Millwork Conversations Presented by Google | AI

Millwork Conversations will provide an opportunity to learn from people across communities right here in Nebraska and across the country about new ideas and what’s possible – how to push past real and imagined boundaries. Each month will provide an inspiring, memorable experience for attendees through compelling conversations.

In October, we will discuss the polarizing of often misunderstood nature of AI; how it works and its real-life applications while dispelling any misconceptions. Our speakers this month bring unique insights regarding inclusion and access and through their work inspire our community to participate in the conversation surrounding AI, and ask; how do varying fields utilize this technology?

Dr. Deepak Khazanchi is Mutual of Omaha Distinguished Chair of IS&T and Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis in the College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T), University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Between 2002 and 2021, he served the College of IS&T as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Community Engagement and Internationalization Officer, and as the Chair of the Department of Information Systems & Quantitative Analysis. He has affiliate faculty appointments in UNO’s International Studies & Programs and the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Center for Human Rights (GCHR). Dr. Khazanchi has served as a visiting/adjunct professor with the Center for Integrated Emergency Management (CIEM) at the University of Agder (Kristiansand, Norway), University of International Business & Economics (Beijing, China), and Management Center Innsbruck (Innsbruck, Austria).

Dr. Khazanchi is a Fulbright alum having received multiple Fulbrights: a Fulbright Core award for Austria in 2022, the Fulbright Specialist Grant for Norway in 2014, and is a Fulbright Specialist again for 2022-2025 and received a Grant for Japan in October 2023. Dr. Khazanchi has been instrumental in establishing multiple international collaborations for UNO with universities in Austria, Norway, Germany, Japan, India, and China. He is also regularly involved as a thesis/dissertation committee member and/or external examiner for several graduate and PhD students at universities around the world. Dr. Khazanchi has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, books, and conferences. Over the last two decades, he has received (individually and in collaboration with others) approximately $10 million in grant funding and donations from private foundations, corporations, federal, and state agencies to support his teaching, research, and community engagement activities. Just recently (2021), as a CoPI with four other Nebraska faculty in Civil Engineering and Computing, he has received two rounds of a DoD US Corp of Engineers grant for nearly $8.2 million focusing on building analytics and decision making tools to support bridge infrastructure health in the United States.

Deepak’s recent research has focused in the following broad areas: applied ML, perceived fairness of AI/ML systems, Metaverse Technology Capabilities, Virtual Project Management, Fast Response Virtual Teams for Crisis Management, mhealth interventions, B2B assurance services and risk analysis in extended enterprise environments, mixed research methods, and the application of philosophy of science in computing disciplines. His research has been published in both practitioner and peer-reviewed journals such as IEEE Access, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Journal, International Journal of Information Management (IJIM), International Journal of IT Project Management (IJITPM), The ISACA Journal, Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research (JITCAR), Communications of the Association of Information Systems (CAIS), Journal of the Association of Information Systems (JAIS), Electronic Markets, Decision Support Systems, Information Systems Management, Journal of Information Technology Management, ACM’s DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems, Journal of Computer Information Systems, American Journal of Business, Journal of Gerontological Nursing, and Information Processing and Management. He has also presented his research at several national/international/regional peer-reviewed conferences. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected], his “web presence” is at https://dkhazanchi.com/ and @khazanchi on twitter. He is living his dream as an academic and enjoys any free time he has with his family and traveling.

Erin Van Zee, APR, is RDG Planning & Design's Communications Director and leads the firm's external communications strategies. Collaborating with individuals across the organization, she works to strengthen the firm's position as a recognized industry leader, fostering continuing public support and elevating RDG's brand through compelling storytelling. Through early adoption of emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning, Erin has streamlined the firm's communications efforts, enhancing content creation and outreach efforts to amplify RDG's presence in a rapidly changing industry landscape.

Erin holds a Master of Arts in English with an Advanced Certificate in Technical Communication and Information Design from the University of Nebraska Omaha. She has spent more than 15 years focused on communications, marketing, brand management and public relations across various industries. An active member of multiple professional and civic organizations, Erin serves as chair of the PRSA Midwest District Board of Directors, secretary/treasurer of the PRSA Nebraska Board of Directors and president of the Green Omaha Coalition Board of Directors.

Noni Williams is a senior cloud data engineer, a teaching artist, an independent data consultant, a performance poet, a storyteller, a mathematician, a philosopher born and raised in North Omaha, Nebraska. Noni has created an intentional space for self expression in her approach to mathematics, in her poetry, through fashion, and collaborations with artists in her community. Noni spends most of her time training data analytics apprentices, exploring storytelling with data, writing, mentoring, tutoring, fencing, finding purpose in using mathematical concepts to explore the perceived world around her, and fostering the joy of that exploration in others. Williams is a Ten Outstanding Young Omahan, Ten Outstanding Young American, and has created work featured by Opera Omaha, Kiewit Luminarium, Juneteenth JoyFest, AfroFest, Omaha Diversity Experience, Silicon Prairie News, and others.

ASLA is a licensed landscape architect in RDG Planning & Design’s Urban Design & Planning Studio. He graduated from North Dakota State University, earning his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design. He considers design of the public realm a heavy responsibility and he values the lessons shared by his industry peers. Kene imagines new mediums through which innovative voices in landscape architecture can be amplified and is fascinated by emerging project typologies and technologies that can offer solutions to pervasive global and societal issues. He and his work have been recognized with numerous awards and he is a frequent speaker at universities and conferences across the country.

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Scheduled Activations for the evening:

• Kewitt Luminarium

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Timeline:

5:00pm | Doors Open

5:30pm | Conversation Kick Off!

6:30pm | Q&A

6:30pm | Stick Around for a Social Hour with us in Kros Strain Draft Works

*Kros Strain's new Draft Works location is right next to us in The Dock at Millwork Commons!

Host or Publisher Millwork Commons