College of Computing honors sponsorship for new AI executive program

A generous donation from Jim Hackett, the former CEO of Ford and Steelcase, will support the launch of an Artificial Intelligence for Executives training program within the College of Computing.

President Philomena V. Mantella and College of Computing Dean Marouane Kessentini announced and recognized Hackett’s $300,000 sponsorship during a Fireside Chat on December 6. The chat, moderated by Kessentini, was part of the College’s Innovation Day at the Amway Grand Plaza.

The event featured panels of industry leaders and distinguished alumni, faculty research and student capstone projects and a celebration of 40 years of computing at GVSU.

Mantella and Hackett’s discussion with Kessentini focused on AI and its ethical business applications.

“We need to bring the business community together to talk about the implications of AI,” Hackett said. “As we think about AI, it’s a different question of an ascending technology and how it maps against the values that a business holds. Your first test will be is anyone going to be left out?

“Likely there will be, particularly if there's a competency or literacy gap. It's the role of the leader to close those gaps.”

Mantella said Hacket’s sponsorship emerged from a lunch meeting between the three of them, where they discussed AI and Grand Valley’s adoption of the technology.

“He said at that lunch that not only did he want us to pull together business leaders and academics around AI because of the velocity of movement, but he would like to sponsor and support an executive training for this to occur,” Mantella said. “Thank you, Jim, for that sponsorship to make this happen.” 

The new training program will equip business leaders with the skills to leverage AI for growth and innovation in their industries, while also fostering a deep understanding of the social and ethical challenges posed by the technology.

“We are really so grateful and thankful for the generous donation to Grand Valley and the College of Computing,” Kessentini said. 

“It shows Jim's commitment around leadership and responsible AI and also putting into action his vision on how we can help the region provide the right leadership and the right training in the very evolving world of AI.”