On Friday, Laney College in Oakland, California, opened its Bay Area Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center of Excellence. The event took place in Building F, Room 254. Students, faculty, industry partners, and community leaders attended the opening. The college aims to provide accessible and industry-focused AI education.
Raya Zion, Employment Services Project Manager, and Tuan Nguyen, Department Chair of the AI Department, hosted the open house. They explained that the Center’s goal is to prepare a diverse group of Bay Area learners for jobs in the AI sector. Attendees toured the facility, took part in demonstrations, and learned about the college’s AI curriculum. The curriculum includes certificates in Applied Generative AI, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing.
Speakers included Louis Quinlden, President of the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, Alejandria Tomas, Dean of Career & Technical Education, and Tuan Nguyen. Dean Tomas spoke about the need to create pathways for community college students into technology careers, especially in areas with high demand for skilled workers…