OAI Summer Conference Schedule
Conference Program
Review the OAI Summer Conference schedule below to explore session times, topics, presenters, and locations. For the full conference experience, including detailed session descriptions and program information, view the digital conference program flipbook.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The Academic Innovation Summer Conference takes place June 3rd–4th, 2026, at Cal Poly Pomona, College of Business Administration - Building 162, Room 1001. Sessions run daily from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, featuring keynotes, workshops, and collaborative discussions on AI in education and work.
Check-in and continental breakfast.
Welcome remarks from Provost Terri Gomez and Dr. Olukemi Sawyerr.
Digital Assets in the Classroom, A Revolution in Higher Education
Session Speaker:
Dr. Frank Wuerthwein | Director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego
Session Summary:
Digital Assets (Compute, Data, and AI) are revolutionizing what and how we teach in higher education. They bring us closer to the gold standard of education of a few students that actively engage with an instructor while at the same time maintaining economies of scale of hundreds to thousands of students per classroom. Initial evidence indicates substantial improvements of student engagement and learning outcomes, to the point where we predict that institutions that fail to adopt this trend will go bankrupt because nobody will want their education anymore. After arguing the above, we will show how every college in the nation can afford to embrace this trend and own the means of curriculum production and execution.
Speaker Bio:
Frank Wuerthwein, Director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and Professor at UC San Diego. Dr. Wuerthwein received his PhD in physics from Cornell University, specializing in elementary particle physics, followed by a Millikan Fellowship at Caltech, and a junior faculty position at MIT. His interests today are in turning bytes into knowledge via data analysis and developing and operating globally distributed cyberinfrastructure to do so effectively.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
15-minute break.
Apple’s Approach to AI: Possibilities for Higher Education
Session Speaker:
Andrew Currah, Ph.D. | Education Leadership Executive, Apple Inc.
Session Summary:
This session will provide an overview of Apple’s approach to AI and explore opportunities for teaching, learning and research. In particular, the discussion will highlight Apple’s integrated approach to hardware, software and services - and how this enables new AI-powered tools and workflows that are built around privacy and security. Participants will leave with practical examples and suggestions for developing their AI skills and maximizing the power of iPad and Mac in teaching, learning and general productivity.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Andrew Currah is an Education Leadership Executive with Apple. Based in San Diego, he consults with higher education institutions across the US around the design and implementation of technology initiatives, with a current focus on expanding access to AI and Apple Intelligence. Prior to joining Apple, Andrew served as faculty in the Center for the Environment, University of Oxford. He holds an MA, MPhil and Ph.D. in economic geography from Downing College, University of Cambridge, England.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
Lunch provided by Kellogg West.
AI in the Classroom
Integrating AI Tools in Curriculum and Instruction: Hybrid Models and Applied STEM Strategies
Session Speaker:
Dr. Mingheng Li | Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
Dr. Shelli Wynants, Quality Online Inclusive Learning Design Coordinator, Faculty Development Center, Child and Adolescent Studies, Cal State Fullerton
Moderators:
Dr. Laila Jallo, Chair and Professor, Chemical & Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
Erick Zelaya, Sr. Multimedia Developer, Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence
Session Summary:
This session brings together two presenters to share practical approaches for integrating generative AI into teaching across disciplines. Participants will explore a low-barrier hybrid model where AI supports low-stakes practice and feedback while instructors focus on higher-order thinking and applied work, along with examples of AI use in an applied STEM (chemical engineering) course. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to enhance student learning, confidence, and engagement while maintaining the central role of instructor expertise.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
AI Outside the Classroom
Coding with AI: Codex for Research and Coursework Workshop
Session Speaker:
Dr. Yufan Lin | Assistant Professor, International Business and Marketing, College of Business Administration
Dr. Ken Zhang | Assistant Professor, Technology and Operations, College of Business Administration
Session Summary:
In this hands-on workshop, Dr. Ken Zhang introduces participants to AI-assisted coding with Codex, focusing on practical techniques for integrating AI into research. Participants will learn effective prompting, structured workflows, and best practices for using AI in coding, debugging, and development tasks to support research and teaching
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1002
15-minute break.
AI in the Classroom
AI Tools in the Research Process: Exploring Consensus & Research Rabbit
Session Speakers:
Dr. Shonn Haren | University Library
Dr. Indira Guzman | Assistant Professor, Computer Information Systems, College of Business Administration
Session Details:
In this hands-on workshop, participants will be introduced to two AI tools for finding and tracking citations: Consensus and Research Rabbit. These tools can be very useful for preparing and organizing literature reviews and other sections in a research project. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own devices for exploration of these tools and to create accounts in them ahead of time.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
AI Outside the Classroom
From Ideas to Impact Outside the Classroom: Using AI in Your Daily Work
Session Speakers:
Kevin Malone | Associate Director, Student Health Services
Jason Mejia Lu | Director, Bronco Leadership Center
Alice Tokunaga | Administrative Support Coordinator, College of Engineering
Moderators:
Dr. Laila Jallo | Chair and Professor, Chemical & Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
Weston Prisbrey | Dean of Students
Session Details:
In this interactive session, staff from across campus will share how they’re using AI in their day-to-day work and help you explore ways to apply it to your own role - whether for scheduling, data analysis, or streamlining operations. Bring your device and a project you’d like to improve using AI.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1002
Wrap-up and collective reflection.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Continental breakfast.
AI Image Generators in Higher Education: Practices and Ethical Considerations
Session Speaker:
Dr. Tiffany Zhu | Assistant Professor, Global Ethics and Technology, Old Dominion University
Session Summary:
As generative artificial intelligence tools powered by large language models become increasingly ubiquitous, educators are experimenting with new ways to integrate them into the classroom, such as creating teaching materials and supporting student creativity. While genAI tools may have the potential to enhance certain aspects of engagement and learning when integrated through intentional instructional design, guidance on how to use them effectively and responsibly, particularly when it comes to text-to-image generation models, remains fragmented across disciplines.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Tiffany Zhu is an assistant professor of global ethics and technology in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. Her research focuses on AI ethics and social epistemology, especially how generative AI represents social groups and social reality. She also studies normatively binding beliefs that hinder progress, including collective hypocrisy and forms of prejudice, and conducts empirical research in cognitive developmental psychology.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
15-minute break.
AI in the Classroom
AI Tools in the Research: Smarter Drones, Safer Aircraft, and Faster Research
Session Speakers:
Dr. Shokoufeh Mirzaei | Chair and Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing, College of Engineering
Curtis Carpenter | Director, Advanced Computing, IT&IP
Session Summary:
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword — it is actively reshaping how engineers solve complex, real-world problems. In this talk, we explore two hands-on applications: predicting drone flight trajectories and forecasting structural loads on aircraft. Both challenges require understanding patterns that evolve over time, and we show how a type of AI called a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) tackles this elegantly — no prior AI background needed. We also introduce the newly launched campus computing cluster and demonstrate through direct comparison how it dramatically reduces model training time, turning what once took hours into minutes. Whether you are curious about AI, thinking of applying it in your own research, or simply want to see what is now possible with resources available right here on campus, this talk is for you.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
AI Outside the Classroom
Scaling Care: Human-Centered Student Support in the Age of AI
Session Speaker:
Dr. DeVoneia Jordan | Lead Career Coach, College of Science
Beth Lee | Lead Career Coach, College of Business Administration
Cherrie Peters | Lead Career Coach, College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
Session Summary:
In this session, we explore how the Career Center is using AI-enabled tools such as uConnect, VMock, Big Interview, and Focus 2 to expand student support, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen career readiness services at scale. The session will also consider how human-centered guidance, student touchpoint data, and digital badging can work together to support students in an evolving workforce.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1002
AI in the Classroom
Faculty Panel: Navigating AI Policies in the Classroom
Session Speakers:
Devon Hackleton | Lecturer, English Composition
Dr. Dana Marshall | Assistant Professor, Communications
Cindy Cordoba | Assistant Professor, Apparel Merchandising and Management
Dr. Randy Stein | Professor, Marketing
Moderator:
Dr. Laura Massa | Associate Vice President, Academic Programs
Session Summary:
At a time when AI tools are ubiquitous and reshaping expectations around student work, instructors are asking not just if but how to address AI in their syllabi and classes. Faculty are taking a range of thoughtful, pedagogically grounded approaches, from prohibiting AI use to intentionally integrating it into learning activities. This panel highlights that spectrum of practice through reflections on policies, assignments, classroom conversations, and ongoing dilemmas. Rather than prescribing a single approach, the discussion will explore key considerations, tradeoffs, and examples that faculty may weigh in shaping their own course policies and pedagogies.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
AI Outside the Classroom
AI in Practice: A Community Discussion
Session Speakers:
Dr. Emily Kiresich | Associate Professor, Nutrition and Food Science
Session Summary:
This interactive session invites faculty and staff to share experiences, questions, and challenges related to using AI in daily work. Participants are encouraged to bring their own use cases, concerns, and needs, creating a space for open dialogue and peer learning. Through guided discussion, the session will highlight practical examples of how AI has been used effectively, while also addressing common uncertainties and barriers. The goal is to foster a collaborative exchange of ideas and identify opportunities for responsible and impactful AI use across campus.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1002
1-hour lunch break.
Industry Panel AI Research Resource
Session Speakers:
Cris Lucero | Google
Jase Nosal | Supply Chain Optics
Johans Acosta | Splunk
Moderator:
Dr. Amar Raheja | Professor, Computer Science, College of Science
Session Summary:
This session features case studies from industry partners on effective AI use in real-world settings, with a focus on how to prepare students for the workplace. Participants will learn how AI is used in industry and how academic programs can better equip students with the skills needed to use these tools responsibly and effectively.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
15-minute break.
Student Panel: Student Voices of Innovation: Solving Business and Societal Challenges with AI
Session Panel:
Timothy Gaines | Technical Operations Mgmt
Labibah Zaman | Business Analytics
Anderson Edmond | Computer Science
Akari Narikawa | Computer Science
Aung Phone Myat | Mechanical Engineering
Yaza Myo Tun | Business Analytics
Aspen Knox | Mechanical Engineering
Victor Lin | Digital Supply Chain Mgmt
Moderator:
Dr. Yufan Lin | Assistant Professor, College of Business Administration
Session Summary:
This session features student projects developed during an intensive AI Hackathon, followed by a moderated student panel discussion. Students will share their experiences, challenges, and successes in applying AI to solve real-world business and societal problems under time and resource constraints. Panelists will discuss innovation, teamwork, ethical considerations, and impact, offering firsthand insights into how students translate AI concepts into meaningful and responsible solutions
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
Wrap-up, reflections, and survey.
Location:
College of Business Administration
Building 162-1001
