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Faculty and Staff Summer Conference Explores Future of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Ed

Group photo of summer conference atendees.

The Office of Academic Innovation hosted its annual Faculty & Saff Summer Conference June 4-5 at the College of Business Administration, bringing together 160 faculty, staff, and administrators from across the CSU system and beyond. Themed “The AI-Driven Future of Higher Education and Work,” the two-day event created a space for collaborative dialogue, hands-on learning, and forward-thinking strategies centered on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education.

The conference opened with a keynote address from Annette Vee, an English professor from the University of Pittsburgh. Vee demystified large language models like ChatGPT and explored their transformative potential in the classroom, emphasizing how AI can be used to strengthen student writing, scaffold learning and support critical thinking across disciplines.

Attendees then continued with a secondary keynote address from Leslie Kennedy, assistant vice chancellor of academic technology services at the CSU Chancellor's Office. Kennedy discussed the CSU system’s newly established partnership with OpenAI, which has brought ChatGPT Edu access to all 23 campuses. This development signals a major step toward equipping faculty, staff and students with powerful AI tools while advancing digital equity and ethical adoption practices systemwide.  

The second day featured keynote address from Chesa Caparas, an English and ethnic studies professor from De Anza College. Caparas spoke on the importance of culturally responsive teaching and AI literacy as a form of empowerment. During her keynote, Caparas stated that AI literacy “can help overcome digital divides and increase opportunities for students seeking jobs in the emerging workforce.” Her keynote encouraged educators to focus on equity, inclusion and agency in their approach to AI integration.

Across both days, participants chose from two tracks focusing on implementing AI inside and outside the classroom. Both focused on ethical frameworks for AI use, inclusive technology practices and emerging workforce skills.

The conference also featured a student and industry panel, which shared perspectives on how AI tools are impacting academics and the workforce. Their perspectives highlighted the importance of transparency, support and critical thinking in building trust and responsible use of AI.

The 2025 Summer Conference reaffirmed the university's dedication to leading educational innovation—equipping faculty and staff with the knowledge, community, and resources needed to navigate emerging technologies consciously and equitably.  

To learn more about the summer conference, visit the Office of Academic Innovation website or contact them directly at ai@cpp.edu.