Lunch & Learn: AI & The Future of Workforce Development

The Virginia Tech Newport News Center will offer Virtual Quarterly Lunch & Learn Sessions in 2026! These sessions will be from noon-1 p.m. on Zoom and are free and open to the public.  
AI & The Future Of Workforce Development led by Sarah Rodriguez, Associate Professor, Engineering Education at Virignia Tech.  This Lunch & Learn explores how AI workforce development can better meet the needs of diverse learners, with a particular focus on the pivotal role higher education institutions play in opening doors to high‑demand technology fields. Grounded in research supported through a Microsoft AI Economy Institute Senior Fellowship, it examines emerging models such as micro-credentials, stackable certificates, and short‑cycle programs—alongside early evidence and student experiences—to show how institutions can build equitable on‑ramps to data, automation, and applied AI careers for a much broader population of learners.