Impact in the Age of AI: Coding a More Connected Campus

The fifth annual Impact Conference, Cultivating Community in the Age of AI, brought together senior technology leaders in higher education to explore ways to apply AI to strengthen — rather than replace — human connections. The event occurred at Westmont’s Global Leadership Center in July.

“Top technology officers, students from Westmont programs like the Center for Applied Technology Lab (CATLab) and academic leaders discussed the role of technology in this new age of AI,” says Zak Landrum, director of customer relationship management and data services. “We considered the ways AI can improve efficiency, sharing some examples of what our students have been working on this summer, while contemplating the role of technology in student formation.”

Nationally recognized speakers included Randy Bass, vice president for strategic education initiatives at Georgetown University and founding director of Red House; Julia Freeland Fisher, director of education research at the Clayton Christensen Institute; Lev Gonick, chief information officer at Arizona State University and leader of their strategic technology initiatives; and Matt DeJongh, Hope College computer science professor and amateur pianist.

Presentations by CATLab students illustrated amazing company partnerships with the college. Several Hope College computer science students attended and connected with Westmont’s team for collaborative learning and discussion.

Front Row: Leah McGowen-Hare, Emma Caldero, Nice Teta Hirwa, Charles Ryu, Elise Reynolds, Amelia Ubben, Elijah Tiao and Zak Landrum

Back Row: Jonathan Iyob, Heritier Kayabo, David Oyebade, David Ponce de Leon, Lucca Rodriguez and Xander Hagen

Sponsors include FormAssembly, Tondro, Gerent, Education Trailblazers Association, ElevateActual, the Fletcher Jones Foundation and Westmont’s Center for Technology, Creativity and the Moral Imagination.