The San José State University School of Information is welcoming new faculty members this August whose combined expertise spans instructional design, artificial intelligence, leadership, and informatics. Laura Otero, Hengyi Fu, Sumeet Syal, Gary Shaffer, and Karen Wang bring years of professional and academic experience to their new roles, along with a shared commitment to student success and innovation.

Otero joins the iSchool as program coordinator for the new Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology degree. She has a long history in the California State University system as a staff instructional designer and faculty trainer, and she taught as a lecturer at a similar program at Cal State Monterey Bay. “Instructional design is a rapidly growing field with the proliferation of generative AI and extended/virtual reality tools,” she said. “Joining the tenure track teaching in the profession that I love is an incredible and rare opportunity to support the strategic growth of our program!”

One of the things Otero said she is most excited about was “establishing internship pathways for our students.” Being based in Silicon Valley offers a unique advantage. “We are in the heart of Silicon Valley, and building our reputation and relationships with industry partners will open doors for our instructional design students,” she said. “This job is a dream come true!”

Her research priorities reflect her deep interest in both human and technological aspects of education. “I have two primary areas of research interest: the first is building on my work studying the relationships between instructional designers and faculty in higher education environments,” Otero said. “The second is in the realm of generative AI adoption for faculty and instructional designers alike.” She added, “To bridge the two, I would like to study the impact of generative AI adoption on the relationships between instructional designers and faculty. How do these tools strengthen these collaborations? How do they enable trusting, positive working relationships that support knowledge-sharing and growth?”

Looking ahead, Otero said, “I would hope that both my students and colleagues see me as a supportive, caring collaborator, eager to work together to support our scholarly and professional growth and contribute to the field of instructional design.”

Fu said she is “really excited to be part of the iSchool because it’s such a dynamic environment for exploring how technology and information intersect.” Her new role includes contributing to the Master of Library and Information Science degree program’s AI curriculum, which she described as an opportunity to “help prepare our students for a future where AI will be an everyday part of library and information work.” She added, “I’m looking forward to building courses that not only teach the technical side of AI, but also help students think critically about ethics, inclusion, and how these tools can truly serve our communities.”

She noted that artificial intelligence is transforming the way information is managed and accessed. “AI is already changing the way we find, organize, and interact with information,” Fu said. “In libraries, it can help with tasks like metadata creation, virtual reference assistants, and personalized recommendations.” However, she emphasized that these advances come with important considerations. “At the same time, it challenges us to think about transparency, bias, and user trust,” she said. “I see AI as both an opportunity and a responsibility for our field.”

Her teaching style emphasizes active engagement. “My pedagogical approach centers on experiential and project-based learning,” Fu said. “I also incorporate collaborative learning through peer teaching activities, where students share their expertise and learn from each other.” She explained that this approach is “particularly effective in technical courses where students have varying skill levels.” To support that, she builds peer activities “into assignments, such as code review sessions or group presentations.” She added, “To ensure steady progress, I implement regular progress reports and key point reviews, allowing students to reflect on their learning and identify areas needing clarification.”

Fu’s research aligns closely with her teaching. “In research, I focus on how AI affects information behavior, credibility, and access, and I’m always interested in working with students who want to explore those questions too,” she said.

For Syal, joining the iSchool as program coordinator for the Master of Science in Informatics degree was both a professional and personal decision. “I’ve always believed that success means very little if you’re not lifting others along the way,” he said. “As a first-generation immigrant and international student to the United States, I’ve lived the challenges of building a career from scratch. I’ve navigated unfamiliar systems, faced the unknown, and worked hard to not just survive but thrive in a competitive, data-driven corporate world. And I did thrive. My professional journey has been nothing short of transformational, with milestones I once only dreamed of reaching.”

Now, Syal said, “I’m ready to give back.” His excitement about the role centers on “launching a new applied learning program focused on informatics, an exciting, rapidly growing field that blends data, technology, and human insight.” He described informatics as “more than just numbers or systems” and as “making sense of data in ways that create meaningful, real-world impact across industries: from healthcare and medicine to life sciences, cybersecurity, education, robotics, manufacturing, and environmental science.”

Syal said he is “not just teaching skills here at SJSU, I’m changing mindsets.” He explained, “We live in a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping every field. For many, this brings fear or uncertainty. But I see it differently. AI, when used thoughtfully, is an innovation tool that can amplify human potential rather than replace it. My mission is to help people not fear AI, but embrace it as a powerful ally in their careers.” He added, “This program is built on the foundation of strategic thinking, technical excellence, and human-centered action. It’s hands-on. It’s forward-thinking. And most importantly, it’s designed to empower people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds or unconventional paths, to thrive in the workforce of tomorrow.”

Reflecting on his journey, Syal said, “When people ask me what unique experiences I bring to this program, I don’t point to just one role or achievement; I point to the full arc of my journey.” That journey began “in the foothills of the Himalayas and stretches across continents, industries, and disciplines.” He explained, “It’s a journey defined by curiosity, resilience, and an unwavering desire to help others succeed.”

He recalled starting with a few resources. “Growing up in a small town in India, I didn’t have access to cutting-edge tech, but I had dreams,” Syal said. After moving to the U.S. as a teenager, he “took a job managing a McDonald’s” where he “built my first leadership muscle: learning the value of showing up, staying humble, and leading by example.” He discovered his passion for technology “during summer shifts at Fry’s Electronics, where I was captivated by motherboards, processors, and the future they represented. “That spark led me to study computer engineering at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and eventually into Silicon Valley’s fast-moving world of startups,” he said. “My early technical roles taught me how to build products from the ground up, several of which were acquired by global tech giants. But it wasn’t enough to build tech, I wanted to take it to the world.”

His career later took him overseas. “So, I packed my bags and moved to Singapore, helping Intel expand its presence across Asia-Pacific,” he said. “I immersed myself in the region’s business culture, mastering the nuances of international marketing, negotiation, and strategy.” From there, he moved into product management, “leading go-to-market strategies for smartphones and wearables a time when my work was featured in TechCrunch, CNET, and Business Insider.”

Eventually, Syal returned to the U.S. and into executive roles. “Eventually, I moved into executive roles and became Vice President and General Manager at Intel,” he said. “I led global sales and marketing, negotiated multibillion-dollar deals with companies like Google, Apple, Dell, and HP, and worked across product, engineering, and business teams.” Throughout, he said, “one thing remained constant: my drive to lift others.”

That commitment extended beyond corporate leadership. “That’s why I launched 3Doshas.com, an award-winning coaching company that helps executives and founders grow into resilient, high-performing leaders,” he said. “That’s why I teach innovation, leadership, and marketing at San José State University and Santa Clara University because I believe in preparing the next generation for a future powered by data, AI, and human potential.”

Looking to the year ahead, Syal said, “When I joined the College of Information, Data and Society, it wasn’t just to teach, it was to help shape the future.” He sees education as a transformative force, but only if it evolves with the times. “In today’s fast-paced, AI-driven world, students deserve more than outdated textbooks, passive lectures, or credentials that no longer guarantee real-world relevance,” he said. “They deserve learning that empowers them to lead.”

“My hope for the year ahead is to reimagine education as a living, breathing bridge between innovation and impact,” he said. “I want to help build programs where students don’t just learn about theories, they live them. Where they aren’t just preparing for a job, they’re preparing to solve problems that matter. Climate change. Healthcare inequity. Data privacy. The ethics of artificial intelligence.”

Shaffer and Wang were not available to be interviewed for this story at the time of publication.