A cross-sector convening bringing together educators, business leaders, students, and community members to examine how artificial intelligence is transforming what we learn and how we work.
DateApril 17th, 2026
Lunch12:00 PM — Student Dining Hall ($8, not covered by registration)
Angela Thering Ph.D. (UB)Danielle Ophir (UX designer)Zhen Liu (UB)Sam Marrazzo (UB)Faizan Haq (INGRID)
Steve Petersen (Niagara U)Bianca Castro (M&T)Henry McCallion (M&T)Susan Rothwell (ECC)
Ken Fujiuchi (BSU)Joe Riggie (BSU)Chris Hulsman (BSU)Andrea Nikischer (BSU)
Joseph Zawicki (BSU)Keira Hambrick Ph.D. (BSU)
Mary Beth Sullivan (BSU)Natalie Szymanski Ph.D. (BSU)Rachael J. Webb (UB)
Contributors
Naila Catilo (BSU)
Joaquin Carbonara Ph.D. (BSU)
Mark Gallo (Niagara U)
Angela Thering Ph.D. (UB)
Danielle Ophir (UX designer)
Zhen Liu (UB)
Sam Marrazzo (UB)
Faizan Haq (INGRID)
Steve Petersen (Niagara U)
Bianca Castro (M&T)
Henry McCallion (M&T)
Susan Rothwell (ECC)
Presenters — Buffalo State faculty
Ken Fujiuchi (BSU)
Joseph Riggie (BSU)
Christopher Hulsman (BSU)
Andrea Nikischer (BSU)
Joseph Zawicki (BSU)
Keira Hambrick Ph.D. (BSU)
Mary Beth Sullivan (BSU)
Natalie Szymanski Ph.D. (BSU)
INGRID
Institute of Grounded Research and Integrated Development
INGRID brings together researchers and practitioners to advance grounded, community-driven approaches to technology, education, and workforce development.
Moderator (3:00 session) ·
Members
Amin Serehali
Joaquin Carbonara Ph.D.
Zhen Liu
Faizan Haq
Chris LaFleur
Founding growth team · Lorikeet
Chris LaFleur’s career spans quantitative finance, data analytics, business ownership and entrepreneurship. After learning to blend startup agility with corporate scale at Moog’s innovation business ZQUIP, he is now on the founding growth team at Lorikeet—building AI agent teams that transform customer service in highly regulated industries.
He brings real business ownership experience to the growth and innovation world. He has run P&Ls, navigated messy operational realities, and understands what actually moves the needle for businesses—not just what sounds innovative. At Lorikeet, he connects the dots between cutting-edge AI capabilities and tangible business outcomes, helping companies see past the hype to solutions that genuinely scale their operations.
Jamie Bono
Principal Consultant and Engineer · EmergenceTek Group
Jamie Bono is a Principal Consultant and Engineer at EmergenceTek Group, where he designs information architectures and leads data platform strategy across healthcare, environmental services, and financial sectors. His work centers on context engineering: structuring the information around systems so the people, teams, and AI agents working inside them can actually reason well.
Before consulting, Jamie studied English at the University at Buffalo and the University of Pittsburgh. He taught writing at Pitt, UB, and Daemen College, where he led Writing Across the Curriculum—work that shaped his conviction that clear thinking and clear information architecture are the same problem.
He then led data integration and analytics for Medicaid redesign and value-based payment initiatives. As a senior engineer in UB’s Department of Biomedical Informatics, he brought that same lens to research, building Natural Language Processing pipelines and knowledge graphs to surface what was trapped in clinical documentation that nobody was reading at scale.
Jamie serves on the board of CCNY, Inc. , where fellow panelist leads strategic partnerships.
Bianca Castro
Responsible AI | AI Hub @ M&T
Kim Herrington
Senior Analyst, Business Insights
Forrester
Kim Herrington is a pillar in Buffalo’s data ecosystem. She helped shape the Buffalo Data Science and Business Intelligence communities via her networking group — Buffalo Business Intelligence — since 2017. Her efforts created multiple spin-offs and linked key personnel now found at local colleges teaching data science and analytics. She is currently a senior analyst within Forrester’s Business Insights research practice, where she covers data literacy, AI fluency, data leadership and culture, chief data officer research, human-in-the-loop, and insights-driven decision-making. A nationally recognized data literacy advocate, community builder, and influential voice in the data and analytics space, Kim helps organizations influence culture change and ignite insight-driven decision-making at every level of the enterprise.
For senior leaders navigating AI adoption, Kim brings the analytical rigor of Forrester’s research alongside nearly two decades of experience driving data culture transformation across industries. Her work examines how organizations build the trust, skills, and leadership needed to keep human judgment central as AI scales, offering executives a research-backed foundation for their next steps.
A former data journalist and founder of a business intelligence networking community she has led since 2017, Kim has spent her career making data accessible, actionable, and human. She has been recognized as Data Literacy Advocate of the Year, a Top 20 Data Influencer, and a Data Literacy Pioneer.
She holds a master’s in healthcare administration from D’Youville University and a bachelor’s in biology from SUNY Oswego. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
David Monroe, MPA
Director of Strategic Partnerships
CCNY
As CCNY’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, David leads efforts to cultivate strategic partnerships, expand organizational reach, and align business development strategies with impactful, community-centered solutions.
Previously, David served as CCNY’s Director of Evaluation and Analytics, where he managed large-scale data integration projects, developed performance dashboards, and supported organizations in transforming complex data into actionable insights. His expertise in data-driven decision-making, combined with his ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, continues to inform his approach to business development.
Naila Catilo
Moderator · Assistant Professor, Theater and Africana Studies · SUNY Buffalo State University
A native of Buffalo, New York, Naila Catilo is a cum laude graduate of Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts program and holds an MFA from the University at Buffalo. She merges artistry and scholarship to tell Black stories in America.
She recently served as choreographer for Black Roots Summer, named Best Theater by the New York Times and praised by Broadway World for her directing and choreography. Her research and performance project “The Movement of Joy” archives stories of Black women’s joy across the country; she hosts the podcast This is Joy on the Alive Podcast network. She is dance director and company member of Ujima Theater, an Interfaith America fellow for the Black Interfaith Project with the Smithsonian African American Museum, and can be found at @naila_moves_joy and themovementofjoy.com.
Joaquin O. Carbonara Ph.D.
Panelist · Professor of Mathematics; leads Data Science and Analytics · SUNY Buffalo State
Dr. Carbonara holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of California, San Diego, and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University at Buffalo. Born in Venezuela, he was a member of El Sistema (music for social justice); he studied at the University of Florence, Italy, as an exchange student.
His work integrates artificial intelligence into scholarly research and teaching, including new curricula and community workshops on augmented human intelligence. Recent publications address machine learning, large language models, and statistics. He has reviewed grants for the NSF and NIH, co-chaired major conferences, and as principal investigator has secured over $1.5 million in external funding, including NSF support for undergraduate research and professional master’s programs in applied mathematics and data analytics.
Steve Petersen Ph.D.
Panelist · Professor of Philosophy · Niagara University
Steve Petersen has published on the philosophy of artificial intelligence since 2006. For the past decade his research has centered on the “alignment problem” for artificial superintelligence, using algorithmic information theory to formalize how AI systems represent the world—a technical approach aimed at ensuring AI systems share human-compatible abstractions.
His research has been supported by the Future of Life Institute and the Center for AI Safety.
Angela C. Thering, Ph.D.
Discussant, opening panel · Moderator, morning Session B (Andrea Nikischer Ph.D.) · Presenter, afternoon Session B (AI in science teaching) · Instructional Consultant for AI and Technology-Enabled Pedagogy, University at Buffalo · Lecturer, Higher Education Administration and Adult Education, Buffalo State University
With more than twenty years of higher education experience, Dr. Thering creates innovative, inclusive, and AI-enhanced learning environments.
A contributor to the SUNY FACT2 Guide to Optimizing AI in Higher Education, she integrates Universal Design for Learning, accessibility, and ethical AI practices to enhance teaching and learning. Guided by a commitment to equity, innovation, and access, she works to ensure that advances in AI and digital design strengthen, rather than replace, the human connections at the heart of education.
Danielle Ophir
Discussant · UX designer
Danielle Ophir is a Product and UX Designer specializing in human-centered AI design.
Danielle’s work bridges design, technology, and ethics, with experience spanning industries from food safety to addiction recovery. She holds a BFA and BA from Haifa University and professional certifications in UX/UI Design and Front-End Development. Her approach combines design thinking, systems thinking, and behavioral research to create products that are transparent, inclusive, and genuinely human-centered.
Danielle has also led projects for major clients such as Verizon, PepsiCo, and General Mills, and was a finalist in the 2024 Buffalo Emerging Technology Awards in the “Rising Star” category.
Sam Marrazzo
Discussant · Chief Innovation Officer, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC)
As Chief Innovation Officer of the BNMC, Sam Marrazzo focuses on the future: driving economic opportunity, positioning local companies for growth, and retaining and attracting young people to the region. He leads efforts to develop an innovative, reliable, and secure information technology environment across the organization and community.
He develops innovation strategy and fosters collaboration with industry, education, and start-ups so organizations can prepare for and capitalize on emerging technologies—helping companies rethink practices and culture as technology reshapes the economy.
Sam’s career spans accounting and supply chain systems, logistics, sales, and transportation, with more than 25 years in IT across Fortune 200 companies including Praxair, Avnet, and McGraw Hill. He has guest lectured at UB and helped bring technology events to the region, including the 2017 TopCoder Open and various hackathons and gaming competitions. He holds a BA in Business Systems from Daemen College and an MBA from the UB School of Management, served four years in the United States Navy, and is a board member of InfoTech WNY.
Kevin Hardwick Ph.D.
Erie County Comptroller
Kevin Hardwick Ph.D. has dedicated decades to public service, beginning as an elected school board member while still in high school and continuing through roles in local government, the New York State Senate, and the Erie County Legislature.
A respected educator at Canisius University and expert in public policy, he brings both academic insight and real-world experience to his work. Since being elected Erie County Comptroller in 2021 and re-elected in 2025, he has led with integrity, transparency, and a deep commitment to Erie County residents.
Amitra Wall Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs · SUNY Buffalo State University
Amitra A. Wall is a professor in the Department of Sociology and currently serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She earned her doctorate in sociology from Texas Woman’s University and joined SUNY Buffalo State in 2000, where she also coordinated the then-named Women’s Studies interdisciplinary minor.
She received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and has served in key leadership roles including Assistant Dean of Intellectual Foundations and First-Year Programs, Interim Political Science Chair, and Associate Provost. She is deeply committed to student success through mentoring, workshops, and advising.
Dr. Wall presents nationally and internationally and has published co-edited books, journal articles, and readers in sociology and higher education. Her service includes regional nonprofit boards and professional organizations, and she serves as a commissioner for accreditation in applied and clinical sociology as well as a peer reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Zhen Liu
Conference organizer · Department of Economics, University at Buffalo · Data Science and Analytics Program, Buffalo State University
Zhen Liu works on computer models for automating and testing investment strategies while teaching in the Department of Economics at UB. Experience from 1999–2016 shaped his view that most individuals are not suited to discretionary investment decisions, but can benefit greatly from computing tools and systematic methods. He began learning Python independently in 2016.
Since 2018, with UB’s Computer Science and Engineering Department and Charles Tirone Ph.D. , he co-created Computational Investment (ECO578 and CSE578). Since 2023 he has taught Introduction to AI in Investment (DSA587) in Buffalo State’s Data Science and Analytics Program. These courses introduce market data, technical analysis, options, and Python-based algorithmic tools through hands-on, project-based work so students can support sound investment decisions and the common good.
Sam Marrazzo
Conference organizer · Chief Innovation Officer, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC)
As Chief Innovation Officer of the BNMC, Sam Marrazzo focuses on the future: driving economic opportunity, positioning local companies for growth, and retaining and attracting young people to the region. He leads efforts to develop an innovative, reliable, and secure information technology environment across the organization and community.
He develops innovation strategy and fosters collaboration with industry, education, and start-ups so organizations can prepare for and capitalize on emerging technologies—helping companies rethink practices and culture as technology reshapes the economy.
Sam’s career spans accounting and supply chain systems, logistics, sales, and transportation, with more than 25 years in IT across Fortune 200 companies including Praxair, Avnet, and McGraw Hill. He has guest lectured at UB and helped bring technology events to the region, including the 2017 TopCoder Open and various hackathons and gaming competitions. He holds a BA in Business Systems from Daemen College and an MBA from the UB School of Management, served four years in the United States Navy, and is a board member of InfoTech WNY.
Rachael J. Webb, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Instructional Innovation
Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation · University at Buffalo
Leveraging Agentic AI for University Teaching
Agentic AI is moving beyond simple text generation toward systems that can decide and act unassisted. This session will cover how AI agents differ from traditional chatbots, like ChatGPT, and explore what that shift means specifically for university teaching and learning. Designed for faculty, instructional designers, and academic support staff, the session focuses on how agentic AI can be used to support core academic work. The presenter will demo how to create a course-specific agent using ChatGPT and other platforms. The workshop centers on pedagogical intent, academic integrity, and alignment with learning outcomes. Attendees will see how agents can be designed with constraints and instructional purpose in mind: mirroring the realities of teaching, assessment, and student support in universities. We will also explore some threats agentic AI poses to university teaching and how students can use agents to shortcut learning.
Intended audience Faculty, instructional designers, and academic support staff
Format & technology Presentation style. Reliable internet connectivity and the ability to project a PowerPoint presentation.
Moderator
Andrea Nikischer Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Adult Education · SUNY Buffalo State
As artificial intelligence reshapes higher education, faculty need clear, values-driven approaches to its use in teaching. This session introduces a practical framework that moves from individual AI teaching philosophy to program-level alignment and course-level implementation. Participants will examine key ethical considerations, including academic integrity, equity, and transparency, while clarifying their approach to AI in both their teaching practices and expectations for student use.
Through a human-centered lens that prioritizes meaningful engagement over technology, the session will explore strategies for designing assignments, setting expectations, and aligning AI use with learning goals. Participants will leave with a practical roadmap for making intentional, consistent, and equitable decisions about AI in their teaching.
Andrea Nikischer Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Adult Education at SUNY Buffalo State, with over 30 years of experience in adult education, training, and community-based learning. Her professional background includes extensive work in crisis intervention, violence prevention, and equity-focused education through organizations such as Crisis Services of Western New York and the Erie County Coalition Against Family Violence.
A leader in online education, Dr. Nikischer has taught fully online for 16 years and was the first fully online faculty member at her institution to earn tenure. Her approach to online teaching centers on privileging human connection over technology, emphasizing presence, care, and meaningful engagement rather than tools alone. She is the recipient of two SUNY Online Effective Practice Awards and developed graduate microcredentials in Online Teaching and Instructional Design.
Her work focuses on helping adult, professional and workforce educators translate pedagogical values into practice, with particular attention to accessibility, Universal Design for Learning, and trauma-informed approaches. She also brings a growing focus to understanding and accommodating complex chronic illnesses, including Long COVID, ME/CFS, and chronic Lyme disease, informing more responsive and inclusive learning environments.
Dr. Nikischer is currently co-writing an online graduate course for Buffalo State, Teaching with A.I.
Moderator
Meghan Pereira, Brooke Capotosto, Leasa Rochester-Mills, and Holly Quicksey, Ph.D.
Instructional Design and Distance Learning · SUNY Buffalo State
Moving Through the AI Grief Cycle: Reflection and Action for Teaching and Course Design
Artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching and learning faster than many educators expected—and with that change can come uncertainty, frustration, and even a sense of loss. In this conversational workshop, faculty reflect on how emotional responses to AI are showing up in teaching, assessment, and course design.
The session is not about mastering tools or enforcing policies. Instead, it makes room for honest conversation, shared experiences, and practical ways to move forward with intention. Participants leave with new perspectives and concrete ideas for adapting course design and navigating AI in ways that support teaching and learning.
Intended audience Faculty
Format & technology Interactive workshop. Computer and projector.
Prompting Reflection: Towards Ethically Informed AI Use and Critical Digital Literacy in the Writing Classroom
AI writing tools are reshaping how students brainstorm, draft, revise, and edit, yet most academic conversations about AI focus on what to prohibit rather than what to teach. Drawing on research currently being conducted alongside UB colleagues with the help of SUNY’s IITG grant, this panel will reframe assumptions about how AI-assisted text is created by our students by exploring how AI can be meaningfully integrated into the writing process while developing students’ abilities to engage with these tools critically and ethically.
This presentation begins by centering the real and varied ways students are already using AI: multilingual learners navigating academic English, students with disabilities or learning differences using AI as an accessibility aid, writers rehearsing difficult conversations before drafting emails, and those who simply need a “peer” to share their ideas with. Acknowledging this range of complex and nuanced use is essential to any honest and equitable approach to AI use in the writing classroom.
Presenters examine how intentional AI use can build on the ways students already use these tools, make students’ writing and research processes more visible, robust, and reflective, and consider ways it can support writers in a variety of rhetorical contexts and composing tasks. Central to this session is a commitment to fostering critical digital literacy: helping students ask not just “what did the tool produce?” but “why did I use it here, what did I accept or reject, what is my contribution as an author, and what do my choices reveal about my own thinking?”
Joe Zawicki Ph.D. · Career, Technical, and Science Education · SUNY Buffalo State · Angela Thering Ph.D. · University at Buffalo & Buffalo State · Joaquin Carbonara Ph.D. · Mathematics & Data Science · SUNY Buffalo State
The Evolving Use of AI in Science Teaching and Learning: Rethinking Assignment Design for AI-Enabled Learning
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how students engage with course materials, complete assignments, and demonstrate learning. In science education, these changes are especially visible as instructors work to align AI use with student-centered approaches such as those emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
This session begins with a focused look at how AI is being used in science classrooms, including challenges related to lesson generation, reading level alignment, and student understanding of AI-supported work. These examples highlight a broader issue: many assignments were designed before AI became part of the learning environment and may not consistently provide clear evidence of student learning.
Building on these examples, the session expands to examine how assignment design can be strengthened across disciplines and educational contexts. Panelists will introduce a structured approach to evaluating and redesigning assignments to better support cognitive engagement, transparency, accessibility, and responsible AI use. This work is supported by an AI-enabled application developed through a cross-campus pilot at the University at Buffalo and SUNY Buffalo State.
Participants will leave with practical strategies, a transferable framework for assignment redesign, and a clearer understanding of how to support meaningful learning in AI-enabled environments.
Intended audience P–20 teachers of science, district administrators, and college faculty
Format & technology Projector and display
, &
Butler Library · SUNY Buffalo State
AI and Academic Research: Current Trends and Future Directions
Artificial intelligence is changing how scholars discover sources, analyze data, draft and revise text, and collaborate across disciplines. This session surveys the current landscape of AI tools entering academic research and considers how they may affect the ways faculty and students research, teach, and learn.
The presenters will demonstrate representative tools, then lead a discussion of present and emerging trends, practical impacts, and open challenges—including questions of accuracy, attribution, and responsible use in scholarly work.
Intended audience Faculty, staff, and students
Format & technology Demonstration of AI tools. A room with a screen or projector and a computer workstation.
Moderator
Ken Fujiuchi
Butler Library · SUNY Buffalo State
Ken Fujiuchi is Head of Library Research and Instruction and Emerging Technology Librarian at E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State University. With 18+ years as library faculty, he integrates emerging technology into academic environments. His research interests include information literacy, extended reality, artificial intelligence, and social media.
Joe Riggie
Head of Information Management · Butler Library · SUNY Buffalo State
Joe Riggie is the head of Information Management at the Buffalo State University's Butler library. He manages library systems, resource sharing, and library acquisitions. He holds a master's in library science from the University at Buffalo. His professional interests focus on the application of new technologies to library technical services.
Chris Hulsman
Electronic & Educational Resources Librarian
Chris is currently the Electronic & Educational Resources Librarian at SUNY Buffalo State University. He holds a master’s in library science from the University at Buffalo. He enjoys teaching and working with students. Chris works in collection development, administrating electronic resources through the Alma/Primo LSP, and teaching information literacy workshops. His academic interests are in English literature and history. During his leisure time he enjoys music and sports.
Mark A. Gallo, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology · Jack J. Hughes Endowed Director of Pre-Health · Director of Sustainability · Co-Director of Master Planning · Niagara University
B. Thomas Golisano Academic Center for Integrated Sciences · Niagara University, NY 14109
Socratic AI and its Impact on Intrinsic Motivation.
Mark A. Gallo, Ph.D. , is a Professor in the Biology Department at Niagara University where he is responsible for teaching a variety of courses including Microbiology, Bioanalytical techniques, Immunology, Virology, and Pharmacology.
He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Cornell University (1991) and completed a Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His current research involves isolation of bacteriophage able to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and of isolation of enzymes for the production of universal blood.
Dr. Gallo has been recognized with several academic honors, including the Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Arts and Sciences at Niagara University (2016, 1998) and the Niagara University Educator of the Year Award (2003). In his spare time he remains dedicated to his 160 acre farm where he maintains 80 bee hives and two very spoiled German Shorthair pointers.
Adithya Lakshmi Narayanan, Ph.D.
Moderator · Session A · AI and Academic Research: Current Trends and Future Directions
Assistant Professor of Teaching · Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science · School of Engineering and Applied Sciences · University at Buffalo
Susan Rothwell
Moderator · Session A · Leveraging Agentic AI for University Teaching (Rachael J. Webb, Ph.D.)
Mathematics Professor · SUNY Erie Community College
Susan Rothwell is a mathematics professor at SUNY Erie, where she brings over two decades of experience across both secondary and higher education. She is committed to a student-centered, research-based approach to teaching that emphasizes deep understanding and meaningful applications of mathematical concepts.
Susan is recognized for her expertise in the intersection of education, neuroscience, and growth mindset, and has delivered extensive professional development for educators across New York State focused on improving student outcomes through evidence-based instructional practices. She has conducted collaborative action research in instructional best practices, reaching schools statewide, and has supported both K–12 and college faculty in designing meaningful learning experiences, particularly in areas such as problem-solving, statistical reasoning, and conceptual understanding.
Her work at the state level has made her an integral contributor to collegial task force groups focused on New York State teacher preparation program requirements and the integration of the Common Core Learning Standards within the SUNY and CUNY systems. In addition, Susan has served as an advisor to the New York State Education Department in mathematics, contributing to the development and implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards across all instructional levels. Additionally, she developed the curriculum for the New York State Transition Course in Mathematics, designed to bridge high school and college mathematics while integrating growth mindset practices.
In recent years, Susan has been engaged in researching the role of artificial intelligence in education with a focus on responsible and informed use. She serves as Chair of the AI Task Force at SUNY Erie, where she is leading the development of institutional policies and guidance to support faculty and students in navigating AI thoughtfully and ethically. In addition, she is developing an applied AI and data science curriculum, while contributing to broader conversations about academic integrity, critical thinking and the ownership of learning with the evolving role of AI in higher education.
About the Conference
Where Ideas Meet Impact
AI & Agency is a one-day conference designed to spark honest, forward-looking conversations about artificial intelligence — not just as a technology, but as a force reshaping how institutions teach, how organizations operate, and how individuals define their own roles in an automated world. Participants from local schools, colleges, universities, businesses, and government will share perspectives, challenge assumptions, and leave with new connections and concrete insights.
Keynote Speaker
Siwei Lyu
Siwei Lyu is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. He is the Director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (IAD) and the founding Director of the UB Media Forensic Lab (UB MDFL).
Dr. Lyu's research interests include media forensics, computer vision, and machine learning. He has published over 240 refereed journal and conference papers, with research funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, DARPA, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Erie County — Erie County Comptroller. Dr. Hardwick has served in public office and higher education for decades and leads with a focus on integrity, transparency, and public trust.
Buffalo State — Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Buffalo State University. A professor of sociology and SUNY Chancellor’s Award recipient, she is deeply committed to student learning and academic excellence.
Parking & Arrival
Where to Park for the Conference
Conference parking is available in lots I-35, I-32, and I-34.
These designated lots are open for attendees during the event window. Most other Buffalo State lots require a permit.
If you need accessible parking, use campus map markings and posted signage for accessible spaces and entrances.
Student Union Dining Hall — $8, not covered by registration. Salad, vegan, burgers, and several cuisine styles available.
12:50 – 1:00
Erie County Speaker
, Erie County Comptroller
1:00 – 2:00
Opening & Panel Debate
Two panelists offer short presentations from opposite sides of the AI revolution. The moderator opens and leads the session; the discussants help pose and curate questions from the audience. Click a name for a photo and short bio.
Moderator
Panelists·
Discussants··
2:00 – 2:10
Welcoming Words
, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Buffalo State University
Moving Through the AI Grief Cycle: Reflection and Action for Teaching and Course Design
2:55 – 3:00
Break
3:00 – 4:00
/ Reshaping the Workforce
Leaders from Buffalo's AI community share real-world perspectives on innovation, education, and community impact.
Panelists:
Moderator:
4:00 – 4:15
Reset + Keynote Setup
4:15 – 5:05
Keynote: Siwei Lyu
SUNY Distinguished Professor and SUNY Empire Innovation Professor at the University at Buffalo, exploring the broader societal implications of AI-driven transformation.
Prompting Reflection: Towards Ethically Informed AI Use and Critical Digital Literacy in the Writing Classroom
Session D · BL 208
Socratic AI and its Impact on Intrinsic Motivation.
5:55 – 7:00
Posters and Networking Reception
Informal networking to close the day — build relationships across sectors.
Get Involved
Join the Conversation
Whether you're here to learn, present, or invest in the next generation of thinkers — there's a place for you at AI & Agency.
🎓
Attend
Students, faculty, professionals, and community members from across the region are welcome. Gain insight, connect with peers, and engage with cutting-edge ideas.
Sold out — registration closed
🎤
Present
We are welcoming proposals from faculty, researchers, and practitioners. Share your work or perspective in a 20-minute presentation or as part of a panel discussion.
Align your organization with a vital regional conversation. Sponsorship opportunities range from visibility to active participation — with levels designed for every budget.
Support this conference and place your organization at the center of an important regional dialogue. All sponsors receive recognition in printed and digital materials.
Tier I
Community Partner
Logo placement on event materials and website. Recognition during opening remarks. Two complimentary registrations.
Tier II
Contributing Sponsor
Everything in Tier I, plus a display table at the posters and networking reception and four complimentary registrations.
Tier III
Lead Sponsor
Premium branding, speaking opportunity, featured placement in all communications, and six complimentary registrations.
