Skip to main content

Speaker presentations are linked on the symposium schedule below, along with the recorded livestream videos.

As part of its 125th Anniversary Celebration, Trinity Washington University hosted a symposium on the growing impact and future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the O’Connor Auditorium on Friday, October 27, 2023. Experts and students explored topics including how AI will affect your life, the ways in which AI is revolutionizing education, healthcare and other industries, as well as the ethical and sociological implications.

As the role of artificial intelligence grows exponentially more influential in many spheres, Trinity Washington University’s symposium offers the opportunity to engage with speakers from many areas of expertise for conversations that will engage and enlighten attendees.

Symposium on Artificial Intelligence
Friday, October 27, 2023

Keynote: Mr. Bryce Hall

Associate Partner, McKinsey & Co., Author of The State of AI in 2023 – Generative AI’s Breakout Year

Mr. Hall advises companies across industries on how to use the power of digital and AI to maximize value for companies and their customers.

Distinguished Speakers

Ms. Renée Cummings

Asst. Professor of the Practice in Data Science
University of Virginia School of Data Science

Renée Cummings, a 2023 VentureBeat AI Innovator Award winner, is an artificial intelligence (AI), data, and tech ethicist, and the first Data Activist-in-Residence at the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science.

Dr. Steven Gable

Associate Professor of Philosophy
Trinity Washington University

Dr. Gable teaches numerous courses in Ethics and in this presentation he will focus on the intersection of AI in the creation and dissemination of political propaganda, disinformation and conspiracy theories.

Dr. Cynthia Greer

Associate Professor of Counseling
Trinity Washington University

Cynthia Greer, Ph.D. teaches clinical mental health counseling and leads the Research Initiative on Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma.  Dr. Greer’s talk is entitled “You Won’t Break My Soul”: Living with Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Jessica Herstek

Chief Medical Information Officer
Children’s National Hospital

Jessica Herstek, M.D., is a hospitalist at Children’s National Hospital, and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Preventative Medicine.

Ms. Tekedra Mawakana

Co-Chief Executive Officer
Waymo

A 1993 Trinity alumna, Tekedra N. Mawakana is the co-CEO of Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company with a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going.  As co-CEO, Tekedra is responsible for overall company strategy, with her primary focus on ensuring Waymo’s transformational technology — the Waymo Driver — is commercialized and widely adopted.  Tekedra currently serves on the Board of Directors for Intuit, and on the Advisory Council for Boom Technology.

Dr. Prem Misir

Adjunct Professor of Public Health
Trinity Washington University

With a long career in public health, Dr. Misir is currently Head, Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) National Secretariat & National Coordinator, Government of Guyana.  He previously served as Head of the School of Public Health for the University of the South Pacific, and numerous other academic and public health leadership positions.  His most recent book examines Covid-19 and Racial Health Disparities in the U.S.

Dr. Carrie O’Reilly

Nursing Program Director; Associate Professor of Practice
Trinity Washington University

Carrie O’Reilly, Ph.D., MSN, RN in the director of the Trinity nursing program, and founding director of the simulation lab for the School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Dr. Sita Ramamurti

Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Mathematics
Trinity Washington University

Sita Ramamurti, Ph.D. has 25 + years of experience teaching collegiate mathematics, and her research interests include mathematical modeling and dynamical systems, and reform and policy initiatives in K-12 education.

Dr. Brian K. Smith 

Nelson Professor and Associate Dean
Lynch School of Education at Boston College

Brian K. Smith, Ph.D., researches the design of computer-based learning environments, human-computer interaction, design sciences, out-of-school learning, and computer science education.

Dr. Mark Smith

Innovator-in-Residence
MedStar Institute for Innovation
Professor of Emergency Medicine, Georgetown University

Mark Smith, M.D., was MedStar Health system’s first chief innovation officer and founding director of the MedStar Institute for Innovation, one of the largest and most diverse innovation centers in health care.

Dr. Jennifer Steele

Professor
American University School of Education

Jennifer L. Steele, Ed.D., researches quantitative methods that support causal inference, focuses on education policy and the economics of education at the P-12 and postsecondary levels.

Schedule

9:30

Welcome and Introduction to the Program

10:00

Keynote:  Overview of Artificial Intelligence and Its Implications

11:00

Panel:  Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Higher Education

Panelists:

Moderator:

Noon

Boxed lunches available

12:05

Ensuring the Human-Centered Application of AI

  • A Conversation with Dr. Brian K. Smith, Nelson Professor and Associate Dean, Lynch School of Education at Boston College
    • With expertise in computer science and human learning development, Dr. Smith examines the power of technology to enhance learning while also ensuring the core values of human dignity and social justice, with special attention to the role of Catholic colleges and universities in the development of educational applications using artificial intelligence

1:00

Panel:  Ethics, Bias, and the Governance of Artificial Intelligence

Panelists:

  • Ms. Renee Cummings, University of Virginia, Assistant Professor of the Practice in Data Science
  • Dr. Steven Gable, Trinity Associate Professor of Philosophy
    • Dr. Gable teaches numerous courses in Ethics and in this presentation he will focus on the intersection of AI in the creation and dissemination of political propaganda, disinformation and conspiracy theories.
    • Dr. Gable on AI and Conspiracy Theory Plausibility
  • Dr. Sita Ramamurti, Trinity Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and Professor of Mathematics
    • Using Kolam, a traditional art form of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India, Dr. Ramamurti demonstrates how generative AI models are able to produce human-like texts and images following the patterns and algorithms of formal language theory
    • Dr. Ramamurti: Figures on the Threshold

Moderator:

  • Ms. Sophia Young, Trinity Adjunct Professor of Political Science

2:15

AI Revolution in Medicine and Patient Care

Panelists:

Moderator:

4:00

AI Revolution in Transportation: Waymo Self-Driving Cars

5:15

Adjourn, Reception in Main Hall

Watch the Full Live Stream

Part 1

Part 2