Student Success by Design, Insights from a CSU CIO

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Bao Johri, CIO at Fresno State and 2025 Top Women Leader in Technology, to explore how universities can harness AI as a force for equity and transformation.

From launching Fresno State’s campus-wide AI initiative (with 60+ faculty collaborators) to mentoring the next generation of IT leaders, Bao shares how her research on Hmong American women informs her approach to inclusive tech leadership.

Discover how Fresno State is navigating AI governance, empowering first-gen students with tools like Grammarly, and preparing for the fall 2025 CIO’s AI Conversation Webinar Series—a platform to normalize AI in teaching and operations.

Key Takeaways

1. AI as a Strategic Partner: Fresno State’s AI initiative, co-led by faculty, has shifted from curiosity to demand—with 250+ attendees at their AI Immersion Day.
2. Governance with Guardrails: Faculty-driven committees established ethical guidelines for AI use, enabling responsible adoption (e.g., ChatGPT provisioning).
3. Student Success Beyond Metrics: Technology must remove barriers—like providing laptops or writing tools—to help first-gen students feel they belong.
4. Inclusive Leadership: Bao’s dissertation on Hmong women leaders shapes her mentorship, emphasizing cultural wealth and intergenerational support.
5. Budgeting for Impact: Prioritize projects tied to core goals (compliance, student success) through collaborative, data-informed decision-making.
6. The Human-AI Balance: “Tech supports your journey, but people help you through it”—Bao’s advice to students navigating AI and beyond.

 

 

Listen now for a lesson in leading AI initiatives with heart—where technology meets inclusion and transformation.

 

Find Dr Bao Johri here:

LinkedIn                              

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bao-johri-396a0546/

Fresno State

https://www.fresnostate.edu/

 

And find EdTech Connect here:

Web: https://edtechconnect.com/

 

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: From Private Sector to Higher Ed
• (00:03:55) - Fresno State’s AI Initiative: Early Wins & Faculty-Led Committees
• (00:09:27) - AI in Daily Work: Using Tools and the Importance of Transparency
• (00:13:05) - CIO’s AI Webinar Series: Redefining Learning, Teaching, and Working
• (00:15:57) - Student Success Stories: Equity and Accessibility
• (00:21:01) - Budget Realities: Separating “Must-Haves” from “Nice-to-Haves”
• (00:22:43) - Advice to Students: “Ask Questions, People Will Help You Through”