Presidential Speaker Series

A Community in Conversation

The Presidential Speaker Series is designed to foster conversation at Iona and in the wider community on the nature and value of education. These talks are a forum for discussion, inquiry, and experimentation, and audience participation is a key factor in bringing out the insights that will move us forward. This year’s series uses the AI moment to concentrate our attention not just on the technology, but on the broader human values and interests it can and must serve.

All talks are open to members of Iona University and the local community.

Minds, Machines, Meaning

Teaching, Learning, and Thinking in the AI Age

Artificial intelligence forces us to consider profound questions about knowledge and thinking, teaching and learning, and the limits and potential of human attention. No matter how—or whether—we choose to integrate this technology into our educational models, AI is rapidly changing the ways in which people work, create and communicate.

To explore the ramifications of these changes, we have invited renowned thinkers on business innovation, technology, attention, and ethics to help us engage and ponder the opportunities and challenges of teaching, learning, and thinking in the AI age.

The 2024-25 Presidential Speaker Series is sponsored by the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning.