LGRC Palm Desert Scholarship Awardee Annie Bui: Reflections
Having recently returned from the ICMA Local Government Resource Conference (LGRC) held in Palm Desert, I am both inspired and grateful for the scholarship opportunity provided by Cal-ICMA. As a doctoral student in the final year of my Doctor of Public Administration program, the conference was a crucial platform for me to delve deeper into my dissertation topic: the proactive and responsible integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into local governments.
The event kicked off with a warm hospitality from ICMA team, a sunny weather, and a delightful dinner with Cal-ICMA team. Throughout the conference, I had the pleasure of connecting with numerous leaders in the field and reconnecting with peers from my doctoral cohort. It was such a welcoming environment to learn personally and professionally!
The insights shared on the first and second days were not only actionable but incredibly informative! I was inspired by speakers such as David Graham on working guide for GenAI, Nicole Sibilski on prompt engineering for grant writing, Jennifer Robinson on AI data governance, and Chris McMasters on the implementation of AI in rebranding and enhancing citizen engagement. These sessions provided practical tools and deepened my understanding of the challenges and possibilities in the field. I was also impressed by Patrick Howell’s discussion on the use of Digital Twins, and I look forward to sharing the panel with him at the upcoming ICMA Annual Conference in Pittsburgh this September.
The sessions on Data Management and Cybersecurity on the third day underscored the importance of robust data privacy and security frameworks to support GenAI integration, highlighting that while challenges are significant, the potential benefits of GenAI are immense when approached with the right safeguards.
Additionally, my discussions with fellow scholarship recipients, Sophia Rome and Savita Chaudhary, along the interactions with Dr. Peter Pirnejad (Cal-ICMA President Elect) and Elisa Cox (Past President), were especially insightful. These conversations add significantly to my personal and professional development during this conference.
Reflecting on the entire experience, the journey of integrating GenAI into local government is just beginning. I’ve observed a common thread among many leaders: a cautious curiosity about GenAI. Despite recognizing the potential benefits, many are still at the “not-ready-yet” stage, unsure where to begin but also want to ensure they don’t stay behind. To help with those interested, I updated a list of resources ranging from governance guides to practical toolkits, which can be accessed on my LinkedIn post regarding to this conference.
Overall, the LGRC has not only enriched my academic research but also widen my practical understanding of the field. I am eager to continue this journey and contribute to the evolving landscape of public administration. I encourage all members to consider the benefits of such conferences and to engage with Cal-ICMA for future learning opportunities and scholarship applications. Thank you again to Cal-ICMA for this invaluable experience. Let’s prepare ourselves to lead in the adoption of innovative technologies and make a tangible impact in our communities!