Registration / Exhibits Open

Concurrent Sessions I

Reflective Learning with AI Assistance in Information Science Classrooms for DEI

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Reflective learning is a well-established pedagogical approach that promotes critical thinking and deeper engagement with course materials. In recent years, generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in education, offering personalized feedback and facilitating interactive learning experiences. This study explores the integration of reflective learning with gen AI assistance in information science classrooms among historically underserved minority students majoring in finance and economics. Through text mining and sentiment analysis of feedback from students, we examined students’ awareness, acceptance and self-evaluated improvements in cognitive skills and gen AI usage. Results indicate that, while students initially had limited familiarity with reflective learning, structured activities significantly improved their perception and engagement. gen AI assisted prompts were well-received, enhancing students’ ability to structure ideas, gain alternative perspectives and refine their understanding of key concepts. Our findings support the effectiveness of combining reflective learning with gen AI to create a more inclusive and adaptive learning environment.

Di Wu, Assistant Professor, Finance, Information Systems and Economics, Lehman College

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Teaching Explainable AI in Engineering: Leveraging Open-Access Public Health Data

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

This session presents a hands-on, ethics-driven approach to teaching explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) in engineering, using open-access public health datasets. With a focus on the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, students apply signal processing and machine learning techniques to classify ECG signals and detect arrhythmias.

The curriculum integrates deep learning (CNNs), gradient boosting (XGBoost) and explainability tools such as SHAP and Grad-CAM to help students understand not only how AI models work, but also why they make specific decisions. By working with real clinical data, students explore the full pipeline – from data preprocessing to model interpretation – while learning the importance of transparency and reproducibility in healthcare AI.

This presentation will showcase how CUNY engineering educators can use open datasets to design interdisciplinary, project-based courses that prepare students to build responsible AI systems for real-world challenges in medicine and public health.

Iqram Hussain, Assistant Adjunct Professor, Science, Borough of Manhattan Community College

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Reimagining Curriculum with AI: Teaching, Integrity and Readiness

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

As artificial intelligence tools – particularly large language models (LLMs) and gen AI – rapidly enter educational spaces, faculty must rethink how we teach and how students learn. This session explores practical, ethical and inclusive strategies for integrating AI into curriculum design and digital pedagogy across disciplines. Participants will examine AI’s role as a writing partner, coding assistant and analytical aid, while also addressing challenges related to academic integrity and equitable access.

The session is structured around three interactive modules: (1) Curriculum Integration Models, offering examples of AI-enhanced writing, coding and data analysis assignments; (2) Pedagogical Integrity and Assessment Redesign, focusing on ethically-sound evaluation strategies and AI policy development; and (3) Experiential Learning and Workforce Readiness, which links AI skills to real-world projects and job market demands.

Adedeji Olugboja, Assistant Professor, Business and Economics, York College

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Guardian AI: The Digital Healthcare Team That Never Sleeps – How Multi-Agent Systems Are Revolutionizing Patient Safety

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

Medical errors represent the third leading cause of death in the United States, claiming 250,000 to 440,000 lives annually and imposing $29 billion in direct costs. While traditional patient safety systems achieve only 30% to 50% accuracy and detect errors 48 to 72 hours post-occurrence, AI offers transformative potential for proactive intervention and prevention.

This session presents groundbreaking research on autonomous multi-agent patient safety systems – coordinated networks of specialized AI agents that work together to prevent medical errors before they occur. Through a comprehensive systematic review of 45 studies encompassing over 340,000 patients across 15 countries, Dr. Nchebe-jah Iloanusi demonstrates how these systems achieve remarkable clinical and economic outcomes: 75% reduction in preventable adverse events, 94.2% diagnostic accuracy and $32.5 million annual savings per 300-bed hospital with 336% return on investment.

The presentation introduces the innovative Guardian AI framework, which features Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus mechanisms, federated learning protocols for privacy-preserving knowledge sharing and a hierarchical multi-tier architecture that integrates five specialized safety agents. Beyond technical achievements, the session addresses critical implementation challenges, including algorithmic transparency, clinical workflow integration and ethical considerations essential for responsible AI deployment.

Attendees will explore how CUNY can leverage these insights across multiple dimensions: enhancing research methodologies in health-related disciplines, preparing students for AI-augmented healthcare careers, developing ethical frameworks for AI implementation and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between technology and healthcare programs. The session connects directly to the conference theme of “reimagining CUNY in an AI-enhanced world” by demonstrating how educational institutions can lead in both advancing AI technology and ensuring its responsible application.

Key takeaways include practical strategies for human-centered AI design, evidence-based approaches to measuring AI impact and actionable recommendations for integrating AI literacy across healthcare education curricula. This session is essential for administrators, faculty, researchers and IT professionals interested in understanding how AI can address real-world challenges while maintaining focus on human welfare and ethical responsibility.

Nchebe-jah Iloanusi, Assistant Professor, Biology, College of Staten Island

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Reimagining Design Justice in the Age of AI

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

In an era where AI is rapidly transforming education, creativity and institutional workflows, we must interrogate not only the technologies we adopt, but the frameworks through which we engage with them. This talk challenges the default use of “design thinking” in higher ed and ed-tech spaces, arguing for a reframing through the lenses of design justice and critical AI literacy.

Drawing on Arturo Escobar’s concept of an “ethical praxis of world-making” and Natasha Yen’s critique of surface-level empathy in design processes, the presentation explores how both AI and design are embedded in systems of power. Using examples from a recent AI-integrated design course at CUNY, the session illustrates how rethinking the design process – especially in AI-infused learning environments – can surface non-dominant worldviews, challenge algorithmic bias and foster more inclusive innovation.

David Schwittek, Associate Professor, Art, Lehman College

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From Cheating to Competing: Bridging the Implementation Gap in AI Education

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

What happens when we teach students that AI is cheating, then send them into workplaces where AI fluency determines who advances? At CUNY and at universities around the country, we’re inadvertently creating a new form of economic gatekeeping – and our most vulnerable students pay the price.

This session presents research from CUNY’s CIS Applied Systems Development program, where predominantly disadvantaged working students face a troubling implementation gap: 87% recognize AI’s value after demonstrations, but fewer than 15% actually implement it. Why? These bandwidth-constrained students, juggling work and family, have internalized “AI shame” while lacking time to learn tools that could transform their careers. They’re literally too overwhelmed to learn what could reduce their overwhelm.

Joshua Ness, Adjunct Professor, CIS, Medgar Evers College

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AI and the Future of Career Readiness: Equipping CUNY Students for the Workforce of Tomorrow

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

As AI continues to redefine industries, the role of higher education is not only to teach students how to use emerging technologies, but also to prepare them for the evolving career landscape shaped by AI. This session will explore how CUNY can reimagine career readiness in an AI-enhanced world – integrating tools, ethics and human-centered skills into professional development.

Participants will examine strategies for embedding AI literacy into career services, advising and curricula across disciplines. From resume optimization and interview preparation powered by AI, to exploring new job pathways in data, automation and digital ethics, this session will highlight actionable practices for ensuring CUNY graduates remain competitive. The session will also address equity: how can AI tools democratize access to opportunities and where do they risk widening existing gaps?

Curtis Cox, Career Support Specialist, Paul H. Chook Department of Information Systems and Statistics, Baruch College

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From Awareness to Application: Leveraging Generative AI in Teaching and Learning

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

This presentation explores human-tech synergy in education, focusing on how generative AI tools can be effectively integrated to enhance engagement, streamline workflows and build AI literacy among educators and students. As classrooms evolve into hybrid learning ecosystems, educators must not only understand AI but also learn how to apply it responsibly and creatively. This session introduces participants to AI literacy as a foundational skill, providing a framework for developing AI-integrated curricula that foster critical thinking, creativity and digital fluency.

Participants will gain insights into how AI can improve student engagement by personalizing learning experiences, supporting diverse learning needs and promoting active participation. Efficiency is also emphasized – showing how AI can assist with grading, content creation, feedback and research, freeing educators to focus on human-centered teaching.

Feygens Saint-Joy, Associate Adjunct Professor, Media and Communication Arts, The City College of New York

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From Policing to Partnering: Teaching with AI in the Classroom

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Gen AI is changing how students approach coursework, often without the skills to use it thoughtfully. This session presents a case study of a redesigned PSY101 course that leveraged the Compass of Online Teaching Excellence (COTE) framework to help students navigate AI with intention. The redesigned course emphasizes evaluating AI output, integrating it meaningfully into their own work and recognizing its limitations and biases – all while cultivating their authentic voice. Using an AI-integrated lens, the COTE keystones (Course Structure, Technology Integration, Student Engagement and Community Building) and Omni Elements (Universal Design for Learning, Accessibility, Evaluation and Resources) created a learning environment that balanced innovation with academic rigor and equity. Participants will gain concrete examples of assignments, rubrics and discussion prompts that foster AI literacy, critical thinking and academic integrity, leaving them with adaptable strategies to prepare students for both academic success and an AI-driven workplace.

Mariana Diaz-Wionczek, Assistant Professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Hostos Community College

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Designing Questions, Not Shortcuts: Activating AI Towards Critical Thinking in the Humanities

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

Gen AI is here to stay. The challenge for higher ed is whether students will use it passively – for shortcuts – or whether we will teach them to use it critically, as a tool for independent learning. This session argues that prompt design must be taught as a core literacy in the humanities: a method for structuring inquiry, testing reasoning and cultivating rigor rather than undermining it.

When students learn to design prompts, they learn to frame questions, specify methods and reflect on assumptions. These are skills at the heart of scholarly practice. Instead of treating ChatGPT as an answer engine, they can use it to rehearse arguments, clarify concepts and identify gaps in their reasoning. In this way, large-language models become laboratories for critical thinking rather than threats to integrity.

At CUNY, where many students are multilingual, first-generation or navigating structural barriers, prompt design also functions as an equity and accessibility bridge. This carries particular weight. It offers reproducible scaffolds for learning that supplement mentoring, coaching or editorial support often out of reach. For faculty, integrating prompt design enriches pedagogy by modeling critical, ethical engagement with AI. Participants will leave with concrete strategies to embed prompt design into graduate and undergraduate humanities classrooms.

Adam Ashraf Elsayigh, Level III PhD Student, Former Adjunct Faculty, PhD Program in Theatre and Performance, CUNY Graduate Center

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Leveraging AI Assistants: More Time for the Mission

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

Faculty and staff across all departments face the challenge of doing more with less to achieve their team's mission. Recent developments in artificial intelligence enable automation of tedious, repetitive tasks, freeing faculty and staff to spend more time on meaningful work and strategic decisions. This session explores how automation and agentic workflows can enhance operational efficiency while allowing teams to focus on the high-impact activities that advance the university's mission. Through discussion of generative AI solutions and agentic workflows, attendees will learn how these technologies can improve workflows across admissions, financial aid operations, recruitment and alumni engagement.

Dallas Maddox, Higher Education Data and Analytics Lead

Brian Baute, Higher Education Strategic Advisor

Both of AWS

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It’s Time to Rethink Connectivity: Building the Smart, Student-Centered Campus

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

As digital expectations rise, campus connectivity must evolve beyond basic Wi-Fi. Boldyn Networks will showcase how top universities are transforming infrastructure to support smart, student-centered campuses. Through success stories – from ResNet to stadium Wi-Fi – we’ll highlight how scalable, managed connectivity drives measurable gains in student experience, operational efficiency and IT strategy. We’ll also share insights from Boldyn’s second annual Connectivity Report, revealing key gaps in current networks and what students and staff truly need. If you're ready to rethink connectivity’s role in higher ed, this session offers practical models and proven strategies to help your institution move forward.

David Hinson, Campus Chief Information Officer, Boldyn Networks

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From Database to Applications : AI for the Data Revolution

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

AI is transforming the modern enterprise. AI Database 26ai architects AI into the core of data management, furthering Oracle’s ability to help institutions securely bring AI to all their data, everywhere. We will discuss AI-native database with use of AI across the entire data and development stack, including AI vector search, AI for database management, AI for data development, AI for application development and AI for analytics. AI to make better decisions faster and empowering your workforce to work more effectively. With predictive and generative AI and AI agents embedded in Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, customers can instantly access AI outcomes.

Shoba Ramdas, AI Data Platform Architect, Oracle

Break

Concurrent Sessions II

Trust Over Tech: Ethical Leadership in the Age of AI

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

AI is transforming higher education, from admissions and advising to teaching and talent management. Yet while technology can streamline operations and open new possibilities, it also raises urgent questions about trust, ethics and equity. How do campus leaders ensure that AI enhances, rather than undermines our institutional values?

This session explores the role of ethical, human-centered leadership in guiding AI adoption across CUNY. Participants will examine practical strategies for balancing innovation with accountability; building trust among faculty, staff and students; and ensuring that AI systems are implemented in ways that advance equity and transparency.

Through case examples, interactive discussion and leadership tools, attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to align AI initiatives with institutional mission and culture, placing people before platforms to strengthen credibility, inclusivity and long-term impact.

Danielle Holmes, Chief Diversity Officer, Diversity and Compliance, York College

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Humanizing AI and Digital Pedagogy with Care

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

As AI reshapes classrooms, higher education faces a pressing question: how do we use intelligent tools not just efficiently, but ethically, equitably and with heart? This session invites participants to reimagine digital pedagogy in an AI-enhanced world, guided by contemplative practice, social-emotional learning and design justice.

Through real classroom case studies – from rethinking “cameras-on” Zoom policies to honoring students’ self-directed use of technology for focus – we will examine how AI and digital tools can either reinforce control or foster agency, belonging and resilience. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on how their own practices embody (or resist) human-centered values in digital environments.

Rather than asking only, “What can this tool do?”, we will ask, “What should we do with it?” Together, we will surface strategies to anchor AI use in compassion, equity and educator well-being. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical, heart-centered approaches to digital learning approaches that ensure machines remain tools in service of human connection, not replacements for it.

This workshop grows from Ah! A Heartbook for Teaching | Learning with Love, a new resource for educators committed to navigating digital transformation with integrity and care.

Linda Noble, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Secondary Education and Department of Childhood Bilingual and Special Education, Brooklyn College

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Death of the Student Reflection Paper: Rethinking Authentic Reflection in the Age of AI

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

The traditional student reflection paper is at risk of obsolescence in an era where AI can generate polished narratives in seconds. This session challenges the reliance on reflection papers as proxies for authentic learning and professional growth in teacher preparation programs. Participants will explore how to design reflective experiences that cannot be outsourced to AI, experiences grounded in dialogue, mentoring, performance-based assessments and authentic practice. Together, we will consider how institutions can reclaim reflection as a pedagogical practice, ensuring preservice and in-service teachers develop the skills of genuine critical self-inquiry essential to their profession.

Imani Irving-Perez, Doctoral Lecturer, Special Education, Hunter College

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No Vibe: Effective Programming Leveraging Generative Models

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

Higher ed faces exploding data complexity while institutional constraints block access to custom software solutions we desperately need. Programming provides a powerful intervention, but you can’t “vibe” your way through code – even with LLMs. However, LLMs dramatically lower the expertise barrier, making programming achievable for those willing to learn basics. Staff who understand fundamental concepts can leverage LLMs to automate workflows, build custom tools and increase productivity. A future where basic programming literacy spreads across our organizations means smoother operations, less stress and lower costs.

Shane Ayers, Human Resources Information Systems Manager, Human Resources, York College

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Community Governance and Generative AI in Health: Seeding Change

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Generative AI is rapidly being adopted in healthcare and public health, carrying both promise and risk. However, too often, these tools are developed without engaging impacted communities. As a physician, public health leader and former computer scientist, Dr. Oni Blackstock explores how health organizations can partner with communities to change this dynamic, both by shaping how these technologies are designed and used and by protecting communities from their harms. Audience members will learn about emerging models of governance, opportunities to seed community-centered practices and strategies that ensure AI in health remains accountable to the people it impacts.

Oni Blackstock, Executive Director, Harlem Health Initiative, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy

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AI and the Archive

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

This presentation explores how AI image generation can be paired with archival media to reimagine cultural memory. Using historical photographs, film stills and ephemera as prompts, the project treats generative models as collaborators rather than mere tools, producing speculative reconstructions. Framed through artistic research and critical theory, the session proposes AI as a method of activating archives for new publics while preserving the integrity of historical memory.

Matthew Mottel, Adjunct Professor, Art Department, Brooklyn College

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Using AI to Design and Assess Asynchronous Math Courses

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

In this presentation, the presenter will share how she uses AI to design asynchronous online math courses, focusing on the creation of scaffolded questions in MyOpenMath, translation of problem sets into HTML format and strategies to assess learning in the age of AI. She will also discuss the pedagogical shifts she has made to address academic integrity, including the use of student-recorded video presentations to evaluate conceptual understanding and explanation skills. This talk will highlight how AI is not only a tool for content generation, but also a catalyst for rethinking curriculum design, assessment structures and teaching practices in digital environments.

Zeynep Akcay Ozkan, Associate Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science, Queensborough Community College

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AI-Powered Pathways: Streamlining Student Conversion and Onboarding at Lehman

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

In an era of declining enrollment and rising student expectations, institutions must rethink how they attract, convert and onboard new students. This session explores how artificial intelligence – combined with platforms like EAB Navigate 360 – can optimize the student conversion journey from initial outreach to first-day readiness. We’ll examine how AI-driven tools and predictive analytics within Navigate 360 help identify at-risk students, personalize communication and automate key onboarding tasks such as advising and registration. By integrating intelligent systems with human-centered design, we can reduce friction, improve access and support equity across diverse student populations. Attendees will leave with practical insights into designing inclusive, ethical and scalable AI solutions that align with Lehman’s mission of access and excellence.

Ashley Falcon, Associate Director

Edwin Toribio, Academic Senior Advisor

Kelly Olivo, Academic Senior Advisor

Gina Gaccione, Director

All of Onboarding Advisement Office, Division of Enrollment Management, Lehman College

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Come to Camp AI! Write Your Syllabus Statement and Design an AI Assignment!

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

Come to learn about a synchronous online multi-day professional development bootcamp on generative AI in the classroom for faculty that combines presentations, discussions and hands-on work. Faculty research AI policies and guidelines in their profession; participate in brief talks by experts; engage in discussions with colleagues in affinity groups; experiment with text, graphics and audio/video AI tools; and create two elements of a course that they will be teaching: a syllabus statement and a newly-designed or redesigned assignment in light to gen AI.

Shiao-Chuan Kung, Executive Director

Logan Spevak, Instructional Designer

Justin Tricarico, Instructional Designer

Yüníng Gāo, Instructional Designer

Yani Su, Instructional Designer

All of Center for Digital Learning and Innovative Pedagogy, Hunter College

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AI for Academic Integrity in Mathematics

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

The rise of AI tools has created new challenges for maintaining academic integrity in online mathematics courses. In this session, the presenter will share how he designs multi-step assignments in MyOpenMath to reduce AI’s influence on student work. These assignments require students to show intermediate steps, interpret results and connect solutions to context – making it harder to rely solely on AI-generated answers.

The presenter will demonstrate examples from his online mathematics classes, explain the structure of these problems and show how MyOpenMath’s flexibility supports this approach. He will also discuss the limitations of any strategy in the AI era and why absolute certainty about academic integrity is impossible.

Tanvir Prince, Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science, Hostos Community College

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How to Safeguard Intellectual Freedom and Data Integrity in the Age of AI

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

Artificial intelligence is reshaping education through personalized learning, grading assistants and automation. Yet this innovation brings challenges – data privacy, misinformation and ethical use. This session explores how schools can build a culture of security that empowers faculty, staff and students to use AI responsibly while protecting data and academic freedom. Using real-world examples and discussion, we’ll examine how to balance openness with accountability. Attendees will gain practical ways to integrate cybersecurity awareness, encourage ethical AI use and make data protection a shared responsibility. You’ll leave with tools to promote responsible AI adoption and stronger cybersecurity across campus.

Jay Singh, Senior Account Executive, Cloudflare

Jason Caparoso, Chief Technology Officer, Blackhawk

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Empowering Education with AI: D2L Lumi Shapes Learning’s Future

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

AI is rapidly reshaping higher education, unlocking new possibilities to enhance teaching practices, streamline content creation and improve student outcomes. Yet, institutions must navigate complex challenges such as responsible AI adoption, maintaining equity and aligning emerging technologies with sound pedagogical strategies. This session delves into the evolving role of AI in academia and highlights how D2L Lumi – an AI-powered solution – supports institutions in meeting these challenges. By delivering actionable insights, accelerating the development of high-quality learning materials and offering personalized, AI-driven tutoring, D2L Lumi empowers educators and students alike to thrive in a future-focused learning environment.

Andrea Palyok, Senior Solutions Engineer, Solutions Engineering, D2L

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Build Your Own BOT: Designing AI-Supported Spaces for Community and Learning

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

What if educators could craft AI-powered learning partners within spaces that foster community and belonging? In this interactive session, participants will explore how generative AI, paired with intentional learning environments, extends teaching, supports student reflection and personalizes experiences while building a sense of mattering. Guided by educator and learning environment consultant, Jerry Brown, participants will prototype a “learning bot” aligned to authentic instructional goals, discovering how AI and flexible, inclusive spaces amplify human pedagogy. A collaborating faculty guest will share insights from a campus pilot, highlighting how spatial design (e.g., collaborative zones, tech-integrated furniture) enhances AI integration, strengthens community and addresses challenges in higher education classrooms.

Jerry Brown, Senior Learning Consultant, Steelcase Learning / Faculty, Teaching and Learning Innovation, Grand Valley State University

Kristine Zimmerman, Regional Education Manager, Steelcase

Christina Vernon, General Manager, Distributed Collaboration and Tech Partner, Steelcase

Break

Opening Remarks and Keynote Presentation

Keynote Presentation – AI’s Impact on Teaching and the Future of Higher Education

Generative AI tools have had an astonishingly quick impact on the ways we learn, work, think and create. While higher education’s initial response was to develop strategies to diminish AI’s influence in the classroom, it is now clear that AI competencies and literacies must be embraced as essential learning for most colleges and universities. These responses and realities create challenging tensions that higher education must work to resolve. Drawing from his new book, Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024), Dr. C. Edward Watson will detail the challenges and opportunities that have emerged for higher education, especially in terms of pedagogical practice and student learning. Additionally, key opportunities provided by AI include ways for faculty to improve instruction and save time, but these benefits also have the potential to have an impact on the profession of teaching itself. The future of the professoriate will also be discussed and suggestions will be provided regarding how faculty can participate as their profession evolves.

C. Edward Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation, American Association of Colleges and Universities

2025 CUNY Excellence in Technology Awards

Adjourn Day 1

Registration / Continental Breakfast / Exhibits Open

Concurrent Sessions I

Beyond the Hype: Embedding AI Ethics Across the Curriculum

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

As AI becomes ubiquitous, higher ed, across all disciplines, must go beyond teaching technical skills to cultivating ethical judgment. This session, led by a panel of AI governance and ethics educators, explores how to embed ethical decision-making about AI use across disciplines. Drawing on lessons from previous technologies whose unchecked growth profoundly shaped society, we’ll discuss strategies for balancing innovation with responsibility and for preparing students to ask not only, “Can we use this tool?”, but, “Should we?” Examples from CUNY’s Ethics and Technology coursework will illustrate how faculty can integrate ethics into teaching, research and operations at every level, ensuring AI adoption aligns with our deepest held values.

Benjamin Dynkin, Adjunct Lecturer

Barry Dynkin, Adjunct Lecturer

Both of Computer Science, The City College of New York

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Gen AI Working Groups and Faculty-Driven AI Pedagogy at Baruch

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

To reckon with the impact of AI, the Baruch College Center for Teaching and Learning invited faculty collaborators into pedagogy working groups. Groups met across a semester to reflect on teaching values, engage with emerging discourse on teaching with AI, practice using gen AI tools and work on teaching materials (e.g., assignments, AI syllabus statements, in-class activities). Looking forward, we hope to expand that community and dialogue within campus departments. This session shares our approach to the ongoing (and future) challenges and opportunities brought on by AI, with its focus on faculty dialogue and practice across and within disciplinary expertise.

Seth Graves, Digital Pedagogy Manager

Pamela Thielman, Digital Pedagogy Specialist

Katherine Tsan, Digital Pedagogy Specialist

Hamad Sindhi, Digital Pedagogy Manager

Tamara Gubernat, Associate Director

All of Center for Teaching and Learning, Baruch College

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Statistical Consistency of Faculty and Google Gemini Scoring of Student Reports

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

This presentation will showcase statistical analysis of an instructor and Google Gemini AI scoring for 50 undergraduate fieldwork reports from an educational psychology course. Rubric-based instructor and AI scoring methods will be illustrated. The intraclass correlation coefficient will be reported as interrater reliability scores for two sets of 25 reports from Fall 2022 and Fall 2023. The reliability scores will be interpreted on a scale from poor to excellent agreement. Findings will be discussed in the context of Google Gemini’s potential for consistent grading, emphasizing the value of combining human and AI scoring for balanced and effective assessment in education.

Alpana Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, Secondary Education and Youth Services (SEYS), Queens College

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Teaching with AI: A Practical and Ethical Approach to Learning

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

This session explores a practical, ethical approach to integrating AI in the classroom, based on Python scripting and automation courses taught at Columbia University and CUNY Lehman College. Participants will learn how allowing students to use AI tools as idea starters – while requiring them to present, demo and explain their process – promotes critical thinking, creativity and accountability. Drawing from experience teaching Python development and delivering AI-focused sessions at Bronx Google Developer Group conferences, this presentation shares strategies to enhance – not replace – student learning, ensuring graduates gain both technical skills and ethical awareness to succeed in an AI-driven workforce.

Isaac Atif, Adjunct Lecturer, Computer Science, Lehman College

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The Critical AI Literacy Institute and Custom Infrastructure for Teaching and Learning

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

The Critical AI Literacy Institute (CALI) is a three-year project led by the Teaching and Learning Center at the CUNY Graduate Center that researches the impact of generative AI across the disciplines. CALI combines faculty development, educational research, policy advocacy and infrastructure experimentation. This presentation will provide an update on the first year of the project and detail the infrastructure that has supported the deployment of narrowly-scoped teaching tools built on open-weight large language models that prioritize teacher/learner agency. Faculty will discuss how these tools have been integrated into their courses and CALI-affiliated technologists will talk through their creation.

Luke Waltzer, Director, Teaching and Learning Center, CUNY Graduate Center

Laurie Hurson, Assistant Director, Open Education, Teaching and Learning Center, CUNY Graduate Center

Stefano Morello, Assistant Director for Digital Projects, American Social History Project, Center for Media and Learning, CUNY Graduate Center

Zach Muhlbauer, TLC Fellow, Teaching and Learning Center, CUNY Graduate Center

Victor Sierra Matute, Assistant Professor, Spanish and Comparative Literature, Baruch College

Martha Nadell, Associate Professor, English, Brooklyn College

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A 360° Approach to AI-Enhanced Online Program Development

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

Launching successful online programs requires a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond course design. This panel – featuring CUNY Online staff and campus partners – will share best practices for a 360° approach that includes instructional design, media production, faculty development, enrollment management and student services.

Presenters will highlight how AI-informed tools are being integrated to streamline course design, improve collaboration and strengthen student support. Attendees will gain insights into building inclusive, scalable programs that broaden access for diverse learners and sustain institutional success. The session offers both a holistic framework and practical strategies for navigating online program development in an AI-enhanced world.

Olena Zhadko, Interim University Executive Director, CUNY Online, CUNY Central Office

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Creating a Custom AI Bot for Your Class

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

AI chatbots have become a popular resource for students in learning. However, the accuracy of answers given by AI is often questionable. Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) models are a way of augmenting large language models with a curated set of resources. When students interact with the chatbot, answers can (optionally) be restricted to resources in the knowledge base along with direct references and/or links. This talk will introduce a framework for creating custom chatbots. Resources on how you can monitor the questions and answers students ask will also be discussed.

Jason Bryer, Assistant Professor and Associate Director, Data Science, CUNY School of Professional Studies

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AI-Powered Accessibility: Transforming Inclusive Learning at CUNY

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

This session explores how AI is transforming digital accessibility in higher education. We’ll provide an overview of the most current version of WCAG standards (WCAH 2.2) as required by New York State, along with upcoming Title II updates. Attendees will see AI in action through demos in Brightspace – like automated video captioning and intelligent alt-text generation. We’ll also showcase tools that enhance accessibility across web and productivity platforms. A live screen reader demo will highlight the difference between accessible and inaccessible content. This session is essential for CUNY faculty and staff committed to inclusive learning, legal compliance and reducing accessibility-related workload.

Laura Todd, Technology Trainer, Computing and Information Services

William Medina, IT Accessibility Specialist, Computing and Information Services

Shams Mamun, Accessibility Technology Manager, Central Office of Student Affairs

All of CUNY Central Office

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How to Use AI to Turn Class Projects Into Resume-Ready Business Experiences?

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Entrepreneurship isn’t just for business students – it’s a superpower every student needs. This session shows teachers how AI can turn any classroom project into a hands-on, real-world business experience. Learn how to guide students to think critically, tackle complex problems, simulate user interactions, practice pitching and “sell” their ideas – all while building skills that make them stand out in internships and jobs. Faculty will leave inspired with practical strategies to embed entrepreneurial thinking across disciplines, empowering students to take initiative, innovate and apply knowledge in ways that truly prepare them for the modern workplace.

We will present new proposals that leverage AI and CANVA to achieve ACTFL’s Core Practices, further promoting collaboration among educators to enrich language learning experiences.

Arthur Godiva, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Economics, The City College of New York

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Pedagogical Approaches and Brightspace Tools for AI-Resistant Course Design: Moving Beyond Mousetraps

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

Generative AI challenges traditional notions of academic integrity, but effective solutions are already built into D2L Brightspace. This session highlights practical tools for creating AI-resistant assessments without relying on unreliable detection software. Learn how to use question pools and arithmetic questions to generate unique exams, enable multimedia submissions through the assignments tool and apply anonymous marking to reduce grading bias. Participants will leave with concrete, ready-to-implement strategies for building secure, equitable and pedagogically sound assessments.

Dermot Foley, Associate Director of Online Education, Center for Teaching and Learning, Office of the Provost, Lehman College

Susan Lai, Director of IT Support Services, Information Technology Division

Stephen Castellano, Instructional Technology Support Specialist/Blackboard Certified Administrator, Division of Information Technology Resources

Karyna Pryiomka, Doctoral Lecturer, Psychology

Tammy Christensen, Lecturer and Internship Coordinator, Health Equity, Administration and Technology (HEAT)

Giancarlos Luna, Online Learning Lead Student Peer Mentor/Instructional Technologist, Center for Teaching and Learning

All of Lehman College

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Introducing AI in a First Year Success Course

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

How do first-semester students understand the advantages, disadvantages and possible pitfalls of using AI tools in their academic work? This session will share experiences, reflections and student samples from pilot lessons introducing AI tools in a First Year Success course. Building on course material on understanding academic integrity, FYS curriculum developers added specific activities about AI and academic integrity. Subsequent lessons were revised to explicitly allow for the use of Microsoft Copilot, asking students to reflect upon their use of the tool. These assignment prompts yielded a wide range of responses, revealing the complexity of student use of AI.

Bonnie Flaherty, Director of CUNY Start, Office of Academic Affairs

Michael Verdino, Director, Academy Advisement

Elizabeth Nercessian, Director, Office of Student Success

All of Queensborough Community College

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Agentic AI for Student and Institutional Success

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

Join our panel session as we discuss how agentic AI has transformed the educational landscape by enabling institutions to leverage AI technologies to streamline operations, enhance learning experiences and improve overall student and institutional outcomes.

Agentic AI for student and institutional success refers to the use of intelligent, autonomous AI capabilities that can adapt and make decisions independently, thereby simplifying complex processes and improving efficiency. This approach can significantly enhance educational environments by streamlining administrative workflows, optimizing resource allocation and enabling personalized learning experiences. Key benefits of agentic AI in education include improved decision-making and automation; personalized learning; efficiency and scalability; and enhanced interaction and support.

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AI for Science: New Capabilities for Accelerating Innovation & Discovery

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

The cloud provides powerful advanced computing technologies that enable large-scale scientific and technical computing, the exploration of massive scientific data sets, advanced AI applications and model development and more in support of researchers, engineers, developers in both academic, as well as commercial research. In this session, we will explore the advantages the cloud brings to scientific research.

Volker Eyrich, Principal Architect, Google Cloud

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Amazon Expectations vs. Campus Reality: Closing the Gap

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Students arrive expecting Amazon-like experiences: seamless, personalized and mobile-first. They don't care about legacy systems – they care whether they can complete tasks in seconds. This session examines how institutions are eliminating digital friction by consolidating fragmented tools into centralized student experiences. Attendees will explore proven approaches for creating consumer-grade campus technology that reduces confusion while driving engagement, belonging and persistence by meeting students’ actual digital expectations.

Allison Dean, Account Executive

Tim Edwards, Account Executive

Both of Pathify

Break

Welcome Remarks and Panel Presentation

Keynote Presentation

Michael J. Jabbour, AI Innovation Officer, Office of the CTO, Microsoft Education

Lunch (until 2 p.m.)

Concurrent Sessions II

Deconstructing Multimedia: Human/AI Approaches to Instructional Video

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

What makes an instructional video effective for online learners? In this interactive session, participants will explore established multimedia learning principles and apply them to examples from asynchronous, faculty-created videos. Through live polls and collaborative discussion, attendees will evaluate how well these artifacts align with research-based design practices and exchange ideas on what works – and what doesn’t. The session will then shift focus to analyze gen AI–produced video, prompting discussion on the comparative value of emerging tools. Participants will leave with strategies to create or curate videos that truly enhance online learning and student engagement.

Matt Lewis, Instructional Design and Multimedia Manager, Office of Faculty Development and Instructional Technology

Fallon Saratovsky, Academic Technology Specialist, Office of Faculty Development and Instructional Technology

Both of CUNY School of Professional Studies

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Growth Mindset and Generative AI: A Student-Centered, Ethical Framework

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

This interactive session explores how the principles of growth mindset can be infused in the use of gen AI in the classroom and other settings to support ethical, reflective and student-centered learning. Led by a cross-institutional group of faculty and staff, the session will include hands-on activities, in which participants will apply mindset principles to low-stakes assignments or AI prompts using a customizable template. No prior experience is required. Designed for faculty, advisors, instructional designers and other staff members, the session offers practical strategies, ready-to-use materials and a framework for innovative AI use grounded in persistence and curiosity.

Casandra Silva Sibilin, Lecturer, History, Philosophy and Anthropology, York College

J. Elizabeth Clark, Professor, English, LaGuardia Community College

Mari Watanabe-Rose, Chief of Staff to the Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Hunter College

Weiheng Sun, Educational Technologist, Office of Faculty Affairs, CUNY Graduate Center

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My Words, My Voice: Preserving Authentic Student Voice in the Age of AI

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

In an academic environment where ChatGPT can produce a polished essay in seconds, how do we help students hold on to their own voice? My Words, My Voice offers a practical framework – discover, embrace, cultivate – for guiding students to compare human and AI-generated text, discuss ethical use and reflect on what makes their writing unique. This session shares classroom-tested strategies that move beyond banning AI to fostering critical awareness and academic integrity. Participants will leave with adaptable activities and discussion prompts that help students recognize, value and develop their authentic voice while using AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

Marcus Dargan, Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Humanities, New York City College of Technology

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AI Behind the Scenes: Student Perspectives from Bronx Community College

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

AI is rapidly becoming part of student life – but how are students really using it? This presentation shares findings from the Bronx Community College Online Program. The study began with a survey of students’ learning modality preferences and has expanded to ask directly about AI use in studying, assignments and exams. Early results shed light on student practices with AI, raising key questions about learning, assessment and academic integrity. The session will highlight student perspectives and reflect on the implications for assessment design, teaching practices and academic integrity policies in higher education.

Jordi Getman-Eraso, Director of Online Learning, Professor, Online Program

Carlos Liatchovitzky, Professor, Biology Department

Both of Bronx Community College

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YorkGPT: A Year Later – Showcase on How to Build GPU-Powered AI Infrastructure

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

This session details the successful journey of YorkGPT, a unique IT, faculty and student partnership. YorkGPT, trained on campus data, serves as a universal, on-demand assistant that significantly lessens the burden by answering user questions on our data based on their roles. We will showcase the technical framework, including the integration of NVIDIA H100 GPUs and the achievement of high-speed performance. Attendees will learn how this collaborative, low-cost model can be replicated to establish their own campus as a leader in CUNY’s AI future.

Gregory Vega, Interim Assistant Vice President/Chief Information Officer

Rafael Nunez, Web Systems Director

Eric Tyrer, Senior DevOps Engineer

Hector Dominguez, Data Analyst/AI Engineer

All of Information Technology, York College

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Using AI and Other Emerging Technologies to Support STEM Education and Community Advocacy

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

In many respects, teachers are racing to keep up with students’ use of AI. But what if teachers invert that model and use AI to accelerate lesson planning for community-specific projects? In this way, we engage students in project-based learning that is essentially “AI proof”, but informed by AI itself. This talk describes a workshop that has been delivered to NYCPS teachers in which the Notebook LM technology is used in planning curriculum for a community-oriented data visualization project. Students and teachers take away from this project the impact that data visualization done in a culturally responsive way can have for helping their communities make decisions.

Geoffrey Fouad, Doctoral Lecturer, Geography and Environmental Science, School of Education

Nicole Bennett, Associate Provost and Assistant Vice President, Academic Affairs, Provost Office

Julissa Diloné, Clinical Placement Specialist, Computer Science and Adolescent Programs, School of Education

Edgar Troudt, Distinguished Lecturer and Director of Programs in Computer Science Education, Curriculum and Teaching, School of Education

All of Hunter College

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Artificial Intelligence and Education: The Spectrum of Support

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Artificial intelligence has proven to be a tremendous disruptor in higher education and demonstrates no signs of ceasing. Programs in the form of LLMs have emerged to support students in learning initiatives. In this presentation, we seek to capture the strengths and limitations of available technology that students use – and supplement our information with results from a student survey distributed across the CUNY disability community capturing the attitudes and climate of AI at the university. This presentation will give insight into the patterns and tools used by our most important stakeholders – our students.

Tayler Resnick, Accessibility Technology Manager, Accessibility Review and Response Team, Disability Programs, Central Office of Student Affairs, CUNY Central Office

Jun Hu, Assistive Technology Specialist, CUNY Assistive Technology Services, Queensborough Community College

Dylan Manchack, Assistive Technology Specialist, CUNY Assistive Technology Services, Queensborough Community College

Lewanda Miller, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Manager, Disability Programs, Central Office of Student Affairs, CUNY Central Office

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AI’s Disruption of the Concrete Experience in Learning: A Gradual Decay of the Senses

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

As AI becomes integrated into educational and professional problem-solving contexts, questions arise regarding its impact on concrete learning experiences. This presentation explores the hypothesis that individuals engaged in concrete experiences (e.g., fieldwork, simulations) are less reliant on AI tools for problem-solving than those immersed in abstract conceptualization (e.g., lectures). Grounded in cognitive and experiential learning theories, we posit a negative correlation between concrete learning experiences and reliance on AI, and a positive correlation between abstract conceptualization and reliance on AI. This framework illustrates how AI may unintentionally accelerate a cognitive shift toward dependence, eroding sensory learning and embodied cognition.

Joseph Foy, Assistant Professor, Online Business Programs, CUNY School of Professional Studies

Calvester Legister, Assistant Professor, Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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Translanguaging, Student Voice and Standard Language Ideology in ChatGPT-Assisted Writing

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

This session explores how multilingual CUNY students use ChatGPT for translation and writing support while risking voice erasure through standard language ideology. Framed by translanguaging and sociolinguistics, it highlights both opportunities and concerns, urging educators to design AI-informed pedagogy that fosters equity, multilingual expression and student agency.

Irina Fastovets, Adjunct Lecturer, English, The City College of New York

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Don’t AI Alone: Building Sustainable, Human-Centered AI Teacher Networks

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Don’t AI Alone (DAIA) emerged in 2024 as a grassroots faculty, staff and student-led working group committed to mapping AI-related efforts across CUNY and dismantling silos through collective learning. Its first convening in Spring 2025 sparked cross-campus conversations/collaborations and launched a shared database of AI projects. DAIA’s Fall 2025 convening expanded the community, highlighting classroom innovations in a conference format. This session will share DAIA’s strategies for grassroots organizing, building momentum and scaling into sustainable networks. Participants will be invited to contribute ideas, challenges and projects that advance DAIA’s vision for reimagining higher education in an AI-enhanced, human-centered world.

Anthony Wheeler, Computing Integrated Teacher Education Research Associate, Computing Integrated Teacher Education Initiative, CUNY Central Office

Casandra Silva Sibilin, Lecturer, History, Philosophy and Anthropology, York College

Mari Watanabe-Rose, Chief of Staff to the Dean, The School of Arts and Sciences, Hunter College

Edgar Troudt, Distinguished Lecturer, Curriculum and Teaching, Hunter College

Aankit Patel, University Dean for Tech and Computing, Office of Academic Affairs, CUNY Central Office

Laura Scheiber, Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Kingsborough Community College

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No More Copy-Paste: Turning Clicks into Productivity

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

Tired of repetitive tasks and manual data transfers? This hands-on workshop introduces CUNY faculty and staff to Microsoft Power Automate – your gateway to smarter workflows. Learn how to deal with routine processes and streamline communication using built-in AI tools. Whether you’re managing student data, reports or administrative tasks, discover how to save time and reduce manual efforts without writing a single line of code. Join us to explore practical use cases and leave with ready-to-deploy solutions tailored to higher education needs.

Trang Nguyen, Institutional Research Specialist, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation, Baruch College

Alexander Avdeev, Institutional Research Manager, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics, Borough of Manhattan Community College

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Using AI Tools to Enhance CUNY’s Administrative and Academic Future

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

Generative and agentic AI offer institutions new ways to improve administrative processes, such as admissions, scheduling and financial aid, and enrich academic experiences through intelligent tutoring, tailored learning pathways and enhanced content development. By supporting more adaptive decision-making and flexible workflows, generative and agentic AI help advance operational efficiency, academic innovation and student engagement.

This interactive session invites participants from across the CUNY system to immerse themselves in the possibilities generative and agentic AI offer to their institutions. Participants will be guided through structured exercises to identify challenges and creatively ideate AI-driven solutions that harness autonomy, adaptability and efficiency.

Joshua Meredith, Client Relationship Executive, New York State Higher Education

Blythe Kladney, Manager, Higher Education

Both of Deloitte

Break

Concurrent Sessions III

Meeting Students Where They Are: AI Storytelling for Inclusive Outreach

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

At York College, we created BabyCast, an AI-enabled storytelling series where staff and student leaders appear as animated avatars to introduce resources like the Center for Students with Disabilities, wellness programs and support services. Co-designed with students with disabilities, BabyCast uses humor and accessibility to make services more visible and approachable. This session will explore how AI and social media can meet students where they are, strengthen community and model human-centered outreach that fosters equity and engagement across higher education.

Isaac Augustin, Qualified Learning Assistant, Center for Students with Disabilities, York College

Charmaine Townsell, Senior Director of Wellness and Resources, Center for Students with Disabilities, York College

Janelle Sinclair, President, CCSD@York Club, Center for Students with Disabilities, The City College of New York

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Responsible Use of AI to Avoid Plagiarism in Conducting Research in the Classroom

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

In a fast-paced world, the need to meet urgent deadlines and where use of AI is inevitable as educators, how do we guide our students to conduct research in an ethical and responsible manner using AI as a research tool? We have identified incidents where students have innocently violated simple norms as they have used AI completing course works. We will present ideas on how to conduct classroom research using AI tools and highlight ethical and responsible use of AI.

Abu Kamruzzaman, Assistant Professor, Business and Economics

Elizabeth Quaye, Assistant Professor, Accounting and Finance

Fenio Annansingh-Jamieson, Interim Dean, School of Business and Information Systems

All of York College

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Using AI to Deliver Institutional Repository Services and Explore Stakeholder Views

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

This session describes experimentation with an AI-powered Python script developed by Queens College Librarian for Instructional Design and Education Eric Silberberg to support scholarly communications work. Integrating Gemini and SHERPA/RoMEO APIs, the tool augmented a copyright assessment workflow for depositing articles into CUNY Academic Works, our institutional repository.

Part of a collaboration between the Office of Library Services and the Faculty Fellowship Publication Program, this project identified articles to deposit, informed library outreach to faculty and generated data that surfaced points of friction between faculty, institutional and library priorities. The project enabled OLS and CUNY libraries to parse stakeholder tensions and set the stage for a dialogue that acknowledges competing interests while, ultimately, aiming at a shared understanding of CUNY Academic Works.

Jahanara Alamgir, Scholarly Communications Adjunct, Office of Library Services, CUNY Central Office

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Research with AI: Opportunities in Digital Humanities

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

How are AI tools reshaping research methodologies in digital humanities and interpretive disciplines? This presentation offers a practical guide for CUNY researchers exploring AI integration in their scholarly work, from computational text analysis to pattern recognition in visual archives. Through case studies and hands-on demonstrations, attendees will learn concrete strategies for incorporating AI tools into their projects while maintaining scholarly rigor. The session addresses ethical considerations around algorithmic bias and interpretation, showing how AI can enhance rather than replace human insight in humanities research.

Chandni Deadwyler, PhD Student, Sociology, CUNY Graduate Center

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Confessions of a Mid-Level College Administrator: How I Use AI to Build Apps for Data Analysis and Advisor Assignments

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

We all have read how AI may transform education – from improving learning, teaching, tutoring and advising to streamlining operations. But how are front-line staff using the tools in their daily jobs? Are there useful practices we could benefit from learning right now? Hear from an advising administrator on the concrete ways he is using AI to build Apps to analyze data, produce reports and generate caseloads for advisors.

Josh Goldblatt, Director of Academic Advising Initiatives, LaGuardia Community College

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HALC and AI: Scaling Responsible Adoption in Tutoring

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

At Hostos Community College, the Hostos Academic Learning Center (HALC) is reimagining tutoring through responsible adoption of AI. This session shares how HALC piloted custom AI agents, built student feedback loops and trained tutors to use AI ethically and effectively. Attendees will see how starting small and centering student support creates sustainable change. The presentation highlights concrete examples from STEM tutoring, lessons learned about privacy and equity and the creation of an AI tutoring handbook that documents best practices and strategies for scaling adoption without compromising human connection or academic integrity.

Lissette Jourdain, Director, Hostos Academic Learning Center

Ana Marjanovic, LMS Administrator/Instructional Designer, Office of Educational Technology

Maria Juarez, Math Tutor, Hostos Academic Learning Center

Anthony Cruz, Tutor, Hostos Academic Learning Center

Harlet Lopez, Tutor, Hostos Academic Learning Center

Denisse Feliz, Tutor, Hostos Academic Learning Center

All of Hostos Community College

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Ethical AI in Action: Building a Culture of Responsible AI Use in Courses and the Workplace

(Designing with AI: Tools and Creative Practice)

AI has shifted from a novelty to a core tool in education and the workplace. Yet, as gen AI tools proliferate, the conversation must move beyond what AI can do toward how we use it responsibly. This session explores strategies for embedding ethical AI practices into CUNY courses and into professional workflows across sectors – helping students graduate not just AI-literate, but AI-responsible. The session will share a framework for evaluating AI use that balances innovation with academic integrity, privacy and fairness. We will explore:

Attendees will leave with actionable tools – rubrics, policy templates and sample curricula – to create human-centered, ethically grounded AI experiences that prepare students to lead responsibly in an AI-driven economy.

Sean Stein Smith, Associate Professor, School of Business, Accounting, Lehman College

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Cognitive Upskilling: How We Learn and Use AI for Active Learning and Critical Thinking

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

As our students increasingly rely on AI for cognitive offloading of not only routine tasks, but also academic assignments, many of our faculty are wrestling with student ethics and motivation to learn. In this session, five John Jay College faculty from multiple disciplines will share their insights and experiences of designing innovative, practical assignments to increase student active learning and critical thinking skills through intentional engagement with AI tools and platforms. Since developing these assignments with the John Jay Teaching and Learning Center, each of our panelists has had the opportunity to revise and implement these activities with their students. We will be discussing our own shifts from reactive to constructive skepticism in teaching with AI, as well as the changes in our perspectives about how we teach critical thinking.

Gina Foster, Director, Teaching and Learning Center

Rocío Carranza Brito, Doctoral Lecturer, Modern Languages and Literatures

Sara Martucci, Doctoral Lecturer, Sociology

Sergio Grossi, Assistant Professor, Sociology

Filloreta Gashi, Adjunct Lecturer, Public Management

Shari Simon, Adjunct Professor, SEEK

All of John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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Multiple Agent Processing: Teaching Enterprise Development with AI

(AI and Teaching Innovation)

Multiple agent processing (MAP) transforms computer engineering curriculum to prepare students for managing AI-based coding workflows. We will examine a case study around NovaVoice, a production voice AI system with 538,000 lines of code, 22 AWS services and real-time telephony currently handling live calls, built by a single developer in a matter of weeks. What traditionally requires a six-person team over six to nine months was accomplished in eighteen sessions with ninety percent cost reduction. Key innovation: context persistence across sessions teaches students to orchestrate AI agents for enterprise development. Attendees learn MAP curriculum integration and discover how to prepare students for the future of software engineering.

Michael Lawrence, Lecturer, Engineering Technology, Queensborough Community College

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CSI’s Chatbot – How We Saved $21,000

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

The College of Staten Island (CSI) procured a third-party application to facilitate our chatbot, which is available on the website. Based on improved functionality in MSCopilot, CSI came to realize that the same functionality could be realized. This presentation will share the process CSI followed to develop our own chatbot using Copilot and, in the end, saved $21,000.

Joyce Taylor, Director, Administrative Application and Web Development, Information Technology Services, College of Staten Island

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Automating the Soul: Perceiving Conscious Machines through Motivation and Appetite and Its Exclusions

(Ethical AI and Data for Student Success)

Drawing on early apostolic writings on soul formation, where the soul was not simply a possession, but a process of relational becoming, this work from summer CUNY-Stanford research asks: if LLMs are increasingly integrated into our moral and communicative lives, what kind of ethical counter-designs must we envision to resist automating spiritless intelligence? How might we build models that cultivate rather than collapse the plurality of human expression? This project examines how chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Grok, encode linguistic hierarchies and whether they perpetuate forms of exclusion through their underlying training data and design logic. A critical component of this inquiry involves user interviews and discourse analysis to examine how the integration of AI into everyday life mediates or marginalizes linguistic differences. As discussions emerge around granting language models a form of proto-agency, or even the semblance of “soul” – echoing debates from classical philosophy to posthuman thought – it becomes necessary to interrogate not only what these systems say, but what they are becoming. AI language models trained primarily on English-language replicate and amplify hegemonic forms of what Jieun Kiaer terms “supersized English” – a globally dominant linguistic mode shaped by Silicon Valley ideologies. These systems reinforce narrow standards of communication, identity and interaction, often at the expense of non-English epistemologies and multilingual users.

Break

End-of-Day Drawing

Conference times, agenda and speakers are subject to change.