
Orlando, FL | 310-467-1531 | Drlvwise@gmail.com
Transformative servant leader, educator, administrator, and researcher with 20+ years of experience across PK–12, higher education, nonprofit, and community settings, including teaching and professional development reaching 100+ students and participants. Expertise in higher education leadership and policy, student success and retention, curriculum and faculty development, AI/digital literacy and ethics, educational technology, multicultural and bilingual education, and applied research. Designs evidence-based curricula, online/hybrid learning, assessments, professional development, and innovative teaching methodologies integrating emerging technologies, policy, and real-world case studies. Experienced in stakeholder engagement, policy implementation, academic integrity, program evaluation, and data-informed continuous improvement to advance student achievement, educational access, workforce readiness, ethical leadership, and responsible educational practice.
School of Education and Human Development, Miami, Florida
Executive Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership, July 2026. GPA: 3.91
Degree honors: Award of Academic Merit
Doctoral Dissertation: Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Literacy for Under-Resourced Higher Education Institutions
Developed an open-access Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Ethics Toolkit designed to support students, faculty members, administrators, advisors, librarians, and institutional leaders in the responsible and equitable use of artificial intelligence.
Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Los Angeles, California
Master of Arts in Teaching, July 2020. GPA: 3.94
Caracas, Venezuela
Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Languages, December 2004. GPA: 3.00
Clinical Associate Professor of Education / Program Director, Master's Program in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Universidad Andres Bello
Email: szapata@unab.cl
Relationship: Program Director and Direct Supervisor
Email: Abotero@miami.edu
Relationship: Former Professor
Senior Research Associate at Behavioral Science Research Institute (BSRI)
University of Miami
Email: jvertovec@bsrinstitute.org
Relationship: Dissertation Committee
Lecturer and Researcher, Intensive English Program
University of Miami
Email: tap172@miami.edu
Relationship: Co-instructor and Research CollaboratorM
A DISSERTATION
Submitted to the faculty of the University of Miami in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education
Coral Gables, Florida | July 2026
©2026 Laura Wise | All Rights Reserved
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LITERACY AND ETHICS FOR UNDER-RESOURCED HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
By Laura Wise
— Carol-Anne Phekoo, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor of Education
— Todd Warner, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer Professor of Education
— Jack Vertovec, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate at Behavioral Science Research Institute (BSRI)
— Scotney D. Evans, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
— Dean of the Graduate School
Abstract of a dissertation at the University of Miami.
Dissertation supervised by Dr. Carol-Anne Phekoo
No. of pages in text: 65
Degree: Ed.D., Higher Education Leadership
Date: July 2026
The rapid expansion of AI in higher education creates major opportunities, yet under-resourced institutions face heightened risks of inequitable and unethical adoption. A comprehensive meta review of studies conducted in higher education settings revealed that 40.9% of the studies reported ethical gaps, 29% cited lack of ethics as a primary barrier, and 65% indicated weak foundations without frameworks; misuse persisted, with 17% of academic papers containing ≥20% AI-generated content and 5% exceeding 80% (Bond et al., 2024; Bennett et al., 2025; Rafiq & Qurat-ul-Ain, 2025). Readiness gaps are substantial: 92% of students use AI, but only 36% receive training, about 10% of institutions provide guidance, 78.5% of faculty need training, and 85.8% report their institutions do not promote ethical AI (Alnsour et al., 2025; Mazaheriyan & Nourbakhsh, 2025; UNESCO, 2023). Grounded in major developmental, sociocultural, engagement, and equity theories, this dissertation shows structured AI ethics instruction is a high-impact practice linked to stronger engagement, ethical reasoning, and learning outcomes, with 80% of faculty supporting ethics instruction, 51% of studies reporting positive effects, and 32.3% improved outcomes (Alnsour et al., 2025; Bond et al., 2024). The project therefore introduces an open-access, cross-platform AI Literacy and Ethics Toolkit to strengthen institutional capacity, support responsible AI integration, and promote equitable student success.
Studies reporting ethical gaps in AI adoption
Cited lack of ethics as a primary barrier
Institutions with weak AI frameworks
Students using AI tools
Students receiving AI training
Institutions providing AI guidance
Faculty needing AI training
Institutions not promoting ethical AI
Faculty supporting ethics instruction
Studies reporting positive effects of AI ethics instruction
Improved learning outcomes with structured AI ethics
This dissertation introduces a cross-platform, open-access AI Literacy and Ethics Toolkit designed to:
Equip students, faculty, administrators, and leaders with ethical AI frameworks
Address governance, academic integrity, privacy, bias, and transparency
Ensure digital equity and accessible AI education for all learners
Train-the-trainer programs, consortium models, and grant-funding strategies for HBCUs, MSIs, and community colleges
University of Miami | Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership | July 2026 | Laura Wise
LAURA WISE, Ed.D.