Hancock Sparks Conversation On Future of AI
APRIL 18, 2025-- Allan Hancock College welcomed more than 200 students, educators, industry leaders and community members to its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit on April 18 at the college’s Santa Maria campus.
The event, a first of its kind for the college, brought together experts from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, LinkedIn, Cal Poly, Moorpark College, Berkeley College and Hancock for a day of engaging discussions, keynote presentations, breakout sessions and panel conversations. Topics included AI trends, practical applications, ethical considerations and how artificial intelligence is reshaping education, employment, and everyday life.
“This event is a collaborative space where we can explore the impact of AI in education, industry, and beyond,” said Nancy Jo Ward, a Hancock professor of art and design and one of the summit’s principal organizers.
Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of using new technologies like AI to strengthen fundamental skills.
“College has always been about helping students develop critical thinking skills,” Walthers told the summit’s attendees. “Today, as we talk about these new tools we have, I hope we are also thinking about how to use them to develop those skills.”
Keynote speaker Don Daves-Rougeaux, a senior advisor for workforce development at
the Chancellor’s Office, underscored the essential role of AI across all areas of
higher education.
“AI is here; it’s in everything we are doing now, and it’s really critical for us to explore the use of AI in our operational areas, our curriculum development, our teaching and learning, our student support and even our infrastructure,” Daves-Rougeaux said.
Student voices also played an important role in the summit. Hancock computer science student and panelist Michael Armstrong shared his perspective on the importance of talking about AI’s impact.
“This event is bringing a really important discussion into the public eye,” said Armstrong. “AI is rapidly evolving our world in a way that many people are not prepared for.”
As part of the summit, students in Hancock’s Media Arts Club created an AI Art pop up gallery in the foyer of the college’s Fine Arts Complex. The students’ art will be on display through April 25.
To learn more about the summit, visit hancockcollege.edu/pd/aisummit.php.
