Kathy Pham Delivers Inaugural Lecture on Artificial Intelligence at Kennesaw State University

Kathy S. Schwaig and Kathy Pham • Photo Credit: Kennesaw State University

KENNESAW, Ga., September 11, 2025 (VSNewsNetwork.com) — Kennesaw State University has launched its Presidential Lecture Series with computer scientist Kathy Pham as the inaugural speaker. Pham, vice president of artificial intelligence at Workday and a public policy lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, presented a lecture titled “AI Across Boundaries: The Only Way Forward.”

Speaking to an audience at the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center on the Marietta Campus, Pham emphasized the importance of collaboration across multiple sectors to shape the future of artificial intelligence. “We all have a role in the AI ecosystem. A lot of conversations are happening now across those sectors about what should engineers build. How should we build it? What kinds of guardrails should we want in place? This takes many different sectors to figure out,” Pham said.

The Presidential Lecture Series is designed to highlight thought leaders on issues with broad societal impact. “Our goal is to elevate issues of the day and to hear from experts who are pushing the boundaries on technologies, policies, and innovations that impact how we learn, work, and live our lives. Kathy Pham was the perfect choice as our inaugural speaker. Her vast expertise and impactful voice offered critical insights as artificial intelligence continues to transform nearly every aspect of our personal and professional lives,” said KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig.

During a discussion with Schwaig, Pham addressed how students and future developers should approach building AI responsibly. “You need to bring your life experiences and your expertise to the room, but leave your title at the door. Building ethical and effective AI requires input beyond technologists. You need historians, lawyers, social scientists, and others who all add essential perspectives and see any blind spots that we’re missing,” Pham said.

Pham also discussed the role of empathy and inclusivity in AI development. “I think we definitely can design to be more inclusive. It just requires deciding that you want to do it, asking lots of questions, and then finding all the resources,” she said. “Being empathetic is a deeply human feeling, and you can’t replace having another person right across from you. However, I think that AI platforms can be trained on enough systems to offer a semblance of empathy – for example, drawing from a vast repository of responses if somebody says, ‘I’m feeling down today.’”

As part of the event, Kennesaw State outlined its recent initiatives in AI education and research. The university launched a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program in 2024, one of only two in Georgia, and recently added two graduate-level certificate programs in AI-related fields. Faculty are applying AI technology to projects ranging from non-invasive glucose monitoring for diabetics to agricultural pest detection and affordable early screening for diabetic retinopathy.

“I am inspired by what you’re doing with AI here at Kennesaw State,” Pham said.

For more information, visit www.kennesaw.edu.

Source: Kennesaw State University