This fireside chat podcast features Dr. Jeannie Kim, a community college leader, discussing the intersection of artificial intelligence, humanity, and leadership in higher education. The conversation explores how educational institutions can navigate rapid technological change while maintaining human connection and addressing the emotional toll on faculty, staff, and students.
Themes discussed between N2N's Storyteller in Residence and host of Quantum Leap 2026, Dr. Rod Berger, and Dr. Jeannie Kim.
1. Humanity in an AI-Driven World
Dr. Kim and the host bond over being cancer survivors, using this as a lens to discuss facing finality while living in a world of endless possibility
Emphasis on maintaining hope and resilience when confronting technological transformation
AI should handle mundane tasks so humans can focus on meaningful connections2. Leadership Challenges in Higher Education
Leaders must carefully navigate AI adoption across three groups: early adopters (20%), middle adopters (60%), and resistant "clay layer" (20%)
Fear pervades all levels of the organization
Success requires vulnerability, storytelling, and emotional connection rather than having all the answers
Must move away from "sage on the stage" mentality toward creating organic connections3. Behind-the-Scenes Struggles Dr. Kim reveals challenges not widely discussed in the popular press:
Mental health crisis among administrators, faculty, staff, and students
Overwhelming combination of political/social chaos, rapid AI changes, and curriculum redesign
Faculty capacity limitations when asked to defend content and completely revise teaching methods
Outdated technology (still using 2000s-era tools during COVID in 2020)4. Practical AI Integration
California community colleges provide Google Gemini access to all students and employees
Dr. Kim uses AI daily for iterative learning, crafting detailed prompts (sometimes over a page long)
Uses paid, encapsulated version for privacy
Encourages exploring AI for both professional and personal questions
Most popular ChatGPT use: relationship advice/personal therapy5. Education's Path Forward
Must acknowledge "we don't know what we don't know."
Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions that plagued previous technology implementations
Focus on student-centered values that everyone can rally around
Create space for failure and learning while respecting diverse perspectives
Regular and substantive faculty-student interaction remains critical6. New Leadership Skills Needed
Spend less time on mundane tasks, more on human connection
Create moments where people connect organically
Be open to uncomfortable conversations and challenging perspectives
Learn something new every day
Provide diverse perspectives (example: hosting NYT bestselling author Karen Howe)
"AI can take care of those things that, quite frankly, I didn't wanna do in the first place."
"We don't know what we don't know, and we don't take the time to figure out what we don't know."
"It's not a one-size-fits-all"
"We need to figure out how to stop being the sage on the stage."This conversation took place at the Quantum Leap 2026 conference, brought to you by End to End and Lightleap AI, focusing on innovation in higher education.
