Office of the President
The AI Conversation:
Exploring AI in Teaching, Research, and Work
Come, Learn, and Connect!
The AI Conversation is a new webinar series launching this fall, hosted by Bao Johri, Vice President for Information Technology and CIO. In each 30-minute episode, Dr. Johri will interview faculty or staff to explore how they use AI in creative and impactful ways—whether to enhance teaching, advance research, or streamline operations. More than just a presentation, the series fosters open dialogue focused on using AI responsibly, ethically, and effectively within our campus community.
Meet Our Upcoming Guests:
Thursday, December 4 - 12:00 - 12:30 PM
Dr. Hovannes Kulhandjian, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, explores how AI drives his research and student mentorship, guiding projects that
integrate AI to solve real-world challenges. The conversation highlights innovations
such as his patented detection system, CrossBot, and SARDOG agricultural robot, while
examining how training students in AI-powered research can lead to impactful solutions
and potential products that benefit society.
Friday, December 5 - 9:00 - 9:30 AM
Diego Freire, Ph.D., is a Research Associate at California State University, Fresno, where he contributes to the F3 Farms Food Future Project, advancing agricultural technology through innovative research and development. With a doctorate in Computer Science from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Dr. Freire specializes in applying machine learning, remote sensing, and precision agriculture to solve real-world challenges.
Dr. Freire's research spans developing machine learning models to identify table grape varieties using satellite imagery. He has also worked on the development of devices powered by spectral sensors to assess milk functionalities and analyze the quality of dairy products using light-based techniques. Additionally, he collaborates on automated solutions, including F3Scout, an affordable multipurpose platform for farmers that offers centimeter-level accuracy and high precision for agricultural applications.
Dr. Freire is committed to developing practical tools that improve farm productivity, sustainability, and decision-making in California's Central Valley and beyond.
Future Webinars
Dr. Dermot Donnelly-Hermosillo
Dr. Dermot Donnelly-Hermosillo specializes in the role of instructional technologies to support enhanced student science learning. Such technologies include virtual labs, virtual reality, and automated guidance through natural language processing. He is an active member of the campus community in guiding AI implementation – he was the Co-Chair of the AI Teaching and Learning Subcommittee (2023-2024), led a CSU-wide course on AI Teaching and Learning Tools (Spring 2024), and is a current member of the AI Services and Technology Innovation Committee (Spring 2025-Present). Some of his current research investigates the ethical use of AI in university settings.
Dr. Young Maeng
Dr. Young Maeng is an artist, researcher, and Assistant Professor of Art in Painting and Drawing at California State University, Fresno. Her work explores the ethical and philosophical implications of artificial intelligence through expanded painting, integrating traditional Korean painting with Western painting, digital processes, and AI-generated imagery. Drawing on Deleuze’s non-human ontology and East Asian aesthetics, Maeng examines how humans, nature, and AI systems coexist and how creativity is reshaped in an AI-driven world. Her current research, supported by Fresno State’s P-RSCA Impact Award, focuses on AI, equity, and emerging forms of posthuman creativity.
Recording Archives
Dr. Thanos Aris Panagopoulos, Associate Professor of Computer Science, examines how advancements in AI influence not only his teaching and research but the broader field of computer science. The conversation explores the evolving role of AI in real-world problem-solving, the ethical challenges of intelligent systems, and the future of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Professor Holly Sowles, Chair for the School of Art, Design and Art History, discusses how AI is reshaping creative education. From early research on AI in interior design to evolving classroom practices, learn how Professor Sowles navigates the ethical and artistic possibilities of AI while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Ahran Koo, Associate Professor of Art Education, explores how AI is transforming curriculum and classroom experiences. Through the lens of contemporary AI artists and scholars, her work encourages students to critically reflect on traditional art, creativity, and visual storytelling, inspiring them to consider culture, authorship, and ethics.
Dr. Laura Huisinga, Associate Professor in the Department of Art, Design, and Art History considers the evolving impact of AI on contemporary design education and creative practice, highlighting how emerging technologies are influencing both pedagogical approaches and the design process itself.
Dr. Nupur Hajela, Associate Professor in Physical Therapy, integrates her background as a clinician and neuroscientist into teaching and research. Her work considers rehabilitation, neurological conditions, and student learning, connecting clinical practice with emerging directions in the field.
Dr. Paulina Freire is leading innovative research that integrates artificial intelligence with optical sensing technologies to improve the assessment of dairy quality. Her work utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze data from backscatter light, fluorescence spectroscopy, and multi-spectral imaging systems, assessing intrinsic characteristics of dairy products and facilitating real-time quality control and predictions of functionality that exceed those of conventional methods.