February 17, 2026 — A group of accomplished Marist alumni are returning to campus on February 18 to share with students how they can put the power of artificial intelligence to use in the workplace and to discuss how AI is changing job markets across industries.

The “AI in the Workplace” panel discussion will feature seven alumni designed to foster an understanding of not just what AI is doing to the job market, but what it means for the skills and strategies that will matter most in the years ahead.

Organized by the University’s Center for Career Services, the event aims to help students navigate an AI-oriented professional landscape.

“Students sometimes feel like AI is reducing the job market, and that they won’t get employment because AI is taking over,” said Desmond Murray, Associate Director for the Employer Experience in Career Services. “But this panel is going to help show how students and early career professionals can make themselves competitive in an AI-influenced job market — what skills are becoming more valuable and what human skills still remain essential.”

The panel, to be held at 11:00am in the Murray Student Center Cabaret, features seven alumni whose careers span a range of industries, from tech and healthcare to marketing, nonprofits, and data science. Here are the participants:

• Nick Smith '12 (Data Information Lead, Google)
• Michael Canino '23 (Clinical Director, Spear Physical Therapy)
• Aaron Kippins '16/'20M (Senior Software Engineer, IBM)
• Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas '17M (Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson)
• Jacob Knorr '93 (Owner, N2 Company)
• Michael Garofalo '12 (Senior Coordinator, PKD O’Connor Davis)
• Jean Senno '13 (Supervisor of Case Managers and Paralegal, Finklestein & Partners)

The event is open to all students, faculty, and staff. It will be moderated by Dr. Kevin Gaugler, Assistant Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Co-Chair of Marist’s Steering Committee on AI.

“The AI in the Workplace panel is just one element of a comprehensive strategy to make sure all Marist students are prepared with the competencies they need for the workplace,” said Dr. Carol Rinke, Assistant Provost for Student Success and Professor of Education. “We are actively enhancing our partnerships here on campus, within industry, and with our exceptional alumni population — this panel is a prime example of how we can learn from each other and how these partnerships benefit all.”

Marist’s “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence” course (pictured above) is part of the University’s overall approach to responsibly harnessing the power of AI. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University. 

Alumni returning to campus see the event through both personal and professional lenses.

“It’s an honor to return to Marist and share my perspective on how AI is reshaping the workplace,” said Smith. “Helping to navigate this shift is incredibly rewarding for me, and I’m excited to connect with the students and hear their fresh perspectives as the innovators of tomorrow.”

“When I was at Marist, alumni in industry would come back all the time to give us invaluable information on what was happening,” said Kippins. “It gave me a glimpse at the bigger picture of how the industry I wanted to be in was evolving, and now I love being on the other side and being able to help students in the same way.”

Canino, who earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Marist in 2023, brings that same sense of purpose to his work in healthcare.

“Students are hearing about AI from just about every angle you can imagine,” said Canino. “Understanding where it’s truly being applied in various industries will help set realistic expectations for where they may be expected to be proficient with AI based on the field they’re pursuing.”

“As workplaces rapidly evolve with AI, it’s critical that students don’t just learn the tools — they learn how to think critically about them,” said Dvozenja-Thomas. “Returning to Marist gives me the opportunity to share real-world insight into how AI is shaping leadership, creativity, and decision-making, and to encourage students to approach it with curiosity and responsibility.”

Wednesday’s event is part of a growing institutional commitment to AI at Marist, building on the Marist+AI initiative launched in November 2024.

Led by Dr. Gaugler and Diane Hart, Associate Vice President of Special Projects and Innovation, the initiative aims to proactively shape Marist’s approach to the technology across teaching, learning, research, and operations.

Building on that momentum, Marist launched a cross-disciplinary minor in Applied AI in fall 2025, equipping students across all majors with the technical knowledge, ethical frameworks, and practical skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.