Dr. Teryn Cha is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Essex County College and a candidate for ECCFA Vice President. She is the founder of AITAX.org, an AI collaborative community focused on practical applications of artificial intelligence, and began her career as a banking management system developer in South Korea. Dr. Cha has published over 30 scholarly articles in artificial intelligence, data science, and AI in education. According to Google Scholar, she has an h-index of 8 with over 230 citations as of 2026. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence and its ethical and educational implications. She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology under the supervision of Dr. James Geller, Chair of the Department of Data Science, completing a dissertation on ontology-based approaches to AI. At Essex County College, Dr. Cha has contributed significantly to academic program development, including the creation of A.A.S. degrees in Cybersecurity & Network Technology and Software Development Technology, as well as multiple Computer Science and IT courses and certificate programs. She leads the AI Student Club and has organized AI workshops and panel discussions to support faculty and student engagement with emerging technologies. She is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and Women in Data Science (WiDS) Worldwide, among other professional organizations, and has served as a Program Committee member for the FLAIRS Conference and national AI initiatives. Dr. Cha is committed to strong faculty advocacy, principled leadership during institutional change, and ensuring that faculty voices remain central to the future of Essex County College.