AI in HR: An AI-Empowered Learning Experience

Opening Remarks

by Natalie Sullivan, SHRMLV President, Sarah Hessinger, SHRMLV Conference Chair and Sarah Andrews, Executive Director, Lehigh Executive Education

Keynote Session: How AI is Reshaping the HR Function

Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon for HR - it's already here, and it's moving fast. From talent acquisition and workforce planning to employee experience and compliance, AI is transforming the function from the inside out.

Get a practical, honest look at what's actually changing, what AI still can't replace, and what it means for the skills HR teams need to thrive. Walk away with a clearer picture of where the technology is headed and how to navigate the conversation with employees and leaders.

Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or already navigating its complexities, this session will meet you where you are - and challenge you to think bigger about what's possible.

Speaker Biography: Michael Rivera is an Assistant Professor of Business Information Systems at Lehigh University’s College of Business. His research explores real-time feedback, digital transformation, and leadership, with work published in top journals and conferences. He teaches machine learning and AI strategy and has co-founded two tech startups. Dr. Rivera also consults for major firms including Lockheed Martin, Mars Wrigley, Subaru, and American Airlines, bridging academic insight with industry impact.

Workshop: Building AI Confidence

This hands-on workshop will allow you to confidently incorporate AI with a human touch into your daily work, regardless of future technological shifts.

• Explore AI foundations: Discover AI capabilities and unlock strategies to maximize its business value
• Identify AI opportunities: Learn a simple application framework to audit workflows and boost productivity
• Apply AI skills to real projects: Tackle business challenges individually and collaboratively using a set of prompt principles and frameworks

Speaker Biography: From an early age, Tom Merrill has been fascinated by music and the art of problem-solving. Tom’s curiosity in creative processes like music composition led him to obtain a doctoral degree in music and become an active composer and conductor. Tom later transferred his deep theoretical knowledge of music and creative approaches to the world of communication and education.  Today, Tom is an experienced and engaging Innovation and Change Catalyst  at ExperiencePoint with an instinct for pushing learners and their perspectives beyond the walls of a workshop. From 2017 to 2019, Tom also ran the Center for Innovation at Xavier University that housed local start-ups, and helped students and faculty become better innovators through design thinking. He is passionate about demonstrating innovation through the lens of design thinking and helping teams to manage change. He looks forward to a future where innovation and creative problem solving are part of a worker’s set of fundamental skills.