing at about a sixth-grade writing level," Young notes. Their program helps students incrementally improve their writing skills while using AI ethically.

Young's vision extends beyond just implementing technology. She emphasizes the importance of data quality in AI applications: "What data do we collect, how do we collect it, why do we collect it? Are we collecting the right data? Are we asking the right questions?" This systematic approach reflects her belief that successful AI implementation requires an understanding of responsible use.

The transformation at Hocking College under Young's leadership demonstrates how innovative thinking, combined with a deep understanding of student needs, can revolutionize education. Her journey from farm girl to AI pioneer embodies the very promise of education she champions: the ability to transform lives through learning and innovation.

As higher education grapples with AI's role in teaching and learning, Young's story offers valuable insights. Her approach – "try it, if it doesn't work, do something else" – has created a culture ready to embrace AI's potential while ensuring ethical implementation focused on student success.

"Everyone is different," Young says, reflecting on why she shares her story. "You never know which one of those stories might resonate with somebody who really needs to hear that this is something that you can do."