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AI Skills Summit: Industry and Higher Education Partnership

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The AI Skills Summit: Industry and Higher Education Partnership brings together leaders from academia, technology, business, and government to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the workforce and reshaping the future of education. This one-day summit will feature thought-provoking discussions, interactive panels, and collaborative sessions designed to strengthen partnerships between higher education institutions and industry innovators.

As AI continues to revolutionize every sector, from healthcare and finance to creative media and manufacturing, educators and employers share a critical responsibility: preparing the next generation of workers with the skills, ethics, and adaptability needed to thrive in an AI-driven world. The summit provides a unique forum for participants to exchange best practices, showcase successful collaborations, and identify new pathways for integrating AI literacy, data analytics, and emerging technologies into academic and workforce programs.

  • 8:15 a.m.
    Breakfast, Globe Hall Atrium

  • 9:00 a.m.
    Welcome, Dr. Michael Mills, Associate Senior Vice President of Equitable Access and Student Success

  • 9:05 a.m.
    Opening Remarks, Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, President, Montgomery College

  • 9:15 a.m.
    Remarks, Elana Fine, CEO, VWG Wealth Management and  

    Board Chair, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation

  • 9:20 a.m.
    Keynote, Dr. Mohammed Eslami, Netrias

  • 9:45 a.m.
    Industry Panel - Dr. Nawal Benmouna, Vice President of STEM and Health Sciences, Montgomery College (Moderator) | Melissa Coughlin (AstraZeneca) | Rhian Driscoll (AstraZeneca) | Ric Fleisher (FlexNode) | Martin Rapos (AKULAR) | Jeff Smolley (Compliance Path)

  • 10:45 a.m. - Break

  • 11:00 a.m.
    Faculty/Student Panel - Dr. Shinta Hernandez, Dean of Montgomery College Online and Academic Support (Moderator) | Jana Anderson (Business/Hospitality Management) | Michaela Pacesova (Computer Science) | Dr. Brandon Wallace (Education) | Carlos Santiago Penaloza (Student)

  • 12:00
    Remarks, The Honorable Marilyn Balcombe,  Councilmember, Montgomery County Council

  • 12:05 p.m.
    Closing Remarks, Margaret Latimer, The Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology (PIC-MC), Partnership Committee Chair

  • 12:15 p.m.
    Final Thoughts, Dr. Michael Mills
Mohammed Eslami

Dr. Mohammed Eslami is the Chief Scientist at Netrias and works at the intersection of AI and Biology. Dr. Eslami serves as principal investigator on multiple DTRA, DARPA, and NIH projects whose focus is the automated harmonization of multiple data modalities.

Most relevant, his primary research interest lies in the use of AI to rapidly curate data and to reduce the number of experiments needed for discovery. He also serves as a co-chair of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) Interest Group: Artificial Intelligence for Synthetic Biology, and has frequently published on the integration of graph analytics and machine learning.

Melissa Coughlin

Melissa Coughlin, Director of R&D IT and Senior Business Partner at AstraZeneca, has more than 20 years of experience in scientific innovation and IT within the biopharmaceutical and R&D sectors.

She supports AstraZeneca’s Biopharmaceutical Development and Early Vaccines & Immune Therapies teams, building strategic partnerships with stakeholders to ensure IT demand forecasting, planning, and delivery align with scientific goals. Melissa has extensive experience in vaccine platform drug candidate development and a passion for integrating cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML), to advance drug development and medical research.

Rhian Driscoll

Rhian Driscoll is an AI-focused technology leader working at the intersection of innovation, integrity, and impact. In his current role at AstraZeneca within R&D IT, he supports the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into pharmaceutical research and development, helping translate cutting-edge tools into meaningful, measurable outcomes for scientific teams.

Rhian brings a systems-thinking approach to the AI conversation—balancing technical ambition with a clear-eyed view of real-world use, governance, and sustainability. Whether driving internal adoption or contributing to broader industry dialogue, he champions an approach to AI that is both practical and principled.

Ric Fleisher

Ric Fleisher is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in business development, sales, and technology. He has played a pivotal role in the success of 10 startups, achieving three successful exits—two through acquisitions and one via an IPO.

Ric's diverse expertise spans a range of industries, including artificial intelligence, automotive, real estate, two-sided marketplaces, mobile technology, location-based services, identity verification, networking hardware, speech recognition, streaming video, collaboration, intelligent agents, and RFID. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in building early-stage technology companies across software, hardware, and service sectors, demonstrating a robust commitment to innovation and growth. 

Martin Rapos

Martin Rapos, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, AKULAR , develops edge AI data centers that balance storage and compute tailored to each client’s use case.

His career spans 20+ years in digital transformation, AI algorithms, and telemetry for governments and enterprises across the US and EMEA.

Jeff Smolley

Jeff Smolley, head of Business Development, CompliancePath, leads business development at CompliancePath, where he helps life sciences companies modernize Computer System Validation using AI-enabled assurance tools.

His work focuses on applying AI responsibly in regulated environments, improving efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, ethics, and data integrity.

Jana Anderson

Jana Anderson is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Business and Hospitality Department which includes:  Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Computer Applications, Hospitality Management & Paralegal Studies (BEACAHMPS) at the Germantown and Takoma Park/ Silver Spring campuses.  She joined the full-time faculty at Montgomery College in 2018 as an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Hospitality Management Program, after more than seven years of teaching as an adjunct instructor at Montgomery College and Howard Community College.

During her tenure as Coordinator of the Hospitality Management Program, Professor Anderson led significant advancements in both curriculum and student opportunities.  She spearheaded a comprehensive curriculum update, established articulation agreements with MCPS, and created new transfer pathways to support Hospitality Management students in their academic and career goals.

A strong advocate for experiential learning, Professor Anderson championed the launch of the Rolling Raptor EduKitchen, a mobile business lab that brings hands-on learning directly to Montgomery College Business and Hospitality students.  This innovative initiative provides students with immersive, real-world experiences that prepare them for success in the dynamic hospitality industry.

Professor Anderson is a founding board member of FHRM (Foundation for Hospitality and Restaurant Management), an advisory board to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) hospitality and culinary programs.  She is also the Principal Investigator and Program Coordinator of “Hospitality to Possibility”, an EARN Maryland Grant-funded initiative.  

Professor Anderson earned her Bachelor's Degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management, Minor in Business Law, and a Master's Degree in Community and Economic Development from Pennsylvania State University.

Prior to her academic career, Professor Anderson worked for Hillstone Restaurant Group in restaurant operations and upper-level management for over ten years.

Michaela Pacesova

Michaela Pacesova is a Computer Science Adjunct Professor at Montgomery College, where she teaches courses including Introduction to Programming in Python, C++, and Computer Concepts. Her interests focus on the use of educational technology tools and artificial intelligence to enhance learning, make all students feel comfortable participating in class, and prepare them for the future of work.

In addition to teaching, she serves as a part-time faculty associate and an ATPA Success Coach, helping students navigate the college experience and connect with resources that support their success.

She is passionate about empowering beginner students, building their confidence, and creating interactive, hands-on experiences that make technology both accessible and inspiring.

Carlos Santiago Penaloza

Carlos Santiago Penaloza is a first-generation college student in the U.S. and an immigrant from Bolivia currently majoring in Business at Montgomery College, with plans to transfer to a four-year institution.

He is the president and founder of the college’s AI Club, where he leads initiatives to make artificial intelligence accessible and engaging for students from all disciplines. Passionate about media content production and emerging technologies, Carlos explores how AI can enhance creativity, marketing, and communication.

Through his leadership, he promotes AI literacy and empowers peers to see AI as a tool for innovation and positive impact. 

Brandon Wallace

Dr. Brandon C. S. Wallace is a tenured, full professor at Montgomery College and a faculty associate at Johns Hopkins University. He has extensive experience in curriculum development, public speaking, scholarly publishing, and national assessment work, contributing to initiatives such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the GED Testing Service.

Dr. Wallace has earned multiple distinctions for his contributions to teaching and leadership. Among his honors are the Diane Tobin Award for Excellence in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, the Outstanding Faculty Award from Montgomery College, the Outstanding Professor Award from the Bowie Black Male Educators and Leaders Alliance at Bowie State University, and the 2024 NISOD Excellence Award. At Montgomery College, he has also served as interim chair of the School of Education and co-chair of the Maryland Male Students of Color Summit.

Dr. Wallace’s scholarship explores English language and literature, qualitative methodology, social-emotional learning, multicultural education, Universal Design for Learning, and special education. His most recent publication, co-authored with Dr. Yolanda Abel of Johns Hopkins University is titled Embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to Enrich Special Education Teacher Preparation and appears in Transforming Special Education Through Artificial Intelligence (IGI Global, 2025). Additionally, Brandon recently presented on the intersectionalities between Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) this past summer at the International Education Summit in Accra, Ghana.

 

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