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AI Is No Longer the Future — It’s Here. LSUA Hosts March 20 AI Summit

AI Is No Longer the Future — It’s Here. LSUA Hosts March 20 AI Summit

LSUA to Host Full-Day Artificial Summit on March 20

Artificial Intelligence is advancing faster than any technology in history — and on March 20, 2026, Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) is bringing that conversation directly to central Louisiana.

The LSUA Artificial Intelligence Summit will be a full-day event featuring hands-on learning, meals provided, door prizes, beginner-friendly sessions, and practical applications designed for small business owners, professionals, educators, and everyday users. Admission is $100 for a full-day pass.

More than 50% of working-age adults already use generative AI, and one in three employees are using it at work to save time and increase efficiency. The LSUA summit is designed to move beyond theory and give participants real tools they can immediately apply — no technical background required.

LSUA Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil emphasized the summit’s focus on practical application.

“The upcoming LSUA AI Summit is designed to help participants move beyond theory and learn how to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools directly in today’s workplace. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops so they can gain practical experience and learn in real time how to maximize AI tools for everyday professional tasks. The sessions will also highlight the most powerful features of today’s AI leading large language models and demonstrate practical ways to integrate them into existing workflows. The goal is for every participant to leave with actionable skills they can immediately use to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. The summit will also give participants skills and insight into how AI is transforming industries, classrooms, and workplaces across Louisiana. It will also create an opportunity to connect directly with innovators, educators, and business leaders who are shaping how AI is implemented strategically in their organizations. Attendance is highly encouraged due to the fast-paced development and implementation of AI in business and workforce development across the board.”

Dr. Jay Callegari states: “Anyone who attends this seminar will return to their organization with practical, usable knowledge on how to improve skills, save time, and strategically leverage artificial intelligence to make their organization stronger and more effective.”

The summit will open with a keynote from Tony Zanders, Founder of Skilltype, titled:

“I Wish I Could Clone You — Now AI Can: How Small Businesses Scale Without Hiring More People.”

Zanders will explore how AI can capture institutional knowledge, delegate routine decisions, and help small businesses scale without burnout.

Following the keynote, Kelly Terry, Chief of Staff at Skilltype, will lead a hands-on workshop, “Putting AI to Work in Your Business,” where attendees will learn how to offload time-consuming tasks, draft emails and proposals, respond to customer inquiries, and build simple AI assistants using free and low-cost tools.

Additional sessions include:

  • Daniel Condell – Hidden Bottlenecks: Sales & Operations Problems You Didn’t Know AI Could Solve
  • Michelle Cullison – Building Your Marketing Copywriting Assistant and AI Media Creation Toolkit for Small Business
  • Dr. Grant Clary, LSUA Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship & Innovation – Building Agents and Automating Tasks
  • Gemini 101: How to Save Time and Work Smarter (beginner-focused session)
  • Rafael Romero, Dean of Business at LSUA – AI-Driven Video Content
  • Noah Deshotel – CEO of Subterra Technologies will present on AI’s Impact on Louisiana’s Economy and What’s Next, along with The State of AI: What’s Happening in Louisiana (And Where It’s Going Next).
  • Jay Callegari, PhD – The Cognitive Shift: What AI Is and Why Leadership Must Understand It
  • Nathan Sammons, PhD, LSUA Assistant Vice Chancellor of Engaged Teaching and Learning; Dean, College of Science, Technology & Mathematics
  • Tanya Lueder, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science; Program Coordinator

A 40-minute moderated Lunch Keynote Discussion titled “The Future of AI” is also scheduled.

Organizers note that this is not a finalized schedule. Additional speakers and topics are still being confirmed, and changes may occur. This announcement serves as an introduction to the summit and an opportunity to build awareness as LSUA prepares to host one of the region’s most comprehensive AI learning events.

Building a Smarter Louisiana

The LSUA AI Summit is more than a technology conference. It is designed to equip central Louisiana with the knowledge and tools needed to remain competitive as AI reshapes business, education, and workforce development.

Registration and additional details are available at https://www.lsua.edu/ai.

As AI adoption accelerates across industries, LSUA is positioning central Louisiana at the forefront — helping professionals work smarter, businesses grow strategically, and communities build a stronger future.

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