Clark Atlanta University celebrated a transformative milestone in artificial intelligence on November 13, 2024 with the official opening of AIHUB@CAU—a new center that places one of Atlanta’s most historic institutions at the forefront of AI literacy, workforce inclusion, and innovation for underserved communities.

Developed in collaboration with the NSF AI Research Institute for Advances in Optimization (AI4OPT) and with support from the National Science Foundation’s ExpandAI program, the new project aims to expand AI learning and accessibility, positioning CAU as a leader in AI advancements at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and beyond.

AIHUB@CAU is dedicated to bridging the gap in AI knowledge and skills for minority students, providing new pathways into one of today’s fastest-growing sectors.

HBCUs are crucial in diversifying the tech sector, producing nearly 50% of Black engineers in the U.S., despite representing only 3% of U.S. higher education institutions, according to the United Negro College Fund and the National Science Foundation.

This initiative highlights the commitment to elevating HBCUs as leaders in AI education and research, creating a lasting effect that will benefit generations of learners and faculty.

AIHUB@CAU builds on a successful collaboration between CAU and AI4OPT, starting with the Faculty Training Program in AI. “We are now in our third cohort of faculty from CAU’s mathematics department, bringing together professors dedicated to making AI accessible and applicable,” said Charles Pierre, co-principal investigator of AI4OPT and lead PI for AIHUB@CAU. “AIHUB@CAU strengthens our partnership, expanding its reach across the CAU community.”

Francis Williams, CAU’s vice president of research and sponsored programs, emphasized the broader potential of the partnership. “Through new programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, AIHUB@CAU will be instrumental in training the next generation of AI professionals. Increasing minority representation in AI will ensure that we have a diverse workforce prepared to shape tomorrow’s AI-driven economy.”

Empowering Local Communities with a Global Vision

Focusing on AI literacy and community impact, AIHUB@CAU connects academic instruction with real-world applications, closing the gap between education and industry. The center’s mission aligns closely with CAU and AI4OPT’s shared goals of bringing AI resources to traditionally underrepresented areas in technology. The hub will offer workshops, hands-on learning, and foster collaboration and partnerships.

Pascal Van Hentenryck, director of AI4OPT and Tech AI at Georgia Tech, expressed the significance of the milestone: “We’re grateful to support this initiative and honored to witness the start of a powerful movement for diversity in AI,” he said. “AIHUB@CAU is not only about making resources accessible; it’s about empowering students and faculty with the tools to lead and innovate.”

Creating a Blueprint for Inclusive AI Progress

Supported by NSF’s ExpandAI initiative, which promotes the spread of AI expertise to underrepresented institutions, AIHUB@CAU is poised to become a model for similar programs nationwide. Georgia-Ann Klutke, NSF’s program director, highlighted the broader significance: “This is a significant step not just for CAU but for all institutions looking to increase engagement in AI. AIHUB@CAU is a prototype for inclusive AI education and innovation.”

As AI continues to shape the future of global industries, initiatives like AIHUB@CAU are vital for building a diverse talent pipeline in the field. Clark Atlanta University is leading the way in addressing representation gaps in technology, helping to create a future where diverse voices drive AI advancements across sectors and communities. With its commitment to equitable AI education, CAU is paving the way for a more inclusive AI ecosystem—one that opens new opportunities for HBCU students and drives meaningful change.

About AI4OPT

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institute for Advances in Optimization, or AI4OPT, aims to deliver a paradigm shift in automated decision-making at massive scales by fusing AI and Mathematical Optimization (MO) to achieve breakthroughs that neither field can achieve independently. The Institute is driven by societal challenges in energy, logistics and supply chains, resilience and sustainability, and circuit design and control. To address the widening gap in job opportunities, the Institute delivers an innovative longitudinal education and workforce development program.

About Georgia Tech

The Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is a top 10 public research university developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute offers business, computing, design, engineering, liberal arts, and sciences degrees. Its nearly 40,000 students, representing 50 states and 149 countries, study at the main campus in Atlanta, at international campuses, and through distance and online learning. As a leading technological university, Georgia Tech is an engine of economic development for Georgia, the Southeast, and the nation, conducting more than $1 billion in research annually for government, industry, and society.

About Clark Atlanta University

Clark Atlanta University was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College, both of which hold unique places in the annals of African American history. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation’s first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. CAU is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. CAU, established four years later in 1869, was the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Today, with over 4,000 students, CAU is the largest of the four institutions (CAU, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium.

About National Science Foundation

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

About NSF ExpandAI

The National Science Foundation Expanding AI Innovation through Capacity Building and Partnerships (ExpandAI) program aims to significantly broaden participation in AI research, education, and workforce development through capacity development projects and through partnerships within the National AI Research Institutes ecosystem. The NSF ExpandAI program includes a track for minority serving institutions and AI institutes to propose together new partnerships. ExpandAI program information can be found at the official program page.

The National Science Foundation and its partners support the continued growth of a broad and diverse interdisciplinary research community for the advancement of AI and AI-powered innovation, providing a unique opportunity to broadly promote the NSF vision and core values, especially inclusion and collaboration.