MAY 6, 2024 | 2:00 PM CT

Ben Baker

Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Colby College

Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Colby College, working at the intersection of Philosophy of Mind, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and AI. Previously I was a postdoctoral fellow in computational neuroscience at UPenn, where I also completed a PhD in Philosophy. My research concerns the concepts and methodologies that philosophers and scientists use to understand cognitive capacities and artificial intelligence. I am especially interested in the cognition involved in complex and expressive movement, as in dance. I also received a JD from Yale, and am interested in legal and ethical questions about the integration of AI in society. I strive to empower my students to let their curiosity and passion drive them forward. Outside of my academic career I am a also parent, dancer, basketballer (knee permitting), reader, continual learner and erstwhile videogamer. 

MAY 15, 2024| 2:00 PM CT

LaJuné McMillian

Multidisciplinary Artist and Educator

LaJuné is a Multidisciplinary Artist, and Educator creating art that integrates performance, extended reality, and physical computing to question our current forms of communication. They are passionate about discovering, learning, manifesting, and stewarding spaces for liberated Black Realities and the Black Imagination. LaJune believes in making by diving into, navigating, critiquing, and breaking systems and technologies that uphold systemic injustices to decommodify our bodies, undo our indoctrination, and make room for different ways of being. 

LaJuné has had the opportunity to show and speak about their work at Pioneer Works, National Sawdust, Leaders in Software and Art, Creative Tech Week, and Art & Code’s Weird Reality. LaJuné was previously the Director of Skating at Figure Skating in Harlem, where they integrated STEAM and Figure Skating to teach girls of color about movement and technology. They have continued their research on Blackness, movement, and technology during residencies and fellowships at the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, Eyebeam, Pioneer Works, Barbarian Group, and Barnard College. .