Putting people first—how a mission-driven institution and a family-owned AI company are thoughtfully exploring technology that serves students, not the other way around.
The Challenge: Bridging Mission and Innovation
Union Theological Seminary, one of the most prominent theological institutions in the United States, faced a question many mission-driven institutions grapple with: How do we explore emerging technology while staying true to our values?
For an institution deeply rooted in serving students and preparing ethical leaders, AI couldn't be approached casually. Union needed a way to engage and market to prospective and current students more effectively—but responsibly, affordably, and with full oversight from institutional leadership.
Any technology partnership needed to prioritize:
- Student privacy and data sovereignty
- Transparency in how information is used
- Human oversight at every step
- Efficiency gains that serve people, not replace them
Why ibl.ai: A Family-Owned Partner with Aligned Values
When Donald Joshua, Union's CIO, began exploring AI possibilities, the fit with ibl.ai became clear. As a family-owned company based in New York—not a faceless tech conglomerate—ibl.ai's approach resonated with Union's ethos. The leadership is directly accessible, decisions are made thoughtfully rather than driven by outside investors, and the relationship feels more like a partnership than a vendor contract.
What set ibl.ai apart wasn't just the technology—it was the philosophy behind it:
- Full code and data ownership: Union maintains complete control over their data and infrastructure. No black boxes. No data leaving without explicit permission.
- Human-in-the-loop architecture: AI agents that read data are deliberately separated from those that write data, ensuring human review at critical decision points.
- Transparency by design: Every workflow is visible, auditable, and aligned with institutional governance.
The Approach: Connecting with Existing Systems
Rather than rushing to deploy AI solutions, the partnership begins with a deliberate, exploratory phase:
Phase 1: Assessment & Access
- Connecting with existing systems—Formstack, Sonis SIS, Moodle LMS—rather than replacing them
- Understanding API capabilities and data flows already in place
- Determining what's possible while maintaining security and privacy
Phase 2: Secure Infrastructure
- Building MCP (Model Context Protocol) layers that give AI agents controlled access to institutional data through existing platforms
- Establishing clear boundaries between read and write operations
- Creating audit trails for all AI interactions
Phase 3: Collaborative Workflow Design
- Working with academic leadership and staff to define how AI should behave
- Ensuring every automated communication reflects Union's voice and values
- Maintaining human approval at sensitive touchpoints—leadership stays in control
A Thoughtful Path Forward
This partnership isn't about replacing human connection with automation. It's about asking: Where can thoughtful technology free up time and energy for the work that matters most?
For Union Theological Seminary, that means:
- Engaging students responsibly: Reaching prospective and current students with timely, relevant communications—without intrusive data practices
- Marketing affordably: Reducing reliance on expensive external platforms while maintaining personal touch
- Full leadership oversight: Every automated process is visible and controllable by Union's team
- Reducing administrative burden so staff can focus on student support
All while ensuring that data stays within Union's control, decisions remain with humans, and technology serves the institution's mission—not the other way around.
What Makes This Different
Donald Joshua articulated the approach clearly: "We're trying to make ourselves more efficient... but we're looking at it very ethically. We're trying to be very diligent about how we do it and ultimately respectful of everybody's privacy."
This isn't AI for AI's sake. It's a careful, values-aligned exploration of what's possible when a family-owned technology partner works alongside a mission-driven institution.
About the Partners
Union Theological Seminary is one of the most prominent theological institutions in the United States, known for its commitment to ethical leadership and preparing students to address the pressing issues of our time. Located in New York City, Union has a long tradition of thoughtful engagement with the world.
ibl.ai is a family-owned generative AI education platform based in New York, specializing in AI mentors, adaptive tutoring agents, and institutional infrastructure. As a family business, ibl.ai operates with the long-term thinking and direct accountability that comes with ownership—not quarterly earnings pressure. Their philosophy centers on full code and data ownership, giving institutions complete control over their AI systems with no vendor lock-in.
Interested in exploring how AI can serve your institution's mission? Contact ibl.ai