- La Salle University

Join us on Thursday, Jan. 8 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for a dynamic, one-day interactive symposium exploring the transformative role of artificial intelligence in higher education, research, and professional practice in Founders’ Hall.

This inaugural symposium at La Salle University will bring together faculty, students, alumni, researchers, and industry experts for a day of dialogue, discovery, and demonstration focused on the responsible, ethical, and creative use of AI across disciplines.

Gain insights into how AI is transforming research, education, and industry practices
Explore strategies for integrating AI tools ethically and effectively into learning and work environments
Discover career pathways and graduate opportunities in AI-related fields (for both tech professionals and career changers)
Connect with experts and peers to spark new ideas and partnerships in AI-driven innovation

Schedule

8:30 – 9 a.m.	Registration & Continental Breakfast Location: Founders’ Hall Atrium
9 – 9:15 a.m.	Welcome & Opening Remarks Location: Founders’ Hall Auditorium Moderators: Juan Cruz, Director of Graduate Admissions Frank Mosca, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Yang Wang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and Graduate Director for M.S. Programs in AI, Cybersecurity, and Computer Information Science
9:15 ‑ 10:30 a.m.	The New Literacy: Using AI for Business Insight, Running it Responsibly, Leading it Confidently Location: Founders’ Hall Auditorium Keynote Speaker: Ed Malinowski, ’96, ’01 AI is no longer just a tool. It’s an obligation. From analytics to autonomy, intelligent systems are already reshaping how we create value, make decisions, and accept risk, which means the real work of the next decade isn’t just building AI, it’s building trust, accountability, and talent around it. This keynote explains what leaders, boards, and the next generation of graduates need to understand to use AI with confidence and govern it with discipline.
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.	Networking Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m.	Session 1: Building the AI-Ready Scholar: Research, Curriculum, and the Future of Higher Education Location: Founders’ Hall Auditorium Presenter: Yuehan Yin, D.Sc. Discover how La Salle University is shaping the next generation of AI-ready scholars through innovative research, interdisciplinary graduate curricula, and forward-thinking course design. This session explores how AI is transforming learning, research, and professional preparation in higher education.
11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Networking Lunch Location: Founders’ Hall Atrium
1 – 2 p.m.	Under the Hood of RAG: Building Context-Aware Gen AI Systems Live Location: Founders’ Hall Auditorium Presenter: Tony Kelly, M.S. Large language models are great storytellers—but not always great fact-checkers. In this session, we’ll teach AI to “look things up before it speaks,” walking through how RAG gives models memory, context, and credibility as we build one live.
2 – 2:15 p.m.	Networking Break Location: Founders’ Hall Atrium
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.	Agents of AI: Generating our Future, Today Location: Founders’ Hall Auditorium Panelists: Ed Malinowski, Tony Kelly, Dr. Yang Wang, Dr. Yuehan Yin, Dr. Luna Yang The choices we make now will define the AI landscape of the next decade. In this forward-thinking discussion, experts from across disciplines shed light on the opportunities, risks, and evolving career paths emerging as we shape an intelligent future together.
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.	Closing Remarks Location: Founders’ Hall Auditorium Presenter: Juan Cruz, Director of Graduate Admissions

Featured Speakers

Ed Malinowski, ‘96, ‘01

Managing Director and Owner at Authentic Bridge LLC
ed@authenticbridge.com

Ed Malinowski is a veteran healthcare technology executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, having served as Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer of organizations ranging from payers and population health management to home health and aging-in-place providers. Ed earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1996 and his Master of Science in Computer Information Science in 2001 – both from La Salle University – building the business and technical foundations that have defined his career. Over that career, he has led large-scale digital transformation efforts; modernizing electronic medical records, standing up secure data platforms, driving AI-enabled automation, and delivering measurable operational savings and growth for organizations at multi-billion dollar scale.

Ed is the founder of Authentic Bridge LLC, a consultancy that provides executive IT leadership and product strategy to companies applying information technology responsibly to healthcare problems, with a focus on scale, operational efficiency, and growth. He is known for building high-performing teams, translating complex technology into board-ready strategy, and helping organizations grow profitably.

Ed also donates his time and experience to HopeWorks.org – a non-profit organization in NJ/PA, dedicated to helping young professionals develop careers in IT. Ed and his family reside in Moorestown, NJ. He can be reached at ed@authenticbridge.com.

Tony Kelly, M.S.

Practice Manager for Data Science at Analytica

Tony Kelly is a La Salle University alumnus deeply embedded in data science and generative artificial intelligence. He currently serves as Practice Manager for Data Science at Analytica, an 8(a) federal consulting firm in Bethesda, Maryland, where he leads and standardizes AI engineering practices while serving as a technical lead and thought leader for government clients. Previously, Tony held roles as Interim Director of Data Science at Sinclair Broadcasting and Lead Data Scientist at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab and Northrop Grumman, supporting the Mission Systems Global Supply Chain organization. He holds a B.S. in Information Technology from La Salle University, where he managed the university’s IT Helpdesk, and an M.S. in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University, where his thesis examined statistical assumptions in Naive Bayes classifiers.

Shuo (Luna) Yang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Business and Economics at Pennsylvania State University Brandywine

Shuo (Luna) Yang earned her Ph.D. in Strategic Management from Kent State University and joined Pennsylvania State University Brandywine as an Assistant Professor of Business and Economics in Fall 2022. Her work includes the design and application of artificial intelligence for learning and organizational development, including multi-agent decision systems, AI-augmented advising tools, and human-AI collaboration frameworks that support student success and experiential learning. This research advances the pedagogical and institutional readiness required for ethical and equitable AI integration in higher education. She also serves on the Montgomery County (PA) Artificial Intelligence Council, advising on responsible and community-centered adoption of AI in public services.