Campus Community Day Explores AI Use in Education, Industries

Bellevue College’s spring Campus Community Day brought together faculty and staff for a day of shared learning centered on the theme “Exploring AI in Education and Work.” With a packed in-person and remote audience base, attendees heard from the college president, education and business panelists, and a keynote speaker. Many had the opportunity to ask questions about artificial intelligence, both about its use and application in learning.  

President Dr. David May opened the day, prompting the audience to think about the possibilities AI enables in education.  

“We need to work together to ensure our students are equipped with the skills necessary for the jobs of tomorrow,” he said. “This means integrating real-world applications and partnerships into our curriculum.”  

Dr. May’s insights shaped the tone for a day that focused not on the futuristic hype AI tends to generate, but on real use cases, shared expertise, and collaborative thinking. 

The morning sessions also featured faculty-led panels, where educators from colleges across the state shared how they currently put AI to work in their classrooms. All three panelists spoke about their discovery that AI isn’t a threat to good teaching; it’s a new tool that, when used thoughtfully, opens possibilities for both students and instructors. 

The midday “AI in Action” panel, moderated by Bellevue College Trustee Pradnya Desh, shifted the conversation from classroom applications to real-world uses for AI in the workforce. 

Dr. Grin Lord, clinical psychologist and CEO of mPathic.ai, explained how AI is reshaping healthcare.  

“AI can provide real-time feedback for doctors, encouraging empathy in their practice,” she said. “We build those processes into AI, which you can see in action with most ChatGPT-type interactions.”  
 
Sabra Schneider, CIO for the City of Bellevue, spoke about how AI is already improving public services.  

“Artificial intelligence allows us to analyze and process data more efficiently, leading to improved services for our residents,” she said. “We’re lucky in Bellevue. We have space to innovate. Many cities don’t.” 

Claire Sumadiwirya, Bellden Café owner and Bellevue City Councilmember, discussed how her business has been able to become more efficient and human-focused by using AI. 

“Embracing AI tools has streamlined our operations, allowing us to ensure our employees are happy in their jobs while maintaining an integrated focus on community engagement and customer experience,”  Sumadiwirya said. 

All three panelists echoed the same idea: AI works best when paired with human oversight, where technology supports yet never replaces human insight. 

The discussion of positive applications of AI carried into the afternoon’s keynote from Ethan Mollick, a Wharton School professor and one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 in AI. He shared what he has discovered in his exploration into the field, the idea that AI should be viewed as a collaborator that enhances capabilities, not as a replacement.

He emphasized that the future is about working alongside AI to achieve greater outcomes. Some attendees received a copy of Mollick’s bestselling book “Co-Intelligence,” a fitting keepsake for a day grounded in learning and thoughtful exploration.