- Clark Atlanta University and AI4OPT at Georgia Tech secured a $2.79 million NSF grant for AIHUB@CAU.
- Led by Dr. Charles B. Pierre, AIHUB@CAU aims to boost AI education and research at HBCUs.
- Focus on closing the AI graduates gap and preparing students for the AI workforce.
- Integrating industry partnerships to develop AI curriculum beyond traditional machine learning.
- Supported by NSF’s ExpandAI and Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation programs.
- Emphasis on undergraduate and graduate AI programs, research opportunities, and industry collaborations.
- Structured Master’s program includes courses in AI, optimization, and specialized applications.
- Collaboration with AI4OPT for course development and research initiatives.
- Goal to empower a new generation of Black AI researchers and enhance diversity in AI.
Main AI News:
Clark Atlanta University (CAU), in collaboration with the NSF AI Institute for Advances in Optimization (AI4OPT) at Georgia Tech, has secured a significant $2.79 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch an AI Hub. This initiative, funded over the next four years under the NSF’s ExpandAI program, aims to bolster AI education and research at minority-serving institutions, particularly historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Led by principal investigator Dr. Charles B. Pierre, an associate professor in CAU’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, the project—dubbed AIHUB@CAU—will focus on cultivating educational programs and research initiatives at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Its primary goal is to address the underrepresentation of African-Americans in AI research and education by identifying and nurturing latent talent within CAU and other HBCUs.
“The mission of the grant aligns with the Faculty Training Program (FTP) component of AI4OPT, which focuses on strategies to increase minority participation in AI research programs,” noted Dr. Pierre, who also leads Educational and Diversity Initiatives at AI4OPT. “Our aim is to ensure diverse representation in the AI field, enhancing both educational opportunities and research capabilities.”
AIHUB@CAU plans to integrate industry partnerships to accelerate curriculum development, expanding beyond traditional machine learning to encompass AI applications in areas such as business analytics, cyber-physical security, and operations research. The initiative is partially funded through NSF’s Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program, underscoring NSF’s commitment to fostering diversity in STEM fields through impactful educational and research initiatives.
“The establishment of AI programs at institutions like Clark Atlanta University and AI4OPT at Georgia Tech will equip students with essential resources and tools to thrive in this rapidly evolving field,” emphasized Dr. Pierre.
Goals and Impact
The AI Hub’s main objectives include closing the gap in AI graduates from HBCUs, preparing students for the AI workforce, and aligning with AI4OPT’s mission to democratize access to AI education. At the undergraduate level, courses and programs will prepare students for entry-level AI positions, while graduate offerings will focus on advanced research and integration into the broader AI research community.
Role and Collaboration
AI4OPT at Georgia Tech will play a pivotal role in developing both undergraduate and graduate courses and programs, offering research opportunities to CAU students. The collaboration aims to establish CAU as a hub for AI training, leveraging existing educational resources and infrastructure to foster excellence in AI education and research.
Curriculum Development and Research Opportunities
The AI Hub will draw upon existing courses at Georgia Tech and those offered through AI4OPT’s FTP, alongside developing new courses tailored to industry needs. Courses will cover foundational AI concepts, applied optimization, and specialized domains such as computer vision and natural language processing.
Research opportunities will be plentiful, with undergraduate students engaging in early AI research through the Undergraduate Research Program (URP) and graduate students pursuing internships and capstone projects facilitated by Georgia Tech and industry partners.
Master’s Program Structure
The AI Hub will introduce a structured Master’s program encompassing courses in five key categories: existing offerings from CAU and Georgia Tech, new courses based on industry insights, applied optimization from AI4OPT, and specialized AI applications in various fields.
Collaborations and Internships
The initiative will foster joint supervision of research projects between CAU and AI4OPT faculty, with summer internships slated to commence in 2026 and capstone projects supported by industry collaborations.
By leveraging this NSF grant and strategic collaboration, Clark Atlanta University and AI4OPT at Georgia Tech aim to not only advance AI education but also to empower a new generation of Black AI researchers, enriching the diversity and depth of talent within the AI ecosystem.
Conclusion:
The establishment of AIHUB@CAU, facilitated by a substantial NSF grant and collaboration with AI4OPT at Georgia Tech, represents a significant advancement in AI education and research at HBCUs. This initiative is poised to narrow the gap in AI graduates from minority-serving institutions, preparing students effectively for careers in the AI workforce. By integrating industry partnerships and focusing on diverse AI applications beyond traditional machine learning, AIHUB@CAU is set to enrich the talent pool within the AI ecosystem. This strategic investment not only fosters educational excellence but also enhances the market’s capacity for innovation and inclusivity in AI technologies.
