San Diego Community College District's Institutional Innovation and Effectiveness (II&E) division will host its second annual InnovAItion Day (AI Day) at San Diego College of Continuing Education's North City Campus on Friday, March 20, 2026.
The theme this year is "Curiosity in Action - Exploring AI with purpose, skepticism, and shared imagination".
Faculty and staff will experience a full day of professional growth through a variety of session formats specifically designed to spark ideas and foster district-wide connection. The program features panels offering insights from students and industry leaders at the forefront of AI integration, alongside targeted breakout sessions for deep dives into specific tools and pedagogical strategies. Attendees can also engage with high-impact lightning talks highlighting practical lessons learned and new discoveries in AI tools and implementation. Activities will take place in-person with select sessions available via Zoom.
The virtual keynote speaker will be X. Eyeé, a Senior Policy Advisor at U.C. Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and the CEO of Malo Santo, an AI consulting firm. With nearly 20 years of experience as an engineering leader and published researcher, X has spent more than a decade developing and deploying AI on a global scale.
Event Details
- Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In-Person (Full Day/Half Day option, lunch will be provided
at the venue)
- Location: San Diego College of Continuing Education's North City Campus, Multipurpose
Room (8355 Aero Drive, San Diego)
- For In-Person registration: click on Register Now
- For Virtual/Zoom Registration: click on the Virtual tab (Select sessions will be streamed through Zoom)
More about Our Keynote Speaker
When X. Eyeé takes the stage at SDCCD’s InnovAItion Day on March 20, they will bring something rare to any keynote: a story that begins at a California community college. Before advising UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and founding Malo Santo — an AI consulting firm focused on equitable, culturally relevant AI — X. Eyeé earned an Associate of Arts from Berkeley City College. It’s a trajectory that mirrors the ambitions of the very students SDCCD serves every day.
Built from the Inside
Over nearly two decades at Google, Microsoft, and the U.S. Department of Defense,
X. Eyeé worked at the frontier of AI — not as an observer, but as a builder. At Google,
X founded the Skin Tone research team, developing new techniques to reduce bias in
AI systems and setting new standards for equitable model evaluation. At Microsoft,
X led Ambient Intelligence solutions combining AI, blockchain, and IoT for Fortune
500 companies worldwide.
As an educator, X has reached more than 5.5 million learners — proving that cutting-edge
technology can and should be accessible to everyone. X’s insights have appeared in
Forbes, BET, and Wired, with multiple appearances on CNBC’s Power Lunch.
Why It Matters for SDCCD
X’s keynote arrives as SDCCD leads a $1.5 million Equitable AI Alliance with SDSU and UC San Diego — one of the most significant AI equity initiatives in the California Community College system. InnovAItion Day is the districtwide opportunity to connect that work to every faculty member, staff, and administrator. X’s keynote, beginning at 9:30 AM following welcoming remarks from Chancellor Smith, will set the tone for a full day of breakout sessions, workshops, and community dialogue on AI’s role in teaching, learning, and workforce preparation.
See the 2025 InnovAItion Day Video
See photos from the 2025 InnovAItion Day
