STLCC Summit Confronts AI's Higher Ed Revolution | The Locally Times
Six regional institutions will converge at STLCC–Forest Park on April 14 to dissect AI's profound human impact on learning, teaching, and the future workforce.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we learn, teach, and work. To confront this profound shift, St. at STLCC–Forest Park's Health Sciences Building, Room 412 (5600 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110), the event will gather academic and technology leaders from six regional institutions. They will discuss AI's evolving influence on learning, teaching, and the future of work. Renita Luck, EdS, associate vice chancellor for distance learning at St. Louis Community College, emphasizes that AI is transforming higher education in real time, impacting how students learn, how faculty teach, and how institutions operate. The conference, she explains, aims to focus on the human side of this transformation, addressing the people, roles, ethics, and evolving expectations for learning and work in an AI-mediated environment. ## Regional Expertise Converges The conference will draw expertise from six prominent regional institutions: Lindenwood University, Maryville University, Saint Louis University, St. Louis Community College, Washington University in St. Louis, and Webster University. Speakers include deans, professors, and directors specializing in critical areas such as cybersecurity, business, and teaching innovation. Specific participants include W. Travis McMaken, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Lindenwood University, and James Hutson, PhD, professor and department head from the same institution. Maryville University will be represented by Brian M. Gant, EdD, assistant professor of cybersecurity, and Phyllis R. Davis, MBAthe cybersecurity graduate program. Saint Louis University participants include Mike Holmes, DT, director of academic applications, and Jackson Nickerson, PhD, dean of the Chaifetz School of Business. From Washington University in St. Louis, Anna M. Cunningham, MEd, PhD, assistant director of teaching innovation, and Jeromey Farmer, PhD, professor of practice, are scheduled to speak. Webster University's representation includes Tara J. Plachowski, PhD, MFA, Gen AI Faculty Fellow and visiting assistant professor. ## Access and Community Relevance Accessibility is key for this event: attendance is free, and no registration is required. Free parking will be available in the STLCC-Forest Park parking garage, accessible off Macklind Ave. Refreshments will be provided, though event details do not specify their cost or the anticipated number of attendees. Beyond academia, the conference offers vital insights for the wider community. It will shed light on future workforce demands, evolving skill requirements for students, and potential curriculum developments in local schools. Residents can gain a clearer understanding of the significant technological shifts impacting the job market and their families. ## Key Questions **Who is this mini-conference for?** The event invites regional higher education faculty, deans, CIOs, and leadership, as well as interested members of the public. **Where can attendees park?** Free parking is available in the STLCC-Forest Park parking garage off Macklind Ave. **What is the primary focus of the discussion?** The mini-conference will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the human dimensions of learning, teaching, and work in higher education.