AI Efforts
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AI Fellow
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office appointed an inaugural cohort of 13 AI Fellows whose roles are to support the mobilization of artificial intelligence across the 116-college system, with workforce as a primary area of focus.
Meet the Region’s AI Fellow
The Inland Empire/Desert Region’s AI Fellow is Donnell Layne, the director of the STEM Innovation Center/Makerspace at Moreno Valley College. Among Donnell’s areas of expertise are AI Research and AI in Education/Early Childhood Education.
Donnell is actively supporting the region’s AI adoption by providing training for college faculty, contributing to the development of AI resources, and generally serving as a subject matter expert on the advancement of AI for education.
AI Advisory Council
The AI Advisory Council, convened by the Inland Empire/Desert Regional Consortium and led by project director Leslie Valmonte, brings together educators, employers, and community innovators to guide the region’s ethical and inclusive AI strategy.
The Council is composed of diverse leaders and innovators representing:
- Faculty, classified professionals, and administrators from K–14 systems and community colleges
- Industry and employer partners advancing workforce readiness and small business innovation
- Community-based organizations and public agencies promoting digital equity and AI literacy
Key activities of the AI Advisory Council include:
- Shaping the Regional AI Strategy: Advising on data, training, and infrastructure needs across education and workforce pipelines.
- Designing Collaborative Initiatives: Supporting AI pilots, partnerships, and professional development efforts that model ethical, human-centered AI adoption.
- Informing the AI Summit happening in March, 2026: Helping define themes, sessions, and outcomes for the region’s premier event on AI and education.
- Providing Feedback from the Field: Sharing insights from local campuses and organizations to ensure regional efforts remain relevant and actionable.
AI Exchange
The AI Exchange is the region’s space to learn, test, and lead with artificial intelligence. Faculty, staff, administrators, and employers come together not for hype, but to explore real tools, share experiments, and keep continuous improvement and student success at the center. Through monthly gatherings and an annual AI Convening, members dive into hands-on demos, swap use cases, and surface strategies that move colleges from isolated pilots to a shared, human-centered approach.
The Exchange is a community where questions are welcome, curiosity drives discovery, and the future of education and work is shaped collectively. Join us at an upcoming convening, contribute to the community resource hub, or reach out to learn more! For more information about the AI Exchange, contact Leslie Valmonte at Leslie@desertcolleges.org