LSUA Hosts Inaugural AI Summit, Bringing Practical Innovation to Central Louisiana | Louisiana State University of Alexandria (L
Source: https://www.lsua.edu/news/article/2026/03/lsua-hosts-inaugural-ai-summit
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
LSUA Hosts Inaugural AI Summit, Bringing Practical Innovation to Central Louisiana | Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA)
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LSUA Hosts Inaugural AI Summit, Bringing Practical Innovation to Central Louisiana
ALEXANDRIA, La. - Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) hosted its first Artificial Intelligence Summit, welcoming more than 200 participants from across central Louisiana for a full day of hands-on learning, collaboration, and innovation.
Hosted by LSUA Continuing Education and the LSUA Division of Academic Affairs, the summit brought together small business owners, educators, nonprofit leaders, manufacturing leaders, and public service professionals to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of work across industries. Attendees engaged directly with real-world AI tools, participated in guided exercises, and developed practical strategies they can immediately apply within their organizations.
As the leading higher education institution in the region, LSUA is committed to serving as a regional resource for workforce development, equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate rapidly evolving technological landscapes.
“This summit represents exactly what LSUA strives to be for central Louisiana,” said LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil. “We are a public institution that exists to serve our community, and that means helping businesses, educators, and organizations understand and apply emerging technologies like artificial intelligence in meaningful, practical ways.”
Participants represented a wide cross-section of the regional economy, including manufacturing, healthcare, technology, education, and small business sectors. The diversity of attendees underscored the growing relevance of AI across all industries and the importance of accessible, applied training opportunities.
The summit featured keynote presentations from two leading voices in Louisiana’s innovation ecosystem. Tony Zanders, President and CEO of Nexus Louisiana, shared insights on building talent pipelines and advancing digital skills to support economic growth. Noah Deshotel, Founder and CEO of Subterra Technologies, highlighted how artificial intelligence is being used to improve operations, enhance decision-making, and scale organizations through applied machine learning and automation.
Throughout the day, attendees participated in a series of breakout sessions designed to translate complex AI concepts into practical applications. Sessions included topics such as integrating AI into small business operations, leveraging AI tools in classroom settings, improving efficiency in public service organizations, and building workflows using automation and generative AI platforms. Each session emphasized hands-on engagement, ensuring participants left with actionable tools, templates, and strategies.
Liz Beard, LSUA Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, noted the importance of connecting academic expertise with real-world application, saying, “Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It is a present-day tool that is reshaping industries. LSUA is proud to create opportunities like this summit where learning is practical, accessible, and directly connected to the needs of our community.”
The success of the inaugural summit was made possible through the support of regional partners and sponsors, including Walker Automotive Group, Southern Chevrolet, Business Acceleration System, the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce, LSUA’s Division of Academic Affairs, and Delta Engineering Group.
LSUA Continuing Education is also grateful for the contributions of the summit’s steering committee, whose leadership and collaboration were instrumental in bringing the event to life: Alisha Ferrington, Kayla Johnson, Rafael Romero, Jay Callegari, Nathan Sammons, Prakash Ghimire, Tanya Lueder, and Adam Lord.
To find more public learning opportunities at LSUA, visit:
www.lsua.edu/academics/continuing-education
.
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit - Adam Lord
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LSUA Hosts Inaugural AI Summit, Bringing Practical Innovation to Central Louisiana
ALEXANDRIA, La. - Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) hosted its first Artificial Intelligence Summit, welcoming more than 200 participants from across central Louisiana for a full day of hands-on learning, collaboration, and innovation.
Hosted by LSUA Continuing Education and the LSUA Division of Academic Affairs, the summit brought together small business owners, educators, nonprofit leaders, manufacturing leaders, and public service professionals to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of work across industries. Attendees engaged directly with real-world AI tools, participated in guided exercises, and developed practical strategies they can immediately apply within their organizations.
As the leading higher education institution in the region, LSUA is committed to serving as a regional resource for workforce development, equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate rapidly evolving technological landscapes.
“This summit represents exactly what LSUA strives to be for central Louisiana,” said LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil. “We are a public institution that exists to serve our community, and that means helping businesses, educators, and organizations understand and apply emerging technologies like artificial intelligence in meaningful, practical ways.”
Participants represented a wide cross-section of the regional economy, including manufacturing, healthcare, technology, education, and small business sectors. The diversity of attendees underscored the growing relevance of AI across all industries and the importance of accessible, applied training opportunities.
The summit featured keynote presentations from two leading voices in Louisiana’s innovation ecosystem. Tony Zanders, President and CEO of Nexus Louisiana, shared insights on building talent pipelines and advancing digital skills to support economic growth. Noah Deshotel, Founder and CEO of Subterra Technologies, highlighted how artificial intelligence is being used to improve operations, enhance decision-making, and scale organizations through applied machine learning and automation.
Throughout the day, attendees participated in a series of breakout sessions designed to translate complex AI concepts into practical applications. Sessions included topics such as integrating AI into small business operations, leveraging AI tools in classroom settings, improving efficiency in public service organizations, and building workflows using automation and generative AI platforms. Each session emphasized hands-on engagement, ensuring participants left with actionable tools, templates, and strategies.
Liz Beard, LSUA Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, noted the importance of connecting academic expertise with real-world application, saying, “Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It is a present-day tool that is reshaping industries. LSUA is proud to create opportunities like this summit where learning is practical, accessible, and directly connected to the needs of our community.”
The success of the inaugural summit was made possible through the support of regional partners and sponsors, including Walker Automotive Group, Southern Chevrolet, Business Acceleration System, the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce, LSUA’s Division of Academic Affairs, and Delta Engineering Group.
LSUA Continuing Education is also grateful for the contributions of the summit’s steering committee, whose leadership and collaboration were instrumental in bringing the event to life: Alisha Ferrington, Kayla Johnson, Rafael Romero, Jay Callegari, Nathan Sammons, Prakash Ghimire, Tanya Lueder, and Adam Lord.
To find more public learning opportunities at LSUA, visit:
www.lsua.edu/academics/continuing-education
.
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit - Adam Lord
ABOUT
About LSUA
History & Traditions
Career Success
Campus News
Publications
Campus Map
Find People
LSUA Foundation
Job Opportunities
About LSUA
Louisiana State University of Alexandria is a publicly supported institution offering undergraduate education and serving the citizens of Central Louisiana.
Learn About LSUA
ADMINISTRATION
Office of Chancellor
Campus Progress
Policies
Finance & Administration
Operations
Civil Rights and Compliance
Staff Senate
Faculty Senate
Strategic Communications
Administration
Oversees the leadership, operations, and strategic direction of Louisiana State University of Alexandria, ensuring the campus runs smoothly and supports student success.
Meet Our Leadership
ADMISSIONS
Office of Admissions
Apply
Visit Campus
Costs & Tuition
Financial Aid
Admitted Students
Transfer
Scholarship Opportunities
Veteran Affairs
Admissions
Guides prospective students through the process of applying to LSUA, from submitting applications to learning about requirements, scholarships, and next steps.
Apply to LSUA
ACADEMICS
Office of Academic Affairs
Office of Registrar
Degree Programs
Honors Experience
SPERO
LSUA Online
Continuing Education
Partnered Degree Programs
James C. Bolton Library
Career Success
College of Business
College of Health & Human Services
College of Liberal Arts
College of Science, Technology & Mathematics
College of Social Sciences
Academics
Offers a wide range of undergraduate programs and courses, providing students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed for career and personal growth.
Explore Academic Programs
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Student Support
Campus Life
Advising
First Year Experience
Career Center
Residential Life
International Programs
University Police
Information & Educational Technology
Barnes & Noble at LSUA
Children's Center
Alexandria Museum of Art
Student Engagement
Connects students to campus life through organizations, events, leadership opportunities, and resources that build community and enhance the college experience.
Get Involved on Campus