New York City is a vital center of innovative activities in both technology and communications.
The people who generate ideas, start businesses, and spark the area’s technological growth are experts and forward thinkers in their fields. Many are invited to speak to our students as part of a robust guest speaker program that brings industry leaders into Touro GST classrooms every semester, not only connecting our students with the latest industry trends, but giving them networking opportunities that are priceless as they start their careers.
We learn from industry experts!
M.S. in Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Shlomo Engelson Argamon
Program Chair of Artificial Intelligence at Touro University Graduate School of Technology
MSIN 664: Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Practice, taught by Professor Behrooz Khorsandi, Dr. Argamon joined as a guest speaker.
Dr. Argamon will present on the topic "Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) in AI," exploring how this innovative approach combines retrieval systems and generative AI to enhance knowledge-based tasks.
M.S. in Educational Technology
Alex Clark
Program Manager at Robofun | Vision Education & Media
EDIN 670: The Educational Technology Specialist, taught by Professor Jacob Gutnicki, Alex Clark joined as a guest and the topic of "Using Lego Robotics in the Classroom" was explored.
This session focused on how Lego robotics can be integrated into educational settings to enhance learning. The discussion covered the practical applications of Lego robotics for teaching concepts in STEM education, encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork among students.
M.S. in Instructional Technology
Danadia Johnson
Learning Designer at Zaner-Bloser
EDIN 673: Designing Online Instruction, taught by Professor Holly Owens, Danadia Johnson joined as a guest speaker. Danadia, a Learning Designer at Zaner-Bloser, shared her journey of transitioning from classroom teaching to roles in EdTech and eventually into instructional design.
In her presentation, titled "From Educator to Ed Tech to ID," Danadia discussed the skills, challenges, and opportunities she encountered while shifting from education to learning design. She also highlighted her current role at Zaner-Bloser, a publishing company dedicated to K-12 learners and provided valuable insights into designing effective educational content for young students.
Clemencia Acevedo
Teacher at New York City Department of Education
EDIN 653: Technology Integration for School Leaders, taught by Professor Mark Gura, Clemencia Acevedo from the New York City Department of Education joined as a guest speaker. As an experienced teacher, Ms. Acevedo shared her practical insights on integrating technology into instruction across various subjects within a school setting.
Her presentation, titled "School-based Leadership for Technology Integration into Instruction Across the Curriculum," emphasized the role of school leaders in promoting effective technology use to enhance teaching and learning.
Phylise Banner
Director of eLearning at Chaplain College
EDIN 646: Distance Learning Applications, taught by Professor Patricia Baia, we welcomed Phylise Banner as our guest speaker. Phylise is the Director of eLearning at Chaplain College and brought her expertise to share innovative approaches to designing effective learning environments.
Phylise introduced Learning Environment Modeling Language (LEML) and posed the thought-provoking question, "Can a good designer thrive within a culture of ineffective design communication?"
Rachelle Dene Poth
Author at International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
EDIN 653: Technology Integration for School Leaders, taught by Professor Mark Gura, Rachelle Dene Poth joined as a guest speaker. Rachelle, an author and a representative of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), shared her expertise on the use of AI-oriented instructional resources in K-12 education.
In her presentation, titled "Conversation about the Use of AI-Oriented Instructional Resources in K-12 Instruction," Rachelle led a discussion on the integration of artificial intelligence tools in the classroom.
Elisabeth Steele
Virtual Presence Coach at Elisabeth Steele, LLC
EDIN 646: Distance Learning Applications, taught by Professor Patricia Baia, we had the pleasure of hosting Elizabeth Steele as our guest speaker. Elizabeth, a Virtual Presence Coach and founder of Elisabeth Steele, LLC, shared her expertise on cultivating a professional and engaging presence in virtual environments.
Elizabeth's presentation, titled "Zoom Like a Pro," focused on practical tips and tricks for enhancing virtual presence.
Tim Slade
Corporate Instructional Designer
EDIN 623: Foundations of Instructional Design, taught by Professor Brittany Handler, Tim Slade joined as a guest speaker. Tim, a prominent figure in the instructional design world, shared his extensive experience as a corporate instructional designer.
In his session, titled "All Things ID - Open Forum," Tim hosted a Q&A forum for students, covering a variety of topics related to instructional design. These included insights into a day in the life of an instructional designer, essential skills and education for the field, design responsibilities, community building, and instructional design processes. Drawing on his experiences with major projects for companies such as Petsmart, Kohl’s, GoDaddy, and LinkedIn, Tim provided valuable advice and inspiration for students pursuing careers in instructional design.
M.S. in UX/UI & Interaction Design
Sean Newman and Jesse VandenBerg
Animators at Frog Boyz
UXIN 650: Type in Motion, taught by Professor Branden Potter, Sean Newman and Jesse VandenBerg from Frog Boyz joined as guest speakers. Sean and Jesse, both award-winning animators and sketch comedy actors, shared their expertise in animation and the production of online content.
In their presentation, titled "Animation," Sean and Jesse demonstrated how an online cartoon show is put together, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at the animation process.
Patrick Aieviolli
Associate Professor and Department Chair at LIU Post
UXIN-605: Design Thinking & Methodology, taught by Professor Ryan Seslow, Patrick Aieviolli joined as a guest speaker. Patrick, an Associate Professor and Department Chair at LIU Post, brought his expertise in design and innovation to the session.
In his presentation, titled "Design Thinking Evolution," Patrick discusses the ongoing evolution of design thinking, focusing on the integration of AI and other emerging technologies.
Kelly Boesch
AI enthusiast, video editor, and graphic design specialist
UXIN 630, taught by Professor Rosemary G. Fitzgerald, Kelly Boesch joined as a guest speaker. Kelly, an AI enthusiast, video editor, and graphic design specialist, brought her unique perspective on the intersection of AI and creative industries.
In her session, Kelly shared her latest AI creations and showcased her impressive portfolio, offering insights into how AI is reshaping the field of graphic design and video editing. Drawing from her extensive experience and dynamic approach, she discussed industry trends and the transformative impact of new technologies and platforms. Known for her energy and leadership, Kelly’s presentation provided students with inspiration and a forward-looking view of the creative landscape.
M.S. in Data Analytics
Carlos Olivos
Head of Corporate and Policy Communications at Airbnb
MSIN 677: Advanced Data Visualization, taught by Professor Derek Thomas, Carlos Olivos joined as a guest speaker. Carlos, the Head of Corporate and Policy Communications at Airbnb, shared his insights on the role of data and storytelling in his work.
In his presentation, titled "Storytelling with Data at Airbnb," Carlos discussed how he leverages analytics and visuals to communicate complex information in his role.
Robert Crabbs
Lead Data Scientist at Socratic Works
MDAN 631: Fundamentals of Visual Data Analytics, taught by Professor Sarwat Zabeen, Robert Crabbs joined as a guest speaker. Robert, the Lead Data Scientist at Socratic Works, shared his expertise on Monte Carlo simulations and their applications in data analytics.
In his presentation, titled "Introduction to Monte Carlo Simulations," Robert explained how this technique is used to model complex systems, from traffic control to nuclear reactor design. He highlighted how Monte Carlo simulations are particularly useful when there is limited training data for traditional machine learning models but precise knowledge of system mechanics or physical rules.
Neel Gandhi
Senior Billing Solutions Analyst at Spectrum Communications
MDAN 623: Statistics for Data Analytics, taught by Professor Claire Rowan, Neel Gandhi joined as a guest speaker. Neel, a Senior Billing Solutions Analyst at Spectrum Communications, brought his industry expertise to engage with students and provide insights relevant to data analytics and billing solutions.
While the specific topic and summary of Neel's presentation are to be determined, his professional background and role suggest a focus on the practical applications of data analytics in billing systems and customer solutions.
David (Dave) Reyes
Surveillance Analyst at HSBC
MSIN 614: Data Transformation, Migration, and Integration, taught by Professor Tova Gottesman, David (Dave) Reyes joined as a guest speaker. David, a Surveillance Analyst at HSBC, shared his expertise on data wrangling in the context of real-world analytics.
In his presentation, titled "Data Wrangling on the Job," David discussed the practical skills required for cleaning, transforming, and preparing data for analysis.
M.S. in Cybersecurity & Network Design
Russ Widener
Technical Solutions Architect at CISCO
MSIN 641: Advanced Cybersecurity and Internet Technologies, taught by Professor Behrooz Khorsandi, Russ Widener joined as a guest speaker.
Russ Widener is currently a Technical Solutions Architect at Cisco. The topic that will be discussed is Zero Trust Architecture – Firewalls are great but leave a blind spot (lateral movement in an enterprise campus). Russ will discuss and demo how to compliment firewalls.
Ilya Epshteyn
Sr. Manager at AWS Identity Solutions
MSIN 643: Advance Topics in LAN, taught by Professor Yosef Lehrman, Ilya Epshteyn joined as a guest speaker.
Ilya Epshteyn is a Sr. Manager in AWS Identity Solutions. The topic that will be discussed is AWS IAM - Amazon Web Services Identity & Access Management.
M.S. in Web & Application Development
Aleza Kleinworm Jerome
Solution Designer
MSIN 625: Advanced Web Development, taught by Professor Susan Kaufman, Aleza Kleinworm Jerome, a Solution Designer and independent contractor, joined as a guest speaker. Aleza brought her expertise in designing solutions that focus on improving user experiences in web development.
In her presentation, titled "User Experience and Web Development," Aleza discussed the importance of user-centered design and how web developers can enhance the user experience through thoughtful design choices and functionality.
M.S. in Technology Leadership / Project Management
Kunal Kerkar
Director of Development at Savient Consulting
MSIN 622: Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), taught by Professor Ben Ettlinger, we welcomed Kunal Kerkar as our guest speaker. Kunal, the Director of Development at Savient Consulting, shared his industry insights on the practical applications of ITSM within a consulting and software development firm.
Kunal's presentation, titled "ITSM at a Consulting and Software Development Firm," focused on how ITSM principles are implemented at Savient.
Anthony Kelly
IT Leadership and Program & Project Management at Redscout
MSIN 607: Effective Oral & Written Communication, taught by Professor Martin Herskowitz, Anthony Kelly joined as a guest speaker. Anthony, who specializes in IT Leadership and Program & Project Management at Redscout in New York, shared his expertise on improving systems and operations through effective communication and networking
Anthony's presentation, titled "Improving System and Operations," focused on the critical role of networking and communication in driving organizational success.
Kelenda Allen-James
IT Director at St. Hope Leadership Academy
MSIN 607: Effective Oral & Written Communication, taught by Professor Martin Herskowitz, we welcomed Kelenda Allen-James as a guest speaker. Kelenda, the IT Director at St. Hope Leadership Academy, shared her expertise on evaluating and integrating new technologies to enhance organizational effectiveness.
Kelenda's talk, titled "Review & Validate Problem Resolutions," emphasized the importance of thorough evaluation and validation in resolving issues and integrating new technologies.
Isaac Herskowitz
Dean at Touro University Graduate School of Technology
MSIN 605: Strategic Management of Technology, taught by Professor Benjamin Lunzer, Dr. Isaac Herskowitz joined as a guest speaker. Dr. Herskowitz, the Dean of the Touro University Graduate School of Technology, shared his expertise on career advancement and professional networking.
In his presentation, titled "Career Advancement - Networking and Hierarchies," Dr. Herskowitz discussed the significant impact that authority hierarchies and peer networks have on career growth and workplace success.
Brittany Hernandez
Director of Client Services at Touro University
MSIN 622: Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), taught by Professor Ben Ettlinger, Brittany Hernandez joined as a guest speaker. Brittany, the Director of Client Services at Touro University, brought her expertise to discuss the practical implementation of ITSM in a higher education setting.
In her talk, titled "ITSM at Touro," Brittany offered an overview of how ITSM is applied at Touro University. She detailed key processes, tools, and strategies used to manage IT services effectively, emphasizing the unique challenges of the educational environment.
Vishal Dubey
Enterprise Architect at MMC.
MSIN 611, taught by the respective professor.