Hei-Chi Chan
Project: Innovation Student Ambassador Program
Research Interests:
- The Innovation Student Ambassador Program is designed to transform students into the “voice of innovation (and of the IIN!)” on their campus.
- Key components include content creation using practical AI tools and tips aligned with career development
Dr. Hei‑Chi Chan (Ph.D., Yale University) is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). Trained in theoretical physics, his research has since expanded to include number theory (especially those inspired by the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan). His teaching spans data analytics, math for AI and machine learning, and quantum computing. He loves math, AI, and physics!
Dr. Chan is a co‑founder of the UIS AI Campus Learning Community (AICLC), which aims to connect learners and experts to promote AI literacy for all. In its first two years, the AICLC reached more than 1,000 participants through in‑person and remote programs, featuring expert speakers from Google, AWS, Microsoft, and the IEEE. The AICLC is to co-host the US–Latin America Day of AI in October 2026 with the Illinois Mexican and Mexican American Students Initiative (I‑MMÁS). ¡Estamos muy emocionados por esto!
He also serves as co‑chair of the AI Connector Network (AICN), a community of practice within the IIN. The AICN brings together practitioners at all stages of AI adoption to collaborate on creating scalable impact for organizations and communities, with a strong emphasis on cultural transformation. We love to hear from you—we hope to connect you with collaborators and help amplify your impact!
Most recently, he has been co-designing a module on AI tools for K–12 music teachers as part of an intro music education course (and he will defer all questions about music to his co-designer).
Connect with Chan on LinkedIn.