You're invited to the College of Lifetime Learning spring symposium, Skilling, Upskilling, and Reskilling in the Age of AI. This event brings together educators, researchers, and industry partners to explore how AI is transforming the skills required across a lifetime of learning.
The program will not only examine emerging trends but also provide practical strategies and demonstrations that demonstrate how AI can advance continuous learning and workforce readiness at scale. Attendees will engage with new insights, collaborative opportunities, and forward‑looking conversations focused on enabling learners of all ages to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Join us on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Global Learning Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Please register by Thursday, April 16. You'll find the most up-to-date program information below.
Keynote Speaker
Magdy Karam
Chief Learning Officer, Microsoft Americas
Passionate about growth and development, Magdy is recognized by peers for inspiring, motivating, and empowering employees to realize their full potential. A versatile and influential leader, Magdy sees his role not only as serving Microsoft staff but also as enabling the entire Tech ecosystem, represented by Microsoft’s Customers and Partners, to attract, upskill, and retain their IT staff during this highly volatile digital transformation journey. Magdy’s goal is to build a culture of curiosity and continuous learning within and beyond Microsoft and to encourage employees to advance their careers. He’s currently focused on partnering with key organizations to bring AI and technology skilling to underserved communities in the US and Canada.
PROGRAM
Thursday, April 23, 2026
(Subject to Change)
8:30 - 9 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast
8:50 a.m. - 9 a.m. | Welcome Remarks
Dean William Gaudelli, College of Lifetime Learning
9 - 9:45 a.m. | Keynote
Magdy Karam, Chief Learning Officer, Microsoft Americas
9:45 - 10:30 a.m. | Panel - Skilling, Upskilling, Reskilling, in the Age of AI
Moderator: Dean William Gaudelli, College of Lifetime Learning
Panelists:
- Erin Izen, Executive Director, The Home Depot Foundation
- Magdy Karam, Chief learning Officer, Microsoft Americas
10:30 - 10: 50 a.m. | Presentation - A4L: A Data Architecture for AI-Augmented Learning
- Professor Ashok Goel, AI-ALOE
- Ploy Thajchayapong, AI-ALOE
10:50 - 11 a.m. | Break (Refreshments available to attendees.)
11 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. | Panel - State of AI @ Georgia Tech
Moderator: Professor Stephen Harmon, College of Lifetime Learning
11:45 - 11:50 a.m. | 2025 Bill Kent Family Foundation (BFFK) AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellows Introduction
Eric Sembrat, College of Lifetime Learning
11:50 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Lightning Talks - 2025 BKFF AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellows
- AI-Enabled Design Ideation and Robotic Fabrication, Patrick Danahy, College of Design
- Advancing Personalized Engineering Education, Professor Ying Zhang, College of Engineering
- Integrating AI into Scientific Writing and Physics Education, Professor Flavio Fenton, College of Sciences
- TokenSmith: A Citable, Local‑First AI Tutor for Databases, Joy Arulraj, College of Computing
12:30 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. | 2025 BFKK AI in Higher Education Faculty Fellows Award Presentation
Leslie A. Baradel, BKFF representative
12:45 p.m. | Closing Remarks
Professor Stephen Harmon, College of Lifetime Learning