Guttman Hosts CUNY–Chile AI in Education Professional Development Workshop

Guttman Community College recently hosted a four-day AI in Education Professional Development Workshop for a delegation of Chilean K-12 educators, January 12-15, 2026. The program was initiated between the City of Colina, Chile and CUNY Central and implemented in partnership with four CUNY faculty members, Dr. Xin Bai, Dr. Ting Yuan, Professor Casandra Sibilin and Dr. Laura Scheiber, from York College, the College of Staten Island and Kingsborough Community College, all part of CUNY.

The cross-campus team worked together to design and deliver hands-on and digital learning experiences focused on artificial intelligence, creative computing, robotics, and other classroom applications of emerging technologies. President Elizabeth de León Bhargava, Dean Karla Fuller and Professor Raul Nedd of Guttman welcomed participants and provided strong leadership support throughout the event. Additional Guttman staff contributed outstanding logistical and technical support, helping create a warm and welcoming environment from the opening session through the closing celebration.

Participating educators from Chile remained highly engaged throughout the program and expressed deep appreciation for the experience. As a heartfelt gesture, they prepared a farewell salsa dance for the organizing team and invited faculty and students to join in a cultural celebration before their departure, highlighting the strong human connections formed during the exchange.

A key highlight of the workshop was the involvement of four CUNY students and alumni from both Guttman and York, including Samantha Ruiz-Correa, Chelsea Sandoval, Christian Ramos and Sebastian Rodriguez, who served as bilingual workshop facilitators and learning assistants. Students supported instruction, translation and small-group collaboration while gaining valuable professional experience. Many shared that this was the most meaningful job experience they have had, offering direct engagement with international educators and real-world classroom perspectives.

The Chilean delegation’s visit was sponsored by the Mayor of Colina, Chile. This collaboration highlights Guttman’s role as a welcoming hub for CUNY-wide and global education exchange and reflects the growing impact of cross-campus partnerships within CUNY.