EVENTS
Hotel Information
Graduate by Hilton | 1619 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC Click here to book your hotel room!
Graduate King room: $163/night
Graduate Queen room: $163/night
Complimentary parking included in the room block.
Block available for Tuesday, July 15th and Wednesday, July 16th. Rooms must be reserved by June 15th.
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Columbia | 1200 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC Click here to book your hotel room!
King room: $129/night
2 Queen beds room: $129/night
Block available for Tuesday, July 15th and Wednesday, July 16th. Hilton Garden Inn did not provide a book by date, however we only have a certain number of rooms reserved so please book early.
All Symposium Sessions will be held in the Close Hipp Building on the University of South Carolina campus, in the 8th Floor Conference Center. On site parking will be available at no cost to attendees with more details to follow for registrants.
Conference Overview
Join us for a multi-day exploration of AI’s impact on work, career development, and higher education. This conference brings together industry leaders, career professionals, and educators to discuss emerging trends, best practices, and the evolving role of AI in recruitment, career readiness, and workforce development.
Schedule At A Glance
July 14 – (VIRTUAL)
12:00pm – 1:30pm Pre-Conference Event
AI Now: Understanding Generative AI’s Impact on Work, Learning, and Career Readiness
Ken Sanney, J.D., Director, School of Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Law; Professor of Business Law, Western Carolina University
In this pre-conference session, Ken Sanney returns to the AI Symposium to provide a clear, engaging, and timely update on the evolving world of Generative AI. Designed to bring participants up to speed before the in-person events, this session will cover key developments in the AI space over the past year, including advances in generative tools, shifting adoption trends across industries, and emerging implications for workforce development and career readiness.
Ken will contextualize these changes through the lens of higher education and career services, exploring how AI is reshaping the skills employers seek, the tools students use to prepare for the job market, and the way institutions deliver guidance and support. Participants will leave with a refreshed understanding of what GenAI is (and isn’t), how it's being used in hiring and work contexts, and how Career Services professionals can strategically adapt.
This session is ideal for those looking to build or reinforce their foundational understanding of AI as a springboard for deeper discussions throughout the symposium.
July 16 -- (IN PERSON)
8:15am – 9:00am Registration Check-in
Networking and Light Continental Breakfast
8:45am – 9:00am Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00am – 10:15am Keynote Speaker (Kick-off builds on the foundation of the pre-con event)
Understanding the AI Landscape
Joel Wooten, Associate Professor, Management Science, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
What is this new AI-driven world we're living in? How did we get here – and what does it mean for you? This session will provide an engaging overview of the current landscape of artificial intelligence, framing its context and unpacking its real-world impact. We'll demystify AI through hands-on demonstrations of powerful tools that are reshaping the way we work, create, and communicate. Whether you're an AI novice or already experimenting with the latest platforms, you’ll leave with an appreciation of what can be achieved and a better understanding of how it will impact work (and yes, ChatGPT helped generate this abstract!).
10:30am – 11:30am Session
GenZ Meets GenAI: Reframing Career Services in a Disrupted World (The Story of the Clemson Career Innovation Lab from Idea to Inception)
David Sargent, Director of Information Technology, Center for Career and Professional Development, Clemson University
Maggie Erickson, Assistant Director of Career Development, Center for Career and Professional Development, Clemson University
As career services in higher education confronts generative AI, student disengagement, and employer misalignment, we must innovate to meet the moment. This session introduces Clemson University’s Career Innovation Lab: an emerging model that blends Life Design Thinking with GenAI literacy to reimagine how students prepare for the world of work. The Lab trains undergraduate interns to serve as peer consultants, using AI tools ethically and effectively to support fellow students, faculty, and local businesses. Early outcomes include increased student confidence, broader engagement with career services, and partnerships across seven colleges and 37 community collaborators.
Attendees will gain practical strategies for launching innovation within institutional constraints, using design thinking to scaffold GenAI integration, and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration. The session closes with an open invitation to co-create future-ready, student-centered models that position career services as a hub for lifelong adaptability and impact.
11:30am – 12:00pm Lunch
12:00pm – 12:45pm Executive Education Interactive Session
Mark Cecchini, Associate Dean for Executive Education, Professor and Department Chair, School of Accounting, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
12:45pm – 2:00pm Industry Panel
Work Reimagined: What Higher Ed Should Know About an AI-Driven Workforce
Amanda Falwell, Amazon
Frederic Miskawi, CGI
Wendy Lawhead, Pfizer
AI is rapidly transforming industries, job roles, and the skills workers will need to thrive in the new workplace. In this panel, industry leaders will share how AI is reshaping the workforce and what higher education practitioners should know as they prepare students for this new reality. Learn what skills matter most—from ethical judgment to digital fluency—and how to better align academic preparation with evolving employer needs.
2:15pm – 3:15pm AI Ethics Panel
Responsible Intelligence: Navigating AI Use in Academics and the Workplace
Adrian Anderson, Assistant Director of Academic Integrity, University of South Carolina
Tony D’Elia, Chief Privacy Officer, State of South Carolina
Matthew Jay, Chief Operating Officer, PC Techware
As AI use expands in both classrooms and the workplace, students must navigate questions of integrity, transparency, and responsible application. This panel will explore ethical imperatives of AI use in academic settings and professional environments. Join us as we examine the grey zones, expectations, and best practices shaping a new era of learning and working with AI.
3:30pm – 4:30pm AI Hot Topics
Facilitated Roundtable Discussions
Join us to close out Day One with an interactive roundtable discussion exploring today’s hottest AI topics shaping work, learning, and career development. This informal, facilitated session offers space for dialogue, questions, and fresh perspectives — featuring special insights from a representative of our Gold Sponsor, VMock. Bring your curiosity and join the conversation!
4:30pm – 4:45pm Closing Remarks
5:00pm – 6:00pm Social Time and Networking – Location TBD (food & drinks on your own)
*Dinner on your own. (We’ll provide restaurant suggestions for participants.)
July 17 -- (IN PERSON)
8:15am – 9:00am Networking and Light Continental Breakfast
9:00am – 10:00am Session
Candidate to Colleague: AI Tools to Leverage and Improve the Job Search, Interview Process, and Placement Outcome
Douglas “Doug” Hanslip, Director, Graduate Career Education and External and Employer Relations, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
In today's dynamic job market, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools can transform the job search from a reactive process into a proactive, strategic campaign. This presentation explores how integrating AI platforms such as OpenAI or ChatGPT, JobScan, 12Twenty, Career OS, HireLogic, and VMock can significantly enhance each stage of a candidate’s journey—from employer targeting to resume tailoring, interview preparation, and post-interview follow-ups. Attendees will learn how ChatGPT/OpenAI’s natural language capabilities can craft personalized, compelling cover letters and thank-you notes in seconds. JobScan optimizes resumes to align with applicant tracking systems (ATS), boosting visibility. 12Twenty provides real-time market insights and employer data to refine targeting. Career OS offers AI-driven coaching and application tracking, while VMock delivers instant feedback on resumes based on industry benchmarks. HireLogic leverages interview analytics to improve candidate responses and hiring match. Together, these tools form a powerful AI-augmented job search strategy that maximizes efficiency, personalization, and effectiveness. By embracing this AI-enhanced approach, job seekers can significantly improve their marketability and increase their likelihood of securing the right role faster and with greater confidence.
10:30am – 11:45am Faculty Panel
AI in Instruction: Preparing AI-Fluent Graduates for Emerging Opportunities
Gareth Rees-White, Instructor, English Department, University of South Carolina
Byeongwon Ha, Assistant Professor of Media Arts, School of Visual Art and Design, University of South
Allison Byxbe, Professional Communication Lecturer, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
Gloria Washington, Instructional Designer and Educational Developer, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina
Scott Crittenden, Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina
Faculty in every discipline are rethinking how they teach, assess, and engage students in response to AI's pervasive influence. In this panel, instructors will share how they’re integrating AI into coursework and preparing students with the fluency needed for a rapidly evolving job market. Learn how academic innovation is aligning with industry expectations across campus.
11:45am – 12:00pm Closing Remarks
Symposium Underwriters:
Symposium Sponsors:
Gold
Bronze
