91ÖÆƬ³§

Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, & ATS News

Associate Vice President, ATS

Image

Under the direction of Dr. Shariq Ahmed, Academic Technology Services leads the 91ÖÆƬ³§ campus in leveraging technology that effectively supports instruction, creates learning environments, and supports campus staff to foster student success. Dr. Ahmed delivers and supports educational technology to the 91ÖÆƬ³§ campus community by using innovative practices and technologies to develop effective and accessible solutions for a continually evolving educational landscape.

Welcome remarks

Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Image

Dr. Karyn Scissum Gunn joined California State University, Long Beach as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in July 2021. As the chief academic officer for the institution, the provost provides leadership for all academic matters at the university. The provost oversees the quality of academic processes and works to ensure faculty quality and advancement via her leadership. The provost also works to increase student retention, promote student engagement and active learning, and ensure that students achieve their educational goals.

CSU Chancellor’s Office News

Assistant Vice Chancellor for ATS, CSU Office of the Chancellor

Image

Leslie Kennedy, Ed.D., is the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Technology Services at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. She provides strategic leadership in integrating technology into teaching, learning, and student services across the CSU system.  Dr. Kennedy oversees academic technology initiatives, budget management, and personnel while advising leadership on systemwide services, including online education, library services, learning management systems, AI strategic planning, and emerging technologies. 

Microsoft Keynote

Global Higher Education Leader at Microsoft Education

Image

Bruce Thompson is Microsoft’s Global Higher Education Leader, where he provides strategic leadership across higher education ecosystems, working closely with institutions, governments, and partners to advance the effective use of digital platforms in teaching, learning, and research. Based in the Seattle area, he brings more than two decades of experience at Microsoft, complemented by over ten years living and working across Asia, giving him a deeply global perspective on education systems and policy. 

Faculty XR Presentation

Lecturer in Cinematic Arts

Image

Dr. Zizi Li is a critical media studies scholar and educator. She teaches classes on film, digital media, and influencer cultures. Her research on production cultures, identity formation, and labor practices has been published in journals including Wide Screen, Television & New Media, Mediapolis, and Velvet Light Trap. 

Faculty XR Presentation

Associate Professor in Anthropology

Image

Dr. Kara Miller is a cultural anthropologist and Associate Professor of Applied Anthropology, specializing in medical anthropology. Her research explores embodiment in many forms, including the implications for knowledge-building and well-being. She has previously published work that looks at the role of the body in augmented and virtual reality experiences and considers the potential applications for healing and therapy. Dr. Miller’s talk will highlight opportunities for meaning-making with virtual environments and artificial intelligence, as well as what these technologies can tell us about the human condition.

Faculty AI Presentation

Lecturer in Health Science

Image

Kelley Tenny is an educator, AI innovator, and advocate for the responsible integration of artificial intelligence in education. She has more than 20 years of experience as a professor in the Health Science Department at California State University, Long Beach, where she has been a leader in advancing technology-enhanced learning. Kelley also developed and taught a course on AI and innovation for the Changemakers Program at the University of California, Berkeley, exploring how emerging technologies can drive positive social impact. Known for translating complex technology into practical applications, she is a sought-after speaker and trainer. Kelley is also the founder of Women Who AI, a collective celebrating female leadership in artificial intelligence and innovation. 

Faculty AI Presentation

Lecturer in Computer Engineering and Computer Science

Image

Dr. Benyamin Haghi is a Lecturer in CECS Department of 91ÖÆƬ³§, and a Machine Learning Software Developer Engineer at Apple. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where his research focused on energy-efficient and robust machine learning algorithms for biomedical and embedded AI systems. His research spans deep learning, large language models, signal processing, and AI-driven optimization, with applications in healthcare technologies, and intelligent systems. Dr. Haghi has also held research and engineering positions at Google, Amazon, and Stanford University. In addition to 91ÖÆƬ³§, he teaches artificial intelligence, machine learning, data visualization, and statistics at University of California San Diego (UCSD), California State University Northridge (CSUN), and Orange Coast College (OCC). 

Faculty AI Presentation

Professor and Director of Master of Science in Marketing Analytics

Image

Reo Song, Ph.D., is a professor of marketing in the College of Business. He also serves as director of the MS in Marketing Analytics program, helping students prepare for careers in data-driven marketing, analytics, and machine learning. His research sits at the intersection of marketing, finance, and computer science, and has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Marketing and Production and Operations Management. He applies statistics, econometrics, and machine learning to study business-related topics, such as the use of generative AI to improve sales forecasting, student learning, product design, and accessibility. He is the coauthor of the forthcoming book Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence: An Advanced Guide to Data-Driven Decision Making (Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature). He has received numerous grants and awards, including recent funding for generative AI initiatives in education, product design, and accessibility. He has been invited to speak internationally on topics such as AI in business, digital transformation, and innovation. He writes regular newspaper columns on AI, digital transformation, and innovation. He earned his Ph.D. in marketing from Texas A&M University, an MBA from the University of Rochester, and M.A. and B.A. degrees in philosophy from Seoul National University in South Korea. 

DoIT and ATS Demo of AI Tools

Instructional Design Consultant in ATS

Image

DoIT and ATS Demo of AI Tools

Instructional Designer in ATS

Image

Chad joined CSU Long Beach as an Instructional Designer in September of 2020. Chad obtained his Ph.D. in Communications from UCSD and since 2006, Chad has taught Communications at UC San Diego, San Diego State University, Clovis Community College, and other online institutions. While teaching at San Diego State University, he began replicating and adapting principles of learning theory to the design of online courses and multi-media learning spaces as a Faculty Fellow in the Course Design Institute. His training and experience in instructional design include coaching faculty at various institutions including SDSU, Tulane University, Wake Forest University, and Cal State Northridge. He has also built and directed instructional design teams at various higher education institutions. 

DoIT and ATS Demo of AI Tools

IT Trainer, Division of Information Technology

Image

Kerri Sorenson is an IT Trainer with 91ÖÆƬ³§â€™s Division of IT and a proud 91ÖÆƬ³§ alumna, holding a degree in Communications. With 20 years of experience in technology training, she is passionate about making complex tools accessible and empowering the campus community to confidently engage with new technologies. She has supported numerous campus technology initiatives and is committed to serving the 91ÖÆƬ³§ community by advancing meaningful, effective use of technology.