Learning Together: How Students and Educators are Harnessing AI for Success - Ep. 279
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
Dr. Seher Awan, president of Mission College in Silicon Valley, shares her remarkable journey from first-generation community college student to becoming one of California's youngest community college presidents. (00:46) In this insightful conversation, Dr. Awan discusses how Mission College is leveraging AI and technology to break down educational barriers, close equity gaps, and serve its diverse student population of 7,000 students—75% of whom receive financial aid. (06:46) The episode explores Mission College's groundbreaking partnership with NVIDIA to become the first California community college to offer AI certification programs, while also examining broader questions about the future of education, workforce development, and ensuring technology serves all communities equitably. Dr. Awan's approach centers students in every decision, emphasizing accessibility, community partnerships, and removing systemic barriers that prevent underrepresented populations from achieving their dreams.
- Main Theme: How community colleges can harness AI and technology to democratize education, close equity gaps, and prepare diverse student populations for an evolving workforce while maintaining a student-centered approach to institutional leadership.
Speakers
Dr. Seher Awan
Dr. Seher Awan is president of Mission College in Santa Clara, California, where she has led the institution since 2022. She became the youngest California community college president in 2018 when she took over at Los Angeles Southwest College. As a first-generation college student and daughter of immigrants from Kenya and Kuwait, Dr. Awan has dedicated over 20 years to higher education, working her way up from an unpaid intern to vice president of administrative services before becoming a college president.
Noah Kravitz
Noah Kravitz is the host of the NVIDIA AI podcast, where he explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology, and society. He brings expertise in technology journalism and interviewing to facilitate discussions about AI's impact across various industries and communities.
Key Takeaways
Embrace AI as an Equity Tool, Not a Barrier
Dr. Awan emphasizes that AI should be leveraged to close equity gaps rather than widen them. (08:51) Mission College uses AI to automate administrative processes like their "Mission Cares" form, which helps students access housing, food security, and learning community resources instantly rather than waiting days for manual processing. This approach ensures that vulnerable students—including those who are unhoused—receive immediate support when they need it most, demonstrating how technology can remove barriers rather than create them.
Center Students in All Technology Decisions
Every technology implementation at Mission College begins with the fundamental question: "How is what we're doing going to impact students?" (15:55) This student-first approach ensures that new tools serve the actual needs of learners rather than creating additional obstacles. Dr. Awan's team evaluates whether technology requires students to purchase expensive tools or creates accessibility barriers, instead opting for solutions like college-wide licenses and campus computer lab access that ensure equity.
Build Strategic Partnerships for Real-World Impact
Mission College has created meaningful partnerships with organizations like NVIDIA, Stanford University, and Applied Materials to provide paid internships and apprenticeship programs. (20:55) Unlike traditional unpaid internships that exclude students who must work to support themselves and their families, these paid opportunities allow underrepresented students to gain valuable experience without financial hardship. The college even operates the only transportation apprenticeship program in the country, directly connecting education to workforce needs.
Professional Learning Must Be Strategic and Collaborative
Rather than adopting every new AI tool that emerges, Dr. Awan advocates for strategic evaluation by asking "What problem are we trying to solve?" (19:40) She's creating an AI task force to conduct environmental scans of current usage and plans an AI summit for sharing best practices. This collaborative approach prevents technology fatigue while ensuring faculty have the support they need to integrate AI meaningfully into their teaching.
Remove Systemic Barriers Through Intentional Design
Mission College addresses both internal struggles (family care, housing insecurity, transportation) and external barriers (financial constraints, technology access) that students face. (24:03) The college provides free tuition, free meals, laptops, hotspots, and innovative solutions like Zoom pods for students taking hybrid courses on campus. Dr. Awan's vision is "to create a college that doesn't exist—one that has 100% success rates and no equity gaps," driving continuous innovation in student support.
Statistics & Facts
- Mission College serves approximately 7,000 students per semester and has experienced a 10% enrollment increase over the past four years, bucking post-pandemic trends that have seen many institutions struggle with enrollment recovery. (06:19)
- About 75% of Mission College students receive financial aid, and most attend part-time because they work full-time and care for families, highlighting the unique challenges faced by community college populations. (07:06)
- Mission College operates with a hybrid model that evolved post-pandemic to approximately 60% in-person and 40% online classes, based on student enrollment patterns and preferences. (27:28)
