Kennesaw State University Secures NSF Grants to Build Nationwide Community of AI Educators

Strategic Insights -

As the world prepares to reap the benefits of artificial intelligence, which is projected to add $19.9 trillion to the global economy by 2030, educators are still defining how students should learn to use the technology responsibly. To bridge this gap, Kennesaw State University has been awarded two National Science Foundation (NSF) grants to unite educators from across the country and foster a shared sense of community among those in the field. The grants will fund a project through May 31, 2027, with the overarching goal of building shared resources, fostering collaboration, and laying the foundation for common guidelines in AI education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kennesaw State University has been awarded two National Science Foundation (NSF) grants to build a nationwide community of AI educators.
  • The grants, managed by the NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering division, will fund the project through May 31, 2027.
  • The project aims to unite educators from two-year colleges, four-year institutions, research-intensive universities, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities to identify gaps and outline recommendations for AI education.
  • The shared resources and best practices developed through the project will be made accessible to under-resourced institutions, such as community colleges, to reduce barriers.
  • The project is part of the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot, a White House initiative to broaden AI access and innovation.
  • Shaoen Wu, the project's lead, envisions a similar structure for AI education to the standardized curriculum guidelines in cybersecurity, which has benefited from a coordinated community.
  • The project's goal is to make AI education accessible not only to computing majors but also to students in health, finance, engineering, and other fields.
  • The NSF grants represent a validation of Kennesaw State University's growing presence in national conversations on emerging technologies, positioning the university alongside institutions like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Pennsylvania.

Statistics:

  • The International Data Corporation projects that artificial intelligence will add $19.9 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
  • The NSF grants will fund the project through May 31, 2027.
  • The project aims to unite educators from two-year colleges, four-year institutions, research-intensive universities, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
  • The project is part of the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot, a White House initiative to broaden AI access and innovation.

Sources:

  • Kennesaw State University news release, Kennesaw State secures NSF grants to build community of AI educators nationwide, September 13, 2025
  • International Data Corporation, The Future of Artificial Intelligence, 2023
  • National Science Foundation, National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot, 2024
  • Computing Research Association, Computing Academic Leadership Summit, 2025
  • Kennesaw State University, College of Computing and Software Engineering, 2025