From professors to cognitive mentors: Preparing leaders for an AI-shaped workforce

The Strategic Communications Master's program at National University piloted a model to integrate AI into the curriculum. Over 4-week courses, AI literacy became a core leadership skill. Through "cognitive mentoring," students navigated bias and privacy while documenting their reasoning. Results showed increased ethical awareness and human connection. By moving from policing to mentoring, the framework prepares leaders to use AI critically without outsourcing their thinking.