Top Left: Education leaders and professionals from across Southwest Florida gather at Florida SouthWestern State College for the Southwest Florida Regional AI in Education Symposium.
Top Right: From left, Jason Dudley, Anna Haney-Withrow, Rebecca Harris and Rozalind Jester pose for a photo during the Southwest Florida Regional AI in Education Symposium at FSW.
Bottom Left: Symposium participants exchange ideas about the opportunities and challenges associated with incorporating artificial intelligence into education.
Bottom Right: Anna Haney-Withrow speaks to the audience about how AI is changing workforce expectations and what responsible implementation requires of institutions, employers, educators, and leaders.
Higher education has always been a place for new ideas and innovation. Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) brought that spirit to the Lee Campus, hosting more than 200 educators for the AI in Education Symposium. A first of its kind for the region, the symposium gave educators an opportunity to explore the role of AI in the classroom and discuss the future of teaching and learning.
Alongside educational partners at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and school districts in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, and throughout the region, the day was a chance to exchange ideas and work together to ensure students are prepared for a workforce shaped by AI.
“As artificial intelligence continues to impact education and the workforce, it is clear that no one institution can carry this responsibility alone. Some of the most important work we do as educators happens when we come together,” said FSW President Jeff Allbritten. “This symposium reflects FSW’s commitment to convening regional education leaders and ensuring Southwest Florida is prepared to lead in this new era of education. Together, we can build a future that embraces innovation while keeping student success at the center.”
The symposium reflected the understanding that preparing students for an AI-driven future will require collaboration across the K-16+ continuum. Anna Haney-Withrow, director of FSW’s Institute of Innovative and Emerging Technologies, led a discussion on workforce readiness and responsible AI.
“We don’t have to predict the future of work perfectly to prepare students well for it,” said Haney-Withrow. “As AI reshapes workplaces and expectations, our responsibility is to help students develop skills that will serve them no matter how the world changes: the ability to be present, solve meaningful problems and keep learning. Just as importantly, we need to make sure students themselves have a voice in the conversation about the future they will help shape.”
The symposium was an important reminder that the future of education will be shaped not only by technology, but by the educators willing to explore it together. By bringing regional leaders to the table, FSW helped create space for those conversations to begin.