The recognitions will be formally presented by ASU+GSV during their annual conference, The AI Show @ ASU+GSV—AI Revolution in Education, which will be held at the San Diego Convention Center from April 5-7, and at the ASU+GSV Summit, April 7 -9, 2025.
The Show at the ASU+GSV Summit, one of the world’s most influential gatherings of leaders and innovators across the full spectrum of education and workforce development, selected SDCCD Innovation Systems Analyst, Elaine Chance, and Faculty Specialists for Emerging Technology, Rodrigo Gomez and Alison Gurganus, as one of its 2025 AI Innovators as the SDCCD Emerging Tech Team. Dr. Michelle Fischthal, SDCCD Vice Chancellor of Institutional Innovation and Effectiveness has been named one of ASU+GSV Leading Women in AI.
"I am honored to be part of a team that is leading the charge in AI integration at SDCCD," said Dr. Fischthal, who has led the district’s office of Institutional Innovation and Effectiveness since February 2023. Fischthal has advanced innovation throughout SDCCD greatly, including being included as one of 124 higher education institutions selected nationwide to participate in the American Association of Colleges and Universities Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum."
The 2025 ASU+GSV summit will bring together more than 10,000 educators, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and technologists who are actively building, testing, and implementing transformative AI-powered solutions within K-12 and higher education institutions. Leaders from Google, Pearson, and Teach for America are among the speaker list.
As 2025 AI Innovators Emerging Tech Team members, on April 6 at 12:10 p.m. the SDCCD will kick-off the summit by facilitating three workshops during the ASU+GSV AI Learning Fair titled; 1. From Libraries to AI Leading Campus-Wide Digital Transformation, 2. A Faculty-First Approach to Campus-Wide Innovation, and 3. Building a Scalable AI Support System Across Your District.
Then summit attendees will have a chance to hear in depth from district leadership. On April 6, Dr. Fischthal, Chance, Gomez, and Gurganus, along with II&E’s student interns Miguel Avila Morales and Marley Credell, will present a workshop titled, ‘Building Bridges at SDCCD: How a Cross-District Team is Empowering Faculty, Staff, and Students to Thrive in an AI-Driven Future’. Attendees will gain practical insights on initiating and sustaining collaborative AI efforts within their institutions, engaging diverse stakeholders, and aligning AI initiatives with institutional goals.
Dr. Fischthal will deliver a keynote the following day at 10:50 a.m. on April 7 during the ‘The Equitable AI Alliance: Democratizing AI for California’s Students’ panel along with James Frazee, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Division for San Diego State University (SDSU) and moderated by Dr. Vince Kellen currently, Chief Information Officer for the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The Equitable AI Alliance, a partnership between SDSU, UCSD and the SDCCD, is bringing Generative AI access and education to historically underserved communities in higher education. Focused on AI needs assessment, AI literacy education, and AI access, this initiative equips students, faculty, and staff with the tools to engage with AI meaningfully. Attendees will take away how these leading institutions are bridging the digital divide and creating an inclusive, AI-powered future for students at all levels.
Following the panel, the Equitable AI Alliance will provide a hosted networking opportunity for SDSU, UCSD and SDCCD colleagues and students at 1:30 p.m. on April 7 during the ASU+GSV summit AI Show.
Later on April 7 at 3:50 p.m. Dr. Peter Maharaj, Associate Vice Chancellor of Information Technology Services for the SDCCD will speak on the, ‘Detecting, Protecting and Reflecting: Cyber Security in the Era of AI’ panel.
The ASU+GSV Summit offers an exceptional platform for collaboration and innovation, where SDCCD is proud to contribute to shaping the future of AI in education. The SDCCD team is excited to share their vision, exchange insights with fellow innovators, and explore new ways AI can transform educational experiences at every level. This recognition marks an exciting milestone, and SDCCD looks forward to the continued journey of advancing AI Literacy and AI-driven solutions that foster student success and equity in education."