Innovation Strategist and Program Manager
Email: baz122@psu.edu
Office: 814-867-4893
LinkedIn
Brad Zdenek is Innovation Strategist and Nittany AI Challenge Program Manager, bringing to the team over 20 years of experience in supporting, developing, and leveraging disruptive technologies to improve the student experience across the K–20 spectrum. Prior to joining Penn State, Brad solidified his love of education while teaching middle school social studies in North Carolina.
After choosing to pursue his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Penn State, Brad took on a number of roles at the University, including directing the professional development and outreach efforts for both the STEMScouts and Regional Educational Laboratory – Mid-Atlantic initiatives, helping K–12 teachers leverage research-based practices for improving teaching and learning. More recently, Brad served as Innovation Strategist for the Center for Online Innovation in Learning, strategically building and supporting a culture of innovation across the University. Since joining the Nittany Ai Alliance, Brad has had the pleasure of developing and managing the Nittany Ai Challenge, each year helping dozens of student teams impact the world through the development of AI for Good applications. Brad is also the staff advisor for several student organizations including the Nittany AI Student Society and the Google Developer Student Club.