Amanda Sotelo
With more than 22 certifications in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Lyudmyla Dickinson is sharing her knowledge of the ever-evolving technology with students at South Texas College as an Assistant Professor of Economics, and across the Rio Grande Valley through workshops and speaking events.
Dickinson’s most recent event was hosted at STC and organized by the Rio Grande Guardian, a leading online news media outlet in the region. The forum titled, “Smart Cities, Smarter Economy: Future of Automation for the RGV,” allowed the professor to explain how she combines economics with AI, implements it in her classroom and the positive impact it can have on the world.
“I know what is said about AI and its negative perceptions, but there really is a lot of positive that can come of it, if used responsibly,” she said. “We are not going to be able to escape AI, it is here, and it is here to stay. Therefore, we must learn to work with it and allow it to help us, instead of ruling us.”
With a passion for the technology that simulates human intelligence, Dickinson made it her personal goal to obtain as many certifications as possible in AI, ranging from short-term to year-long programs across the country and abroad in places such as Dubai, to ensure she is well informed on the subject.
“To teach, you must learn, and that is what I’m doing,” said the Ukrainian-born professor. “I’m not only in the classroom to teach, but also to learn. Everything I’m discovering, I’m sharing with the world because we are in the evolution of AI.”
In 12 years as a professor at STC, Dickinson has slowly implemented AI in the classroom, utilizing it to implement creative activities for students, creating exam and essay prompts that allow students to use critical thinking and above all, teaching students how to use AI responsibly and ethically.
She has also hosted one-day, community workshops through STC and the city of Mission at the Center for Education and Economics Development (CEED) building.
Her most recent workshop focused on introducing the community to AI, how to properly write AI prompts that are productive and useful and to teach the many ways AI can help a person complete tasks such as social media posts and resumébuilding.
“My goal is to give people a place to explore AI, so they can begin to feel comfortable with the technology,” Dickinson said. “It takes practice, but soon it’s going to be across all schools, places of employment and it’s going to be a skill that will make a person marketable.
Over the years, Dickinson has worked in real estate and hospitality to accounting, and said she sees how AI has a space in numerous industries.
“If we’re not afraid of AI, it can guide us. We can find opportunity in allowing it to lead us into new worlds,” she said. “If we really think about it, we use it when we say, ‘Hey Siri’ or ‘Hey Google.’ It’s already all around us.”
Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, who was also a teacher, Dickinson said she is dedicated to continuing her profession in teaching to share knowledge and discussion on how to lean in to new technologies that are changing the landscape of the world.
“I encourage my students to use AI, I encourage my colleagues and our community,” said Dickinson. “It’s growing, whether we want it to or not, and if we want to stay competitive in technology, then we must be flexible and we must adapt. That is what I want to continue teaching.”
Photo Caption: With more than 22 certifications in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Lyudmyla Dickinson is sharing her knowledge of the ever-evolving technology with students at South Texas College as an Assistant Professor of Economics, and across the Rio Grande Valley through workshops and speaking events.
