Watch On Demand
UCF isn’t reaching more students by doing more outreach. They’re reaching them by being far more precise. In this session, Tyler Walsh explains how using conversational AI like a scalpel, upstream and signal-driven, changed what work mattered and when.
What you’ll learn
How UCF uses conversational AI as a precision tool—not a broadcast channel
What “working upstream” actually looks like in practice, and why it enables more precise outreach
How real conversation signals shape which students are contacted, when, and how
How a more surgical approach changed staff focus and reduced reactive work
Tyler Walsh
Director, Center for
Higher Education Innovation
Tyler Walsh is the Director of the Center for Higher Education Innovation (CHEI) at the University of Central Florida, where he leads initiatives focused on advancing student success, well-being, and institutional innovation. At CHEI, Tyler provides strategic leadership and project management across campus and with national partners, helping UCF design, test, and scale evidence-based approaches to supporting students at critical moments in their journey.
Prior to UCF, Tyler served as a Senior Program Advisor at the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) at Georgia State University, where he supported multi-institutional efforts to improve student outcomes and reduce equity gaps. His work includes research and applied practice around the use of conversational AI and chatbots to strengthen student engagement and academic success.
