AI at Lindner
Empowering learners to use AI in solving real-world problems.
Lindner Director of AI Strategy Jeffrey Shaffer instructs Fifth Third Bank employees during a private generative AI workshop.
Through collaboration between the Center for Business Analytics and AI and Lindner’s department of operations, business analytics, and information systems (OBAIS), AI offerings at Lindner serve four key functions and stakeholders:
- Students: Curricular innovation that empowers business problem solvers by embedding relevant AI content into Lindner courses and programs.
- Business partners: Training and partnerships that build and deepen AI expertise via the Center for Business Analytics and AI (see below).
- Incubator: AI “starter kits” for research, applications and product development.
- Lindner expertise: AI training and upskilling opportunities for Lindner faculty and staff.
Meet the Director
Jeffrey A. Shaffer is the Director of AI Strategy, the Kirk and Jacki Perry Professor of Analytics and an Assistant Professor-Educator at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.
Shaffer was awarded the 2026 Ronald J. Dornoff Fellow of Teaching Excellence and the 2025 Michael L. Dean Excellence in Classroom Education and Learning Graduate Teaching Award, as well as the 2016 and 2021 Adjunct Faculty of the Year awards for Lindner's OBAIS department.
He is an active speaker at conferences, symposiums, universities and corporate training programs on the topics of data visualization, data analytics, artificial intelligence, generative AI and Tableau.
Shaffer previously served as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Information Technology and Analytics at Unifund and Recovery Decision Science. He is one of 36 people in the world inducted into the Tableau Visionary Hall of Fame, hosts the award-winning podcast Chart Chat, and is the co-author of The Big Book of Dashboards and Dashboards That Deliver.
Contact Shaffer at jeffrey.shaffer@uc.edu
Offerings
This Center for Business Analytics training course focuses on the application of generative AI in data analytics, and offers deeper exploration of prompt engineering and agentic workflows. Fundamental concepts, governance, and societal, ethical and regulatory implications of generative AI are covered, too.
This course is open to the public, and no prior experience with AI or coding is required.
- Visit the Center for Business for Analytics and AI for course dates.
The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Management (MS AIM) empowers professionals to lead the future of AI-driven business. Designed for those who want to harness the power of large language models (LLMs) to solve real organizational challenges, this program blends technical insight with strategic, ethical, and managerial expertise.
Students learn to design responsible AI solutions, guide cross-functional teams and translate complex AI capabilities into meaningful business results. Through innovative coursework and real-world applications taught by leading Lindner faculty, graduates are prepared to lead, manage and accelerate AI transformation across industries.
The AI in Business graduate certificate educates students on how to leverage AI platforms for solving business problems. AI in Business can be taken in-person or online, and supplies students with experiential learning opportunities with modern AI tools and access to expert faculty researching AI’s latest business applications.
AI in Business can be completed in nine to 12 months (two to three semesters). No prior experience with AI tools is required, but a basic background in Python programming and information systems is helpful.
Elevate your finance career to new heights as you learn to apply machine learning, quantitative methods and emerging technologies to modern financial decision-making with the Applied AI in Finance graduate certificate. Completed in-person or online, Applied AI in Finance emphasizes practical application of AI within real financial contexts
This certificate can be completed in nine to 12 months (two to three semesters).
All public Center for Business Analytics and AI training courses, including Generative AI in Business, can be offered privately. The courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the company or organization interested.
Inquiries can be directed to Center for Business Analytics and AI Associate Director Marilyn Kump.
Fifth Third Bank completed a series of private generative AI workshops led by Shaffer.
Jeff Shaffer’s generative AI course was transformative, providing invaluable insights and practical applications that have significantly enhanced organizations’ understanding of foundational concepts for generative AI applications.
Jonathan Paul, VP, Director IT, AI & Data Governance, Fifth Third Bank
Speaking Engagements
Bring the power of AI insight to your next event. Lindner experts deliver dynamic keynote presentations and engaging talks that connect the latest AI advances to real-world business impact.
From unlocking the potential of generative AI to building AI-driven organizations, each session is designed to inspire action and spark conversation. Whether you’re hosting a conference, corporate summit or executive retreat, Lindner can tailor a message that resonates with your audience and elevates your event.
| Date | Talk Title/Subject | Conference/Event | Organization | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | How Lindner is equipping students to succeed with AI | BEARCATS/Innovate: Cincinnati | UC Alumni Association/Lindner College of Business | |
| October 2025 | "The Future of AI: From the Wild West to the Gold Rush" | Data Science Symposium | Center for Business Analytics | |
| October 2025 | "The Future of AI: The Wild West of Modern Technology" | American Modern Perspectives Innovation Conference | American Modern Insurance | |
| September 2025 | "AI's Got Talent: An Introduction to AI Tools" | Great Lakes Relocation Conference | Greater Cincinnati Relocation Council |
Thought Leadership
Lindner experts lend their AI expertise to internal and external media outlets seeking informed perspective. Below is a sampling of Lindner faculty and staff's AI-related external media appearances.
| Outlet | Appearance Summary | Topic(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 700WLW | Will AI really replace your job? | AI in the workforce |
| Bearcats Mean Business podcast | A student's guide to generative AI | AI best practices for students |
| Baltimore Sun | Power-hungry AI could mean higher electric bills | AI's energy impact |
| Cincinnati Edition | How will AI change the workforce? | AI in the workforce |
| WLWT-TV | Holiday shopping with AI | AI's impact on consumers |
AI in the Classroom
Lindner is at the forefront of providing valuable classroom experiences at the intersection of multiple business disciplines and AI. From information systems and finance to marketing and economics, Lindner’s offerings equip students with the knowledge they need to succeed in the modern workplace and to transform their future or current organizations.
Craig Froehle, professor of operations, business analytics, and information systems, leads IS 8070 students in an exercise designed to teach them how to best collaborate with AI.
Building egg-cellent skills in AI
IS 8070: Generative AI and the Future of Work introduces Master of Business Analytics and Information Systems students to generative AI with a focus on its implications for business, the way work gets done and managerial issues.
Students learn to use generative AI as a coding partner and as a creative collaborator. To practice collaborating with AI, students complete the “egg-drop project.”
Career Services, Empowered by AI
Experiential Learning & Teaching Excellence Assistant Director Susan Bailey presented “AI to the Rescue: Saving Time in Career Services to Focus on What Matters” at the Cooperative Education and Internship annual conference.
After participating in Lindner’s annual Communities of Practice (CoP), Bailey began toying with ways to use AI to teach students and to streamline her own work processes.
In her presentation, she explores ways to use AI tools to analyze student data to tailor career service strategies; to improve processes like resume review, interview preparations and salary negotiation; and to integrate into the classroom curriculum.
“My approach with AI has always been practical and twofold: how can it help our students, and how can it help us, so we have more time to focus on the important things like our students?” said Bailey.