{"id":2925,"date":"2025-10-27T10:18:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T17:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/mpanews\/?p=2925"},"modified":"2025-12-18T13:24:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:24:16","slug":"exploring-possibility-amy-goulds-vision-for-ai-in-public-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/mpanews\/exploring-possibility-amy-goulds-vision-for-ai-in-public-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Possibility: Amy Gould\u2019s Vision for AI in Public Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
At The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, Dr. Amy Gould is reshaping how future public servants think about technology, ethics, and equity. As a professor in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, Gould brings a bold and thoughtful approach to teaching, rooted in her passion for leadership, tribal governance, postcolonial feminism, and social justice.<\/div>\n
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One of her standout offerings is the course\u00a0\u201cAI: Public Service of What\u2019s Possible,\u201d<\/b>\u00a0a graduate-level class that challenges students to rethink the foundations of public administration in the age of artificial intelligence.<\/div>\n
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A Course Rooted in Reconciliation and Imagination<\/b><\/div>\n
Rather than focusing solely on problem-solving, Gould\u2019s course emphasizes\u00a0\u201cre-solution\u201d\u2014seeking clarity through affirmation.<\/b>\u00a0Students are encouraged to unlearn dominant norms in public administration and explore how AI can affirm values like respect, healing, reciprocity, equity, and social justice.<\/div>\n
The course is guided by five central questions:<\/div>\n
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  1. What does normative public service need to unlearn to embrace AI?<\/li>\n
  2. How can we assess the benefits and risks of AI?<\/li>\n
  3. Why is it important to make unknowns known?<\/li>\n
  4. What should public servants hold at the center of AI?<\/li>\n
  5. How can we prepare to cross the threshold of our conditioned limitations?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    These questions invite students to reflect deeply on their roles as public servants and to imagine futures where AI supports\u2014not replaces\u2014human-centered governance.<\/div>\n
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    Learning Through Community and Critical Engagement<\/b><\/div>\n
    Gould\u2019s teaching style is immersive and community-based. The course meets remotely in an intensive format, combining weekend sessions with self-directed learning. Students engage with readings, group work, and guest speakers from across Washington State, including experts in law enforcement, policy analysis, legislative affairs, and government relations.\u00a0[sites.evergreen.edu]<\/a><\/div>\n
    Required texts include:<\/div>\n