Workforce AI Event- Speaker Bios
Brittany Chiang
Brittany has been on the Flatter team since its inception as both a Principal and Strategic Advisory Board Member. She currently serves as Flatter’s Chief Executive Officer. Brittany holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Boston University and is PMP certified. In addition to her formal education, Brittany personally understands the needs of the U.S. Government through not only her 11 years of practical experience, but also as the daughter of a Marine Corps Veteran and wife of a former Active-Duty Army Officer. During her tenure at Flatter, Brittany has served in the roles of Information Technology Manager, Quality Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Business Developer.
Alex Lara
Alex Lara is the founder of Luna Heating Air Solar, a Fredericksburg-based company providing energy-efficient HVAC and solar solutions. A master HVAC technician and father of three, Alex uses AI to enhance marketing, customer experience, and day-to-day operations. He’s a firm believer in continuous growth and innovation—blending old-school craftsmanship with smart, modern tools (and occasionally asking AI to sharpen a dad joke or two).
Amos Fodchuk
Amos is an educator at heart and by profession.
He serves as President & Founder of Advanced Learning Partnerships.
ALP has a 15-year record of success working with Virginia divisions.
Since January 2023, Amos and his team have worked with Virginia, U.S. and Canadian districts around the purposeful integration of Generative AI through systems-level and learner- centered lenses.
Dr. P. Anand Rao
Dr. P. Anand Rao is a pioneering voice in AI education and the integration of artificial intelligence with the humanities. As Professor of Communication and founding Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies at the University of Mary Washington, Dr. Rao has spearheaded initiatives that bridge technological innovation with critical humanistic inquiry. His recent publications, including “Augmented Debate-Centered Instruction: A Novel Research Agenda for Responsible AI Integration in Education” and “Beyond Algorithmic Solutions: The Significance of Academic Debate for Learning Assessment and Skill Cultivation in the AI World,” showcase his distinct approach to AI literacy that emphasizes human creativity, critical thinking, and rhetorical understanding.
In Fall 2025, Dr. Rao will serve as the inaugural Director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, where he will lead cross-disciplinary research and teaching initiatives. His work as editor of the forthcoming book “AI Pluralism: Fostering Diversity and Dialogue in Artificial Intelligence” and his role as a Subject Matter Expert for Oxford University Press’s AI Literacy course demonstrate his commitment to developing frameworks for AI implementation that enhance rather than diminish human capability and agency.
Dr. Rao’s expertise in AI is informed by his extensive background in communication, rhetoric, and debate. As the founding Curriculum Director for the Harvard Debate Council’s Summer Workshop on Public Speaking and Argumentation, a former college debate coach, and coach of his children’s high school debate team, he brings practical competitive discourse expertise to his work with AI systems. For over two decades, he has led programs in communication across the curriculum, served as the Assessment Coordinator for oral communication and critical thinking skills at UMW, and directed its nationally recognized Speaking Intensive Program. This unique intersection of communication expertise and technological understanding has positioned him as a thought leader in developing approaches to AI that prioritize transparency, ethical reasoning, and pluralistic perspectives.
A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. Rao has presented on topics ranging from “Defining Mind and Individuality in AI Pluralism” to “Promoting AI Pluralism: A Debate Model Approach to AI Explainability.” His current research focuses on how rhetorical argumentation and debate can enhance AI explainability and contestability while fostering genuine dialectical exchange across artificial intelligence systems. Dr. Rao holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Communication from the University of Pittsburgh and has been recognized with numerous awards for his teaching, research, and service, including the J. Christopher “Topher” Bill Award for Outstanding Faculty Service.