By Diana Costello

April 8, 2026: Iona University is pleased to announce its spring conference, “The Future of Work: Finding Meaningful Careers in the AI Age,” will take place April 16-17, 2026. The event will feature a keynote address by David H. Autor, Ph.D., an MIT economics professor and one of the world’s leading labor economists, followed by a dynamic, full-day conference exploring the nature, meaning and future of work.  

Presented through the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, the event is generously offered free of charge and is open to the public. Learn more and register in advance.

“At Iona, we are focused not only on how artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, but on how it will shape the dignity and meaning of human work itself,” said Iona University President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Autor for an important conversation about how new technologies can promote human flourishing rather than replace it. Through the ongoing work of the Gabelli Center, Iona is playing a vital role in convening these conversations, and we look forward to another impactful conference that invites our campus and community partners to be part of the dialogue.”

About the Keynote 

Autor is an internationally recognized authority on how technological change, globalization and trade agreements affect labor markets. He currently serves as the Daniel (1972) and Gail Rubinfeld Professor in Economics at MIT.

Kicking off the conference on Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m., Autor will engage the community in a timely conversation entitled, “Expertise, Artificial Intelligence and the Work of the Future.” In this event keynote, Autor will address the question at the forefront of everyone’s minds concerning the future of work: Will recent advances in AI complement human expertise, thereby increasing its value, or render it increasingly unnecessary?

Presented as part of the University’s Presidential Speaker Series, his talk will be followed by a Q&A. All are welcome to attend; advanced registration is requested.

The Future of Work Conference

On Friday, April 17, the event shifts into a full day of dynamic presentations, including:

-The Future Work of the University, President Seamus Carey, Ph.D.

-The Entrepreneurial Imperative: Human Skills in an AI-Driven World

-Interprofessional Education and the Future of Health Care

-A Futurist Looks at the Future of Work (Through its Past)

-Panel Discussion: Education in Real Life

“Through the work of the Gabelli Center, Iona has been at the forefront of teaching and learning in the age of AI, and we are thrilled to be able to present both our findings and ongoing research as part of our spring conference,” said Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Iona. “We especially invite our business and community partners to join the discussion, as together we advance this important work.”

Please click here for full event descriptions and to reserve your spot today!

Building on the Momentum

Iona’s spring conference builds on the momentum of the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning’s ongoing efforts around Catholic education and pedagogical innovation. Shaped by the vision of Marc Gabelli, its work is made possible through the generosity of Mr. Gabelli; his mother, Elaine Madonna Gabelli, a longtime Catholic elementary school teacher; and the EMG Madonna Foundation, which is committed to supporting and strengthening the future of Catholic schools.

This past fall, the Gabelli Center hosted a highly successful conference, “The Future of Teaching in the AI Age,” which drew over 200 K-12, higher education and Catholic school educators to campus to explore how AI can both transform and revitalize the enduring educational values.

Iona’s Presidential Speaker Series complements these efforts, conceived by President Carey to bring world-renowned thinkers to campus to inspire communitywide conversations.

Past speakers have most recently included, among others, Todd Park, former U.S. chief technology officer; D. Graham Burnett, Ph.D., a leading voice on the historical and philosophical dimensions of attention; and Shannon Vallor, Ph.D., an acclaimed technology ethicist and author. Learn more about Iona’s speaker series here.