Postdoc Colin Lucken supervises student ambassadors
The initiative was launched earlier this year, thanks to a $50 million gift from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings ’83, with the goal of ensuring students graduate well-prepared to lead a world reshaped by AI.
The core principles of this effort stem from Hastings’ desire that his gift “enable students and faculty to critically examine, thoughtfully utilize, and ethically shape the trajectory of AI.”
As part of this effort, new faculty are being hired, existing faculty are receiving support to incorporate AI into their teaching and research, and workshops, symposiums, and other conversations are being held on campus to help students engage with AI and its implications. Hiring a group of student ambassadors, each of whom will receive a stipend, is an important part of this effort. “The Hastings team is excited to have these six talented students join us,” said Colin Lucken, a postdoctoral associate in AI and Humanities who will oversee them.
He explained that ambassadors serve as campus representatives for the Hastings Initiative, fellow educators and campus researchers, and play an active role in shaping how students interact with AI at Bowdoin College. “Ambassadors meet monthly with the Hastings team to share feedback and ensure that the student perspective remains central to this effort,” said Lucken, whose postdoctoral position was created as a result of the Hastings Initiative.
“Additionally,” he added, “we encourage anyone in the Bowdoin community to reach out and collaborate with us on anything AI-related, and we hope this program continues to serve as a place for Bowdoin students to gain hands-on experience with these exciting new technologies.”
In addition to Stallworth, there are five other students who will serve as ambassadors for the Hastings Initiative.
Neuroscience and Music Major Mauricio Cuba Almeida ’27 He said he decided to become an ambassador to raise more people’s awareness about the effects of AI, both good and bad. “I’ve learned that AI is a double-edged sword. I want to help colleagues who are strongly for or against AI approach this issue more broadly. What I’ve noticed so far is that people have strong and diverse opinions about the use of AI.”
