The Engagement Ring

Part One of this podcast: Developed by Humans, for Humans: Understanding This Moment in AI's Evolution

Mila Gascó-Hernandez, Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy; Research Director, Center for Technology in Government (CTG); Associate Director, AI & Society College

Hany Elgala, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE); and Associate Director, AI & Society College

AI & Society College at UAlbany

Center for Technology in Government (CTG)

From the UAlbany News Center: UAlbany Launches New AI & Society College, Research Center

Definition of AI from the OECD:

“An AI system is a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. Different AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment.”

OECD stands for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It is an international organization through which governments cooperate, study public-policy challenges and develop shared standards and recommendations.

It currently has 38 member countries, including the United States. Its work covers areas such as education, economics, employment, taxation, technology and artificial intelligence.

Special thanks to our recording engineer Scott Freedman of the University at Albany Digital Media Services team.

Part Two of this podcast: Developed by Humans, for Humans: Living, Learning and Working with AI

Dr. Mila Gascó-Hernández, Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy; Research Director, Center for Technology in Government (CTG); Associate Director, AI & Society College

Hany Elgala, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE); and Associate Director, AI & Society College

AI & Society College at UAlbany

Center for Technology in Government (CTG)

From the UAlbany News Center: UAlbany Launches New AI & Society College, Research Center

Definition of AI from the OECD:

“An AI system is a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. Different AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment.”

OECD stands for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It is an international organization through which governments cooperate, study public-policy challenges and develop shared standards and recommendations.

It currently has 38 member countries, including the United States. Its work covers areas such as education, economics, employment, taxation, technology and artificial intelligence.

Special thanks to our recording engineer Scott Freedman of the University at Albany's Digital Media Services.

Kelly Morrone, Head Coach, UAlbany Women's Basketball

Jada Pierce, General Manager, UAlbany Women's Basketball

UAlbany Women's Basketball

Coach Kelly Morrone's Little Ballers Free Fall Clinics (for girls 8th grade and below)
September 28, 2026, 6-7:15 p.m. at the Broadview Center, UAlbany Uptown Campus
October 6, 2026, 6-7:15 p.m. at the Broadview Center, UAlbany Uptown Campus

From UAlbany Athletics, UAlbany Names Kelly Morrone Head Women's Basketball Coach, April 4, 2026

America East Women's Basketball

Special thanks to Scott Freedman of UAlbany Digital Media Services for engineering this podcast.

Dola Saha, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering, University at Albany

UAlbany Receives $1.3M NSF Award to Establish Advanced Wireless Testbed (Article from UAlbany News by Bethany Bump, June 9, 2026) 

University at Albany

College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering

CHRONOS: A Cloud based Hybrid RF-Optical Network Over Synchronous Links

Signal Processing and Communications, University at Albany

Special thanks to Scott Freedman of UAlbany's Digital Media Services Team for engineering the podcast.

Kabel Nathan Stanwicks, Senior Assistant Librarian and Head of Access Sevices, University Libraries

Deanna DiCarlo, Head of Branch Services, Albany Public Library

University Libraries

Albany Public Library

UAlbany and Albany Public Library Partnership Offers More Access to Library Resources, UAlbany News Center, April 7, 2026

The Engagement Ring is produced by the University at Albany's Office for Public Engagement. Special thanks to our recording engineer Scott Freedman of UAlbany’s Digital Media Services. If you have questions or comments or want to share an idea for an upcoming podcast, email us at [email protected].

Professional and Continuing Education at UAlbany (PaCE)

Dr. Jennifer Miller, Executive Director, PaCE

University at Albany Office of the Provost, Division of Academic Affairs

J. Ramon Gil-Garcia, Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affaris and Policy, and Director, Center for Technology in Government (CTG)

Mila Gascó-Hernández, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and POlicy, and Research Director, CTG

Study: Empowering Communities: Public Libraries, Inclusive Civic Engagement and Artificial Intelligence

Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany (CTG)

University at Albany

Urban Libraries Council

From the UAlbany News Center, Sept 28, 2023: CTG UAlbany Examines Libraries’ Role in AI

Elaine Salisbury, Lecturer II, Journalism Program Director, Department of Communication

University at Albany

UAlbany Program in Journalism

UAlbany Journalism Program Pairs Students with Local Newsrooms (Article from the UAlbany News Center,  January 21, 2025)

UAlbany, Spotlight News Win Award for Partnership to Strengthen Local Journalism (Article from the UAlbany News Center, September 11, 2025)

Center for Community News, University of Vermont

Institute for Local News at SUNY

Spotlight News

The Daily Gazette

Lumina Foundation

Press Forward

The New York State Writers Institute presented a conversation with Adam Aleksic on the future of language. The program took place at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on January 29, 2026. This event was mentioned in this episode of The Engagement Ring.

Books by Elaine Salisbury:

The Cruelist Miles:  The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury

Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art by Aly Sujo and Laney Salisbury

Sean Millington, Inaugural Mayoral Fellow, City of Albany, NY

City of Albany, NY

Dr. Dorcey Applyrs, Mayor, City of Albany, NY

Activate Albany

Application Dealine:  Friday, February 13, 2026 (Scroll down for instructions on how to apply.)

GE Next Engineers New York Capital Region

GE Next Engineers

University at Albany College of Nanotechnology, Science and Engineering

University at Albany

NY Creates

miSci

Capri O'Hara (see full bio below)

Dr. Bradley Thiel, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Professor, College of Nanotechnology, Science and Engineering 

GE Aerospace Foundation Launches Next Engineers with UAlbany, miSci and NY Creates 

HOW TO APPLY:

The Next Engineers Academy application is now open. We encourage all interested 10th grade students to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity to explore engineering, technology, and hands-on learning experiences.

To get started, students should first create an account and then begin the application through the online portal.

How to Apply page:  https://www.nextengineers.org/how-apply-engineering-academy

Create account and Apply: https://www.nextengineers.org/locations/newyork

CAPRI O'HARA BIO:

Capri O’Hara is a recognized leader in workforce development, educational initiatives, apprenticeship programming, and engineering career pathways, bringing deep expertise to the fast-moving world of semiconductor education and training. Capri serves as the Director of Workforce Development at NY Creates, and as Director of GE Next Engineers – Capital Region, New York in partnership with University at Albany, where she plays a central role in building a strong, future-ready engineering talent pipeline.

Grounded in a student-centered, experiential learning philosophy, Capri works at the intersection of education, innovation, and industry. Her programs connect learners to real-world engineering opportunities, equipping them with the technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability needed to thrive in advanced manufacturing and high-tech careers.

Capri led the development and launch of a gateway New York State Registered Apprenticeship Program in partnership with NY Creates, the Center for Economic Growth, Hudson Valley Community College, and NIICA. She also helped launch the Capital Region BOCES New Visions Emerging Technologies Program, providing high school students with specialized training in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. Her portfolio spans K–12 engagement, postsecondary and faculty development, and immersive experiential learning initiatives, supporting learners across New York State and nationally.

Through strategic partnerships and a learner-centered approach, Capri is committed to inspiring curiosity, expanding access, and building inclusive pathways that strengthen the engineering and semiconductor workforce of the future.