Empire State University to host talk with Dr. Avriel Epps on Artificial Intelligence
(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 1, 2024) Empire State University will host a virtual talk with Dr. Avriel Epps on Oct. 16, 2024. The talk, facilitated by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will focus on using technology as a tool for connection rather than a tool for disconnecting from others.
Dr. Avriel Epps is a prominent scholar in the field of artificial intelligence, specializing in bias, identity, and human development. As a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles, Harvard University, and recipient of numerous awards and grants, Epps has dedicated her career to studying the impact of artificial intelligence on digital literacy and algorithmic bias on marginalized communities and adolescents. She brings a unique perspective combining data science, developmental psychology, and real-world experience in ed-tech and entertainment to her research.
Xiomara Giordano, chief diversity officer, said the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is organizing this talk because her expertise aligns with SUNY Empire’s broader community connection goals and efforts to create an increasingly equitable educational community amid the rise of artificial intelligence. Epps’s advocacy for ethical AI development and critical analysis of technology encourages thoughtful discourse and supports themes of civic engagement, demonstrating how technology can be used to empower communities.
“By bringing Dr. Epps to speak, we’re providing our community with insights into cutting-edge research on AI’s societal impact, ethical technology use, and the intersection of technology with identity development,” Giordano said. “This aligns with our goal of preparing students to critically engage with and shape the technological landscape they’ll encounter in their personal and professional lives. Our hope is that her expertise will stimulate important discussions about the role of AI in education, society, and personal development, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of these crucial topics among our students and faculty.”
The lecture was funded by alumna and Empire State University Foundation Board member Tina Evans ’97 and Wayne Evans, who funded the inaugural lecture in a series from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion this fall titled “A Snapshot in Time: Navigating the Wider World.”
The event will be hosted online and is available to students, faculty, and staff at Empire State University.