When Tech Meets Ed with Prof. Jie Ren

In this episode of When Tech Meets Ed, Prof. Jie Ren sits down with Dr. Mark Silver to explore technology through what he calls "The Consequence Lens." Together, they discuss how technological advancements, from past digital transformations to today's AI, shape and are shaped by both individual behavior and society at large. The conversation highlights the active role users play in adopting and em...

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren is joined by cybersecurity expert Dr. Shoufu Luo to explore the evolving intersection of AI and cybersecurity, particularly in detection and response. They discuss how AI is used in both defensive and offensive contexts across industries, the growing role of social engineering and human factors, whether AI can replace human judgment in security, and how students can...

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren is joined by creativity expert Dr. Kai Wang to explore the intersection of AI and creativity. They discuss what creativity truly means beyond the arts, why it matters in everyday problem-solving and innovation, how AI can augment creative work while keeping humans in the loop, and what advice students can follow to cultivate creativity in the age of AI. Host and Exec...

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Will Hisao from NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations, about the vision behind citywide public data dashboards, the challenges of managing large-scale, multi-agency datasets, and how public data can drive transparency, insight, and cross-sector collaboration. She is also joined by MSBA students, Faris Al-Dhahi, Amogha Manchinahalli Srikanta, and Kamrul Islam,...

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Terri Matthews, Director of Town+Gown: NYC @ NYC DDC, a citywide research program in the built environment, about how Town+Gown connects student-led experiential learning programs at academic institutions, like Fordham University, with NYC agencies with real research needs.  These projects help tackle real-world public-sector challenges through evidence-b...

In this episode of “When Tech Meets Ed,” Prof. Jie Ren sits down with Yilu Zhou, PhD, to explore Zhou’s personal journey as a woman in tech. They discuss overcoming stereotypes, navigating imposter syndrome, and breaking the glass ceiling. The conversation also examines how AI is reshaping the workforce and what family support is needed to reduce the gender gap. Host and Executive Producer: Jie Re...

As part of the “Women & Tech” series, this episode features a conversation with Sofia Bapna, PhD, associate professor and Lawrence Fellow, Carlson School of Management, on the networking dynamics shaping women’s careers in the tech industry. She and Prof. Jie Ren discuss the persistent gender gap in the tech industry and the types of organizational support that can help reduce it, drawing upon...

As part of the “Women & Tech” series, this episode features a conversation with Heather Darnell, founder of Ask the Boss, about female entrepreneurship in the digital age. She and Prof. Jie Ren explore how technology has shaped her entrepreneurial journey and how evolving tools—especially AI—are transforming business communication and strategy. Darnell also provides her advice for aspiring wom...

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren is joined by French artist, Tommy Boureaux, for a thoughtful conversation on the intersection of art and AI. They explore how AI-generated art is reshaping artistic creation, authorship, copyright law, and education, and discuss whether AI should be seen as a tool, collaborator, or competitor in redefining what it means to be an artist today. Host and Executive Produ...

In this episode of "When Tech Meets Ed," Prof. Jie Ren is joined by her PhD advisor, Jeff Nickerson, PhD, to explore the emerging idea of AI personas. From language learning and virtual companionship to creativity, marketing, and entrepreneurship, they discuss how AI personas and agents are being designed, deployed, and integrated into organizations. The conversation also examines what this shift...

This episode introduces the theme and scope of the podcast, outlining its focus on how technology, especially artificial intelligence, is reshaping education, society, and the future of work. It sets the tone for thoughtful, cross-disciplinary conversations that explore not only technological innovation, but also its broader human, ethical, and professional implications. Host and Executive Produce...