Data Science + AI Summit

Data Science + AI Summit

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025  |  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

at AC Hotel Lansing University Area
3160 E Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912

Researchers, Innovators, and Partners:

Discover Our Future with Agentic AI and Talent

Join us to explore how data science and agentic AI are advancing human potential, shaping the future of work, and driving cross-sector innovation. Featuring keynotes, panels, case studies, interactive sessions, and networking to spark intentional partnerships.

Who should attend: Researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, students and early-stage professionals.

What to expect: Highlights from the 2024 Summit.

Welcome
David Washburn, CEO, MSU Research Foundation

Opening Remarks
“Why Agentic AI + Talent Matters”
Laura Lee McIntyre, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Michigan State University

Keynote

Casey LaRose, Head of US Financial Services, Security Specialization, Google

Meet Your Collaborators: Small Group Conversations

Panel Discussion

Exploring the pre-agentic to agent world, highlighting AI-powered experiential learning and the reselling and talent pipelines needed to prepare tomorrow’s workforce.

Adrian Fortino, General Partner, Mercury Fund
Katie Hall, Founder & CEO, Claira
Cyrus Mistry, CEO, Mudita Studios
Jay Wolcott, Co-founder & CEO, knowbl

Moderated by:
Doug Neal, Co-founder & Managing Director, eLab Ventures

Advisory Rounds with Investors & Industry

Fast-paced rotations where researchers and startups get candid advice from investors and industry mentors, including insights on sectors, funding expectations, and real-world challenges.

Facilitated Open Networking 

For those not participating in the Speed Connect, networking will take place in the main meeting room, offering structured prompts for attendees to connect meaningfully with peers across roles and sectors.

Facilitated by:
Mohammad Ghassemi, Assistant Professor, MSU College of Engineering, Founding Partner, Ghamut Corporation

Buffet lunch and networking break.

Fireside Chat

Adam Kall, Co-founder & CSO, Kall Morris, Inc. (KMI)
Dhruv C. Patel, Co-founder, Syncurrent
Euihark Lee, Assistant Professor, School of Packaging, Michigan State University

Use Cases

Michael Chen, Chief AI Officer, Delta Dental of Michigan
Tanyella Leta, Co-Founder, Chief Research and Product Officer, Maka Media
Isabel Sheinman, CEO & Co-Founder, Maka Media
Trista Van Tine, Founder, Nunchi

From Insight to Action: Small Group Conversations

Panel Discussion

Adam Alessio, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, MSU College of Engineering
Johannes M. Bauer, Quello Chair for Media & Information Policy, MSU ComArtSci
Dongxiao Zhu, Professor & Founding Director, Wayne AI Research Initiative, Wayne State University
Karthik Duraisamy, Professor, Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan

Moderated by:
Anjana Susarla, Omura-Saxena Professor in Responsible AI, MSU Broad College

Keynote

Chris Daugherty, Education Strategy Lead, Google Cloud

Speakers & Advisors

Adam Alessio
MSU Biomedical Engineering

Johannes Bauer
Michigan State University

Michael Chen
Delta Dental of Michigan

Tomasz Cwik
Spartan Innovations

Chris Daugherty
Google Cloud

Karthik Duraisamy
University of Michigan

Adrian Fortino
Mercury Fund

Mohammad Ghassemi
MSU College of Engineering

Katie Hall
Claira

Adam Kall
Kall Morris, Inc. (KMI)

Casey LaRose
Google

Euihark Lee
Michigan State University

Tanyella Leta
Maka Media

Laura Lee McIntyre
Michigan State University

Cyrus Mistry
Mudita Studios

Doug Neal
eLab Ventures

Dhruv C. Patel
Syncurrent

Isabel Sheinman
Maka Media

Anjana Susarla
MSU Broad College

Trista Van Tine
Nunchi

David Washburn
MSU Research Foundation

Jay Wolcott
knowbl

Dongxiao Zhu
Wayne State University

Help Create Our Future with Data Science + AI:

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