Keynotes & Sessions

Dr. Safiya U. Noble

Pro-social Tech for the Future of Higher Education

As AI continues to reshape higher education, new imperatives and demands push increasing investment in digital technologies to the fore. Yet, critical information scholars continue to demonstrate how AI and digital technology are shaped by and infused with values that are not impartial. Technologies consist of a set of social practices, situated within the dynamics of race, gender, class, and politics, and in the service of something — a position, a profit motive, a means to an end. In this keynote, Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble will explore the risks and challenges educational institutions face with AI and provide crucial background on the potential harms of these technologies. The session will also empower educators by highlighting best practices on decision making around incorporating digital technologies into their pedagogy to ensure an equitable and engaging future for higher education.

Bio
Dr. Safiya U. Noble is the David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair of Social Sciences and Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is the Director of the Center on Resilience & Digital Justice and Co-Director of the Minderoo Initiative on Tech & Power at the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2).  She currently serves as a Director of the UCLA DataX Initiative, leading work in critical data studies for the campus. Professor Noble is the author of the best-selling book on algorithmic harm in commercial search engines, entitled Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism (NYU Press), which has been widely-reviewed in scholarly and popular publications. In 2021, she was recognized as a MacArthur Foundation Fellow for her ground-breaking work on algorithmic discrimination.

For Dr. Noble’s complete bio, please visit:  https://safiyaunoble.com/bio-cv/

AI Literacy, Equity, and the Future of Higher Education: A Call to Action

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the workforce, and higher education must choose to shape this change with intention. This keynote presents a people-first, ethics-driven approach to integrating AI in education—focusing on learning, equity, and curiosity over profit.

We’ll explore innovations like AI agents, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and personalized learning tools that enhance engagement while addressing ethical concerns.

Key takeaways include:
• Building AI literacy for student success and workforce readiness
• Using AI to support inclusivity and cognitive engagement
• Navigating ethical challenges and resisting harmful tech influences

Join us to discover how higher education can align AI with human values and prepare students to lead in an AI-driven future.

Bio:
Trudi Radtke is a visionary leader in education technology, open access advocacy, and AI integration, with over a decade of impact on California’s community colleges. As an OER specialist, Trudi has spearheaded the creation, remixing, and revision of over 100 open textbooks, significantly reducing barriers to education for students statewide and beyond. Their advocacy extends to state, federal, and international levels, including crafting policy briefs for U.S. Congress and driving systemic change through equitable access policies. A research fellow for the California Alliance for Open Education and a speaker at national and global conferences, including OE Global, Trudi combines expertise in open educational resources, instructional design, and emerging AI technologies.

Currently leading the AI initiative for the Ventura County Community College District and serving on the Instructional Technology Council’s AI task force, Trudi’s work is reshaping how technology empowers inclusive, impactful learning environments. Their commitment to equity, accessibility, and innovation reflects both their professional achievements and personal journey as a first-generation college graduate and former community college student.