The University of New Mexico
03/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/28/2026 10:28
Tech Days returns to UNM with focus on artificial intelligence, innovation
The University of New Mexico hosts Tech Days 2026 on Wednesday and Thursday, April 29-30, bringing faculty, staff and students together to explore emerging technologies through presentations, discussions and hands-on demonstrations.
Organized by the UNM Office of the Chief Information Officer, the annual event offers no-cost sessions highlighting current and future technology initiatives across campus. Programming will take place in the Student Union Building and is designed to foster collaboration, learning and innovation within the university community.
Registration for Tech Days 2026 is available online, and organizers encourage early sign-up with many sessions filling fast.
This year's event features a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, including sessions that explore its applications, ethical implications and role in higher education. Topics range from AI-driven decision-making and policy development to emerging infrastructure and tools that support research and campus operations.
Among the featured sessions are discussions on developing trustworthy artificial intelligence and co-designing UNM's AI policies, which invite participants to consider how AI can be used responsibly in areas such as admissions, employment and financial aid. Additional sessions will highlight new AI platforms, high-performance computing environments and the growing role of machine learning in university systems and research.
The event will also include a keynote presentation by Bernardo J. Gallegos, staff adviser for UNM Esports and technical analyst with UNM IT and UNM Bookstores. His keynote, "UNM Esports: A Brief History of Engaging a New Subculture," will explore the growth of esports as both a cultural and professional pathway while emphasizing community building and student engagement.
Additional sessions of interest include:
Be a Part of Developing Trustworthy AI Policy featuring Melanie Moses, professor, Computer Science; Sonia Gipson Rankin, professor, School of Law; Stephanie Moore, associate professor, CULLS OILS; Kathy Powers, associate professor, Africana Studies Department; and Grace Faustino, manager, IT Services, Office of the Vice President for Research.
Can you imagine AI that met your needs and solved problems you care about without the negative consequences of current AI tools? If so, then join students, faculty and staff for a discussion where we imagine the AI we wish to have. This discussion will help inform future UNM policies, tools, capabilities and strategies for Trustworthy AI at UNM.
Also, an important discussion titled Co-designing UNM's AI Policies and Decision Making with panelists Stephanie Moore, associate professor, OILS; Kathy Powers, professor, Political Science; Melanie Moses, professor, Computer Science; Sonia Gipson Rankin, professor, School of Law; Grace Faustino, manager, IT Services, Office of the Vice President for Research; and Todd Quinn - associate professor, CULLS.
The panel will discuss how AI has been used in consequential decision-making and the practical, ethical and legal consequences. If you are an administrator, student or faculty member who makes decisions about employment, admissions, financial aid or grading, or if those decisions impact you, this discussion is for you.
In addition to its AI-focused programming, Tech Days 2026 will feature the New Mexico Open Educational Resources track, highlighting innovative approaches to teaching, learning and accessibility through open materials and AI-assisted educational frameworks.
Tech Days provides attendees with opportunities to engage directly with campus experts, industry partners and peers while learning about the tools and strategies shaping the future of technology at UNM.
For more information about Tech Days 2026, including the full program and registration details, visit techdays.unm.edu.
The University of New Mexico published this content on March 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 28, 2026 at 16:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]