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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Arts & Issues together with the Ann and Earl Lazerson Lecture Series host SIUE alumnus and accomplished technology leader Bill Luan to present the lecture "Innovation Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Businesses and Education" at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in the Mississippi-Illinois Room on the Edwardsville campus. Luan will introduce the recorded lecture from his home in Seattle. He will respond to a real-time question-and-answer session at the end of the presentation.

Luan is senior program manager with Google's Coral Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform team. Sharing industry use cases, he will provide insights into how businesses are implementing AI machine learning (ML), and what technology advancements are available for researchers and educators in developing new solutions.

"We are excited to collaborate again with the Ann and Earl Lazerson Lecture Series,” said Grant Andree, director of Arts and Issues.  “This is a great opportunity to learn about artificial intelligence, one of the hottest topics in the news today."

Luan believes that the world is moving into an exciting new phase in technology with the development of AI and ML. The impact will be profound and no less groundbreaking than the PC or mobile revolutions. AI and ML will be essential in training the next generation of business leaders.

Luan is an engineering graduate of SIUE (BSEE ’84, MSEE ’85), and a recipient of a Friends of Lovejoy Library Award personally presented to him by Earl Lazerson, PhD in 1984. He was a SIUE Graduate School inductee for the 2016 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame. Having been in the high-tech industry since graduation in 1985, he has worked at Microsoft and Google for the past two decades leading product development and managing technology evangelism and educational programs for industry and developers around the world.

“After nearly 38 years graduating from SIUE, it is a privilege and honor to have the opportunity to present at the upcoming SIUE Lazerson Lecture Series.” said Luan.  “I look forward to sharing the latest industry development in AI with my schoolmates at my alma mater.”

The Ann and Earl Lazerson Lecture Series are named for SIUE’s longest-serving president and his beloved wife. Earl Lazerson, PhD holds the record to date after having been at the helm of the University for nearly 14 years from 1979 to 1993. He taught mathematics before becoming president on an interim basis in 1979 and then permanently in 1980. The lecture series were established in 2017 following a generous endowed gift from Lazerson and his wife. Lazerson died in 2021 at age 90.

“Earl and Ann Lazerson created their lecture to bring experts in cutting edge science and technology to SIUE students, faculty and the community,” said Kyle Moore, senior director of development, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). “Bill Luan’s work on AI at Google is exactly what they envisioned when the lecture was created, and we are excited to have him.”

The Friends of Lovejoy Library Award that was presented to Luan by Lazerson was in honor of the computer program the self-taught programmer developed to automate the audio-visual material-usage tracking system in the Lovejoy Library. Luan singlehandedly phased out the previous manual system while holding down a part-time job in the library during his senior year as an engineering student at SIUE.

Among the many feats accomplished in his career, when Luan was recruited to the Seattle area in 1998 to work for Microsoft, he became the program manager for ActiveSync, a product connecting mobile Pocket PC devices to PCs to allow data synchronization between them.

The event is free, but tickets are required and can be reserved here. Free parking will be provided in Lot B. More information can be found at artsandissues.com.

The Alestle and 88.7 WSIE FM The Sound are Arts & Issues media sponsors.  

Arts & Issues is tied to the academic mission of the University. For 38 years, the series has presented some of the world’s finest performing artists and showcased speakers from across the spectrum in areas such as science, history, literature and politics. The program also offers unique opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the community to engage with these performers and speakers through master classes and special sessions. 

Photo: Bill Luan, SIUE alumnus and senior program manager at Google’s Coral AI.