ACCU Board Chair Dr. Amy Novak had a private audience with Pope Leo alongside other Catholic college presidents, with much of their conversation focused on artificial intelligence and the future of education. Pope Leo encouraged Catholic higher education not to reject AI, but to engage with it thoughtfully and ethically using its potential to create new opportunities for learning while protecting human dignity, empathy, meaningful relationships, and the development of the whole person. Dr. Novak explained that Catholic institutions can bring a distinctive philosophical, theological, and human-centered perspective to AI, while also serving marginalized communities. She also connected the Pope’s emphasis on collaboration to the ongoing partnership between Saint Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University, arguing that shared resources, aligned programs, and potentially a broader network of Catholic colleges could reduce costs, expand educational opportunities, and strengthen Catholic higher education in the future.
Watch the full YouTube video here: St. Ambrose, Mount Mercy President Dr. Amy Novak meets Pope Leo