Panel Overview
I will be speaking on the “Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education” panel at the second annual Power of Public Colleges & Universities Conference, hosted by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. This interdisciplinary panel examines the pressing societal and educational challenges AI poses and how higher education must adapt to meet them.
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes work, education, governance, and civic life, the panel will explore how public institutions can prepare students and communities for an AI-driven future.
Conference Context
The conference brings together leaders from New Jersey’s public higher education institutions, state government, and workforce development organizations to discuss the future of public higher education. Senator Joseph P. Cryan, Chair of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, delivers the keynote address.
Panel Discussion
The panel is moderated by Alyssa Maurice and Tina Zappile from the Hughes Center and features perspectives from across academia, government, and labor:
- Jo-Renee Formicola - Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Public Affairs, Seton Hall University
- Kevin Michels - Professor and founding Director of the School of Business Center for Innovation and Ethics, The College of New Jersey
- Marie Pryor - NJ AI Hub
- Gregory Williams - Education Director, NJ AFL-CIO
My Perspective
As Founding Director of the DHCR Data Center at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, I bring a practitioner’s perspective on how AI and data infrastructure are transforming government operations and public service delivery. The discussion will draw on my experience building data systems that serve public policy goals while navigating the practical and ethical considerations of emerging technologies.
This panel also represents a return to my alma mater, where I earned both my undergraduate degree in Political Science (2018) and Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (2020).
About the Author
