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Pace’s Actionable AI Conference

Speakers

Featured Speakers

Our featured speakers hail from companies such as Google, D2L, and the Education Development Center, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and research about the intersection of AI, education, and workforce development. Their discussions will help frame the big questions of the conference—centered on what learning and living look like in an AI-driven world, and how educators can prepare themselves, their students, and their institutions for what comes next.

Charles Elliott

Google AI expert Charles Elliott looks into the camera

Charles Elliott is a Head of Industry at Google Cloud, leading initiatives that transform education through the power of technology, particularly generative AI. Building on a successful consulting career focused on Big Data, Analytics, and AI, Charles now leverages his extensive expertise to guide educational institutions and ed-tech companies in realizing the potential of personalized learning at scale. With over 14 years of experience, he specializes in bridging cutting-edge cloud solutions with the specific needs of the education sector.

As a trusted advisor, he empowers organizations to enhance learning experiences, improve accessibility, and drive measurable educational outcomes. His work spans early childhood education, machine learning applications, and strategic cloud implementation, with a focus on leveraging generative AI to unlock new possibilities in personalized learning. Charles continues to contribute to Google's Customer Advisory Boards, fostering innovation across the industry.

Joyce Malyn-Smith

Joyce Malyn-Smith is pictured in front of a purple background

Joyce Malyn-Smith, EdD, is Director of Strategic Initiatives in Workforce and Human Development at EDC and a national authority on STEM career development and workforce education. Her research centers on the future of work and its implications for lifelong learning, investigating the human dispositions and foundational skills needed to collaborate with machines in solving complex problems.

Malyn-Smith explores what it means to be human in an AI-driven world and works to align education systems with the demands of emerging technologies, such as AI, big data, and computational thinking. Malyn-Smith partners with community colleges nationwide to define future-ready competencies and develop tools that connect academic programs with evolving industry needs.

Shannon Creighton

D2L expert Shannon Creighton wears a plaid shirt and crosses his arms

Shannon Creighton, DBA, is a Solutions Engineer II at D2L Brightspace. He brings over 15 years of experience in educational technology, curriculum development, and customer success, having led initiatives that improved student engagement, program growth, and institutional effectiveness. At D2L, he partners with organizations to design and deliver innovative learning solutions that advance student success.

D2L is the developer of Brightspace, a cloud-based learning management system used by schools, universities, and businesses for online and blended learning.

Session Speakers

Breakout sessions will be led by a distinguished group of AI experts from across Pace University’s faculty and staff. These presenters bring extensive academic, industry, and applied experience in AI. 

James Brusseau

James Brusseau, PhD, teaches at Pace University in New York City and at the University of Trento in Italy. His academic research explores the human experience of artificial intelligence in the areas of authenticity, freedom, and personal identity.

Matt Ganis

Matt Ganis, PhD, is a professor of computer science on the Pleasantville Campus. A 40-year veteran of IBM, Ganis is recognized as an industry expert in agile software methodologies. He has spoken extensively on iterative development methods and the use of social media analytics to understand customer sentiment and behavior. Ganis is the author of two books—one on distributed Scrum and another on social media analytics—and has published more than 50 papers across his fields of expertise.

Beth Gordon

Beth Gordon, PhD, is an innovative IT leader and educator with over 25 years of experience in higher education. As Vice President and CIO at Pace University, Beth leads strategic technology initiatives that advance teaching, learning, and operational excellence—including Pace's AI adoption, digital transformation, and infrastructure modernization. Her work focuses on harnessing AI to improve student success, streamline university operations, and foster collaboration across academic and administrative teams. Her research interests include the future of digital learning, change management, and emerging technologies—especially AI.

Hetal Mistry

Hetal Mistry, MS, is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science and an adjunct professor, teaching Introduction to Computing, Web Design for Non-Profit Organizations, and AI in the Workplace. Her research tackles two high-impact challenges: developing hybrid Graph Convolutional and Graph Attention Network models to detect anomalies across domains in cybersecurity, and exploring how mobile and fixed broadband access correlates with carbon emissions across global economies. Her work bridges AI, sustainability, and cybersecurity, aiming to drive both technological innovation and responsible digital growth.

Johnni Medina

Johnni Medina, MA, is the manager of content and digital engagement in Pace's University Relations and the creator of a suite of custom AI bots for Pace marketing teams. They have also helped lead AI literacy initiatives, delivered generative AI curriculum to students and staff, and consulted on AI adoption at Pace and beyond. Medina focuses on designing practical, people-first systems that require no programming knowledge, enabling broad integration within nontechnical teams.

David Sachs

David Sachs, EdD, is a professor of information systems in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems and has served as faculty co-chair of the University’s AI Committee since April 2024. Sachs authored the AI materials currently used in CIS-101, which has served over 2,000 undergraduates, and manages many of the AI training initiatives underway at the University.

Christelle Scharff

Christelle Scharff, PhD, is a professor of computer science, associate dean, and co-director of the AI Lab in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. She holds a PhD in symbolic artificial intelligence from INRIA, France’s National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology. Her research spans global software engineering, mobile for social change, and machine learning, with grants from NSF, IBM, Microsoft, VentureWell, and Google. A two-time US Fulbright scholar, she conducted research in Senegal in 2012–2013 and 2019–2020.

Joe Seijo

Joe Seijo is the associate director of instructional design and an adjunct instructor in the criminal justice program in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. He supports faculty in developing online courses for both new and existing programs. His current focus is empowering faculty to confidently integrate AI into their teaching to enhance course content and increase student engagement.

Gabriel Terrizzi

Gabriel Terrizzi, BA, is the director of web, mobile, and AI services. He authored the University’s first ethical guidelines for the use of generative AI and co-developed the institution’s inaugural faculty-approved classroom policy on AI. Terrizzi has led the development and deployment of AI tutors, overseen the training of T-Bone, the University’s AI-powered chatbot, and taught multiple sections of the University’s pioneering AI in the Workplace course for students, faculty, and staff.