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Phyllis King, Waukesha County Technical College, United StatesAbstract
As artificial intelligence transforms the global economy, higher education institutions are being called to lead, not only in developing talent, but in shaping the ethical behavior and economic development. Learn how Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) is answering this call with a series of firsts in innovations that position it as a bold leader in AI education and workforce development. The institution created the role of Chief Strategist for AI Advancement, a senior leadership position that integrates AI across academics, industry engagement, and community innovation, the first such titled position created in the U.S. Along with this strategic vision, WCTC launched the state of Wisconsin’s first Associate of Applied Science in Artificial Intelligence, comprised of stackable certificates in data science and foundations in AI. Their Applied AI Lab serves as an interdisciplinary hub for hands-on learning, research, and collaboration with industry partners, delivers workshops and customized corporate training to upskill the workforce, and hosts Global AI Meetups that foster international dialogue and responsible AI discourse. Further amplifying its impact, the College partners with gener8tor to foster national and international student-led AI startups with proven success. This presentation identifies the benefits of an embedded strategist model to drive institutional AI strategy, ways to bridge education and entrepreneurship through applied labs and accelerator partnerships, and actionable strategies to replicate this model in other academic institutions and regions.
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