FAMU Accelerates AI Strategy During President’s Panel at Campus Innovation Forum

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University (FAMU) is moving swiftly to embed artificial intelligence (AI) across its classrooms, research spaces and student experiences  ensuring Rattlers are prepared for an increasingly technology-driven world. That momentum was on full display during a recent AI forum hosted by President Marva B. Johnson, J.D., who brought together faculty, staff and partners to spark conversation, collaboration and forward-thinking strategy.

“Thank you for taking time today to help me figure out how best to support you all as we work to ensure our focus on AI is not delayed,” Johnson said. “As we implement AI not just in our curriculum but across our entire organization, we want to bring together the wisdom within FAMU and insights from outside the University.”

She encouraged attendees to bring additional colleagues into the fold as the University expands its AI literacy and engagement.

Campus Engagement and Hands-On Learning

The forum featured FAMU alumna Renata Rawlings-Goss, executive director of Georgia Tech’s Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS). Johnson recently toured the institute during a student-recruitment trip to Atlanta, reinforcing FAMU’s commitment to tapping into national innovation networks.

“You want to be able to serve more students. AI can help with that,” Rawlings-Goss shared, highlighting how technology can expand access and efficiency.

 

 

Across campus, AI is already becoming a lived experience for students. Engineering students recently built a robotic arm powered by AI, giving them direct exposure to project-based learning and real-world application.

“The technology we’re working with in the Adderley Music Institute is giving students real, hands-on experience with tools shaping the future of the music industry,” said Darryl Tookes, director of the Adderley Music Institute. “Our students are learning to create, analyze and innovate using the same technology professionals rely on in major studios.”

Partnerships That Advance Research and Opportunity

FAMU continues strengthening its research ecosystem through strategic collaborations. A standout partnership is with Sandia National Laboratories, a premier U.S. Department of Energy research center focused on national security, science and engineering.

During its engagement with FAMU, Sandia brought employees from multiple departments to ensure diverse expertise,from nanotechnology and materials science to infrastructure resilience and AI-driven engineering. Joint projects are already underway, including research on nanoscale materials and rapid pathogen-detection platforms, connecting academic training to federal-level innovation.

These collaborations expand career pathways for first-generation, underrepresented and STEM-focused students reinforcing FAMU’s mission to elevate opportunity through education and research.

FAMU’s Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council is also working to identify ways to integrate AI across academic programs, campus operations and student services — with an emphasis on ethical and responsible use.

 

 

 

 

 

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Media Contact:

Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist 
ashley1.flete@famu.edu