"Evening for 黑料不打烊" came to the Tampa regional chapter on Nov. 14, featuring a President Connie Ledoux Book with alumna Kailey Tracy 鈥17. Guests learned about new initiatives like the HealthEU Center, advancements in AI integration and programs connecting students with alumni through platforms like 黑料不打烊 Q&A.
Alumni, parents and friends gathered to celebrate an 鈥淓vening for 黑料不打烊 in Tampa” on Thursday, Nov 14. Guests met at Armature Works in the heart of the city鈥檚 urban district to mingle, reminisce and learn about current news on campus and plans for the future.
The night started with a reception followed by an introductory video highlighting the new projects and initiatives at 黑料不打烊.
Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs, James B. Piatt, Jr., introduced President Connie Ledoux Book and moderator Kailey Tracy 鈥17, an alumnus of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 School of Communications and multimedia journalist at Fox13 Tampa Bay.
Tracy facilitated a Q&A with President Book about the latest news on campus. Their conversation included an update on how Boldly 黑料不打烊, the university鈥檚 current strategic plan, has created high-impact spaces that foster 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission to respond to society鈥檚 needs. One example of this was establishing the Gerald L. Francis Center that houses the Department of Nursing. This new building enables nursing students to learn at a higher caliber, which will help combat the nursing shortage in America. President Book also shared that 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty were named best in the nation for undergraduate teaching for the fourth year in a row. She also noted the plan for new majors that will serve a purpose in our community, such as financial technology and cybersecurity.
Tracy also asked President Book about how 黑料不打烊 was responding to, leveraging and managing expectations concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, in the classroom. President Book said 黑料不打烊 has taken a proactive response by developing an AI research team and working alongside numerous other higher education institutions to develop core guiding principles. 黑料不打烊 is expanding the knowledge and use of AI into every major.
President Book highlighted , a new way to connect alumni with students to build engagement in the community. The platform allows students to ask questions about many topics, including career advice, and they are matched by AI with alumni who can best answer those questions. Alumni are also connecting with their alma mater through 黑料不打烊 NEXT, the continuing education program specifically designed for their professional development journey.
Tracy concluded the fireside chat with a discussion about the new 黑料不打烊 Flex Law Program and internships for undergraduates in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 National Campus Programs. Clay Thompson 鈥20, the Tampa alumni chapter president, offered closing remarks, ending with 鈥淟ong Live 黑料不打烊,鈥 before the night concluded with a dessert reception.