July 7, 2025 — The Marist campus served as a hub of innovation in June as experts from across the Hudson Valley gathered to exchange ideas on one of the world’s fastest-growing technologies—artificial intelligence.

The Hudson Valley Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit, co-hosted by Dutchess County Government and Marist University, brought together a dynamic cross-section of leaders and learners to explore the transformative potential of AI. Held on the Marist campus, the event welcomed participants from local government, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and business sectors for a day of insight, collaboration, and forward-thinking dialogue.

Designed as a vital forum for understanding both the opportunities and ethical challenges posed by AI, the summit featured thought leaders from major tech firms—including IBM, Amazon, Central Hudson, and Nuvance Health—alongside members of Marist + AI—a University-wide collaborative group focused on shaping Marist’s institutional approach to AI. Together, they shared perspectives on how to integrate AI responsibly into organizational strategies.

Diane Hart, Marist Associate Vice President of Special Projects and Innovation (left), hosts a panel discussion on AI awareness with Kevin Cafaro ’08, Principal Product Manager at Amazon (center), and Brian Gormanly, Senior Professional Lecturer of Computer Science (right). Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.

Kevin Cafaro '08, now Principal Product Manager at Amazon, has excelled in the industry since his time at Marist. He works in a creative unit at the global company, using AI in innovative ways.

“I think of generative AI as a supercharged intern whose job is to help you research, translate things, and go out with a scale of activity that you wouldn’t be able to get to otherwise,” he said during the panel. “Its job is to study patterns and use that information to make predictions.”

Dr. Kevin Gaugler, Assistant Dean in the School of Liberal Arts and Professor of Spanish at Marist (center), was featured in a panel discussion highlighting the positives and negatives of AI, along with its ethical applications. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.

Dr. Kevin Gaugler, Assistant Dean in the School of Liberal Arts and Professor of Spanish at Marist, also contributed to the summit. As a co-chair of the Marist + AI Steering Committee, he addressed the implications of AI in education.

“There has to be a human centered around all of this,” he said. “You have to decide not only how to educate someone with AI, but without it. If we’re too reliant on this technology, the fear is that the cognitive load that one needs to learn will be taken away.”

Among the attendees was Christian Sarmiento '25, who graduated in May after completing an art history attachment course in Paris. For Christian, the summit was both a platform to present his senior capping project—an AI model he developed at Marist—and a chance to expand his understanding of the technology as he prepares to begin a new role as a backend engineer at IBM in Poughkeepsie.

Christian Sarmiento presents his senior capping project at the Hudson Valley Artificial Intelligence Summit. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University. 

“Throughout college, I worked on many research projects involving AI, so after graduating, this summit felt like a great opportunity to showcase some of that work, especially from my senior year, which I think was my strongest in terms of research,” Christian said. “I was also really interested in hearing from others—there are some great people here, including faculty and industry professionals.”

During his time at Marist, Christian served as one of two student representatives for Marist + AI. 

The University has partnered with Dutchess County to host regional technology summits for several years. The initiative began with Cybersecurity and is now focused on AI.

About Marist + AI
Marist + AI is a cross-divisional initiative established in October 2024 to guide the Marist community through the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. In its inaugural year, Marist + AI published a foundational ethics statement and principles, academic guidelines for the use of AI in teaching and learning, and operational guidelines. Over the next year, the committee’s work will evolve to actively developing best practices with an integrative approach that aligns with the Marist 100 strategic plan—enhancing academic vibrancy, prioritizing student success, and cultivating a dynamic, inclusive community.