Making It Easy: How Agentic AI Enables Seamless Digital Experiences at USF
12/19/25
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly sits down with Sidney Fernandes, CIO, and VP of Digital Experiences at the University of South Florida. They discuss the impact of agentic AI in higher education, focusing on USF's initiatives to make technology and workflows user-friendly. Topics include the formation of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, strategies for integrating AI to improve student and faculty experiences, and the importance of security, compliance, and data governance in AI deployment. In addition, they explore how USF leverages student ambassadors to scale AI literacy and solutions across its campuses.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:30 Sydney Fernandez's Background and Role at USF
01:10 USF's Technology Strategy: Making It Easy
02:44 Digital Experiences at USF
05:33 AI Initiatives and Early Goals
13:32 Scaling AI with Student Ambassadors
23:44 Challenges and Lessons Learned
26:08 Future of AI at USF
29:19 Conclusion and Farewell
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 30 minutes
Transcript (coming soon)