{"id":93022,"topic":"ai","source":"Central Michigan University","title":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion - Central Michigan University","url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","url_hash":"0d02f4f3437e197d4b89f2bfa01007ed91bc5109","author":"","summary":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion Central Michigan University","content":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.\nA tale of success and paying it forward\nAngle Bush didn’t intend to build a career in artificial intelligence. In fact, her two degrees from CMU were completely unrelated to that field: a bachelor’s degree in community development and a master’s degree in administration.\nIn 2019, one idea changed the trajectory of her career. She decided to build a robot whose sole job would be to bring her hot cocoa; she named it Usher. As she began researching what it would take to build the robot, including the technology, programming and other components, she kept encountering another topic: artificial intelligence.\nThe more she learned about AI, the more interested she became in its possibilities. Soon, her curiosity had moved beyond building a robot. Bush began exploring the technology itself, how it was being developed and who was participating in shaping its future.\nAs she learned more, she became aware of the lack of representation in the artificial intelligence industry and decided to do something about it. Instead of building a robot, she built something much larger. What began as curiosity about a robot grew into a mission to expand access to and participation in artificial intelligence, she said.\nIn 2020, Bush founded Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, a global technology-focused organization dedicated to teaching, mentoring and supporting women while building innovative technology and products. Since then, Bush has become an influential voice in the field. In August 2026, TIME named her to the TIME100 AI, its annual list recognizing the world’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. She also has established partnerships with some of the nation's top technology companies.\nBush’s deep connections in the industry played a key role in establishing CMU’s relationship with NVIDIA, a global leader in AI technology. Earlier this year, CMU, BWIAI and NVIDIA established a five-year, non-binding framework to expand applied artificial intelligence across teaching, research, workforce development, and regional engagement.\nAt CMU, Bush currently serves on the Science and Engineering Advisory Board for the College of Science and Engineering and has participated in several campus discussions on technology and artificial intelligence, including a moderated conversation with the provost in February 2024 and a visit with students from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in late 2025.\nDuring those discussions, she emphasized the importance of expanding CMU’s AI offerings to prepare students for a workforce in which artificial intelligence will influence every sector.\n“Artificial intelligence is often described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Bush said. “For CMU students and scholars to succeed in this rapidly evolving landscape, it is critical that we provide opportunities to deepen their knowledge, build practical skills and prepare for the future of work.”\nBuilding on a CMU strength\nBen Andera, executive director of academic and research computing at CMU and the university's special advisor for artificial intelligence, said CMU has a long history of providing students with hands-on experience and partnering with private sector companies to ensure students enter the workforce ready for success.\n“For decades, industry partners have worked with CMU to ensure our students have opportunities to use technology to address real-world problems and scenarios,” Andera said. “This collaboration with BWIAI, fueled by NVIDIA tools, will help us prepare students to make a difference in the workplace and in society while working with and learning from the leading experts in artificial intelligence.”\nCMU is already implementing AI in numerous academic programs, and many faculty members and students have incorporated AI tools into their research and scholarly activities, Andera said.\n“Use of AI at CMU is not new. In Curriculum and Instructional Support and the Office of Information Technology especially, we’ve been embracing AI, and trying to understand the university’s needs and to address AI’s many challenges and opportunities,” he said. “Together with BWIAI, we will ensure that every student, faculty and staff member has access to tools and resources that can strengthen their skills and accelerate their research.”\nAndera said proficiency with AI is becoming an expectation, if not a requirement, in many career fields.\n“AI is already extremely prevalent and is going to continue to be really important in the future. This is about seeing a world that’s changing quickly and understanding that we need to bring everyone along,” Andera said. “This is just a really great opportunity for CMU to partner with a very innovative company, and innovation is one of our values.\nAI for access and inclusion\nAs the university and BWIAI partner to prepare future leaders in the classroom, Kaleb Patrick, vice president of CMU Online, said they’re also taking a broader look at how to engage with community organizations to ensure equitable access to the technology.\n“Our shared goals include seeking ways to make AI more accessible and understandable for people in the communities we serve beyond our campus. AI can be a true equalizer for people from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, in much the same way that the internet was in the past,” Patrick said. “Part of our goal is to help underrepresented populations gain access and understanding of these AI tools and incorporate them as a way to address problems they see in society.”\nPatrick said the university is developing several initiatives focused on addressing the needs of rural communities, where access to specialized resources and training can be limited.\nExisting AI opportunities at CMU\nFaculty, staff and students at CMU have been working on AI-related initiatives and research for several years, Andera said.\nStudents in any undergraduate program can add a minor in applied artificial intelligence, and CMU also offers a graduate certificate in AI for learning, design and technology.\nTwo CMU faculty members in the Department of Computer Science, Jesse Eickholt and Razi Iqbal, have already completed a program to become NVIDIA Ambassadors, giving them access to numerous teaching tools and educational content for use in their classes. In Fall 2025, more than 20 students earned NVIDIA certification through a CMU workshop.\nEmbracing AI at CMU, an initiative led by Stephen Juris, director of institutional assessment and curriculum in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support, is a Go Grant-funded project designed to develop guidance and curriculum recommendations for use of AI in the classroom and across campus. Student and faculty researchers have been exploring the use of AI to improve medical care, strategic communication, innovation, cybersecurity and network security, global business systems, and more.\nAnd in June, CMU established an internal AI Advisory Board, which is charged with promoting the understanding and ethical use of AI.\nWatch, listen and read - AI at CMU\nLearn more about AI at CMU with a selection of student, faculty and alumni stories:\n- CentralAI, a registered student organization, helps students learn about and engage with AI tools.\n- Faculty member Jen Weible discusses how teachers and students can effectively use AI in the classroom\n- Faculty member Gustav Verhulsdonck’s research explores the human-AI connection.\n- Faculty member Matt Katz discusses the significant ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in numerous fields, and discusses the possibility of self-aware AI.","image_url":"https://www.cmich.edu/images/default-source/general/cmu-logos/1600x900_circleactionc_filler_maroon-500k.png","lang":"en","published_at":"2026-09-29T20:54:36+00:00","fetched_at":"2026-09-29T21:15:04+00:00","status":"read","starred":0,"extract_state":"ok","summary_auto":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.","cluster_id":null,"extract_retries":1,"extract_error":null,"contract_version":"news_item.v1","format_contract_version":"news_item_formats.v1","dedup_url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448,"usable_text_length":8027,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448}},"news_item":{"id":93022,"canonical_url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","source_url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","title":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion - Central Michigan University","source_name":"Central Michigan University","author":null,"published_at":"2026-09-29T20:54:36+00:00","locale":"en","topic":"ai","tags":[],"rss_summary":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion Central Michigan University","full_text":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.\nA tale of success and paying it forward\nAngle Bush didn’t intend to build a career in artificial intelligence. In fact, her two degrees from CMU were completely unrelated to that field: a bachelor’s degree in community development and a master’s degree in administration.\nIn 2019, one idea changed the trajectory of her career. She decided to build a robot whose sole job would be to bring her hot cocoa; she named it Usher. As she began researching what it would take to build the robot, including the technology, programming and other components, she kept encountering another topic: artificial intelligence.\nThe more she learned about AI, the more interested she became in its possibilities. Soon, her curiosity had moved beyond building a robot. Bush began exploring the technology itself, how it was being developed and who was participating in shaping its future.\nAs she learned more, she became aware of the lack of representation in the artificial intelligence industry and decided to do something about it. Instead of building a robot, she built something much larger. What began as curiosity about a robot grew into a mission to expand access to and participation in artificial intelligence, she said.\nIn 2020, Bush founded Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, a global technology-focused organization dedicated to teaching, mentoring and supporting women while building innovative technology and products. Since then, Bush has become an influential voice in the field. In August 2026, TIME named her to the TIME100 AI, its annual list recognizing the world’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. She also has established partnerships with some of the nation's top technology companies.\nBush’s deep connections in the industry played a key role in establishing CMU’s relationship with NVIDIA, a global leader in AI technology. Earlier this year, CMU, BWIAI and NVIDIA established a five-year, non-binding framework to expand applied artificial intelligence across teaching, research, workforce development, and regional engagement.\nAt CMU, Bush currently serves on the Science and Engineering Advisory Board for the College of Science and Engineering and has participated in several campus discussions on technology and artificial intelligence, including a moderated conversation with the provost in February 2024 and a visit with students from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in late 2025.\nDuring those discussions, she emphasized the importance of expanding CMU’s AI offerings to prepare students for a workforce in which artificial intelligence will influence every sector.\n“Artificial intelligence is often described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Bush said. “For CMU students and scholars to succeed in this rapidly evolving landscape, it is critical that we provide opportunities to deepen their knowledge, build practical skills and prepare for the future of work.”\nBuilding on a CMU strength\nBen Andera, executive director of academic and research computing at CMU and the university's special advisor for artificial intelligence, said CMU has a long history of providing students with hands-on experience and partnering with private sector companies to ensure students enter the workforce ready for success.\n“For decades, industry partners have worked with CMU to ensure our students have opportunities to use technology to address real-world problems and scenarios,” Andera said. “This collaboration with BWIAI, fueled by NVIDIA tools, will help us prepare students to make a difference in the workplace and in society while working with and learning from the leading experts in artificial intelligence.”\nCMU is already implementing AI in numerous academic programs, and many faculty members and students have incorporated AI tools into their research and scholarly activities, Andera said.\n“Use of AI at CMU is not new. In Curriculum and Instructional Support and the Office of Information Technology especially, we’ve been embracing AI, and trying to understand the university’s needs and to address AI’s many challenges and opportunities,” he said. “Together with BWIAI, we will ensure that every student, faculty and staff member has access to tools and resources that can strengthen their skills and accelerate their research.”\nAndera said proficiency with AI is becoming an expectation, if not a requirement, in many career fields.\n“AI is already extremely prevalent and is going to continue to be really important in the future. This is about seeing a world that’s changing quickly and understanding that we need to bring everyone along,” Andera said. “This is just a really great opportunity for CMU to partner with a very innovative company, and innovation is one of our values.\nAI for access and inclusion\nAs the university and BWIAI partner to prepare future leaders in the classroom, Kaleb Patrick, vice president of CMU Online, said they’re also taking a broader look at how to engage with community organizations to ensure equitable access to the technology.\n“Our shared goals include seeking ways to make AI more accessible and understandable for people in the communities we serve beyond our campus. AI can be a true equalizer for people from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, in much the same way that the internet was in the past,” Patrick said. “Part of our goal is to help underrepresented populations gain access and understanding of these AI tools and incorporate them as a way to address problems they see in society.”\nPatrick said the university is developing several initiatives focused on addressing the needs of rural communities, where access to specialized resources and training can be limited.\nExisting AI opportunities at CMU\nFaculty, staff and students at CMU have been working on AI-related initiatives and research for several years, Andera said.\nStudents in any undergraduate program can add a minor in applied artificial intelligence, and CMU also offers a graduate certificate in AI for learning, design and technology.\nTwo CMU faculty members in the Department of Computer Science, Jesse Eickholt and Razi Iqbal, have already completed a program to become NVIDIA Ambassadors, giving them access to numerous teaching tools and educational content for use in their classes. In Fall 2025, more than 20 students earned NVIDIA certification through a CMU workshop.\nEmbracing AI at CMU, an initiative led by Stephen Juris, director of institutional assessment and curriculum in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support, is a Go Grant-funded project designed to develop guidance and curriculum recommendations for use of AI in the classroom and across campus. Student and faculty researchers have been exploring the use of AI to improve medical care, strategic communication, innovation, cybersecurity and network security, global business systems, and more.\nAnd in June, CMU established an internal AI Advisory Board, which is charged with promoting the understanding and ethical use of AI.\nWatch, listen and read - AI at CMU\nLearn more about AI at CMU with a selection of student, faculty and alumni stories:\n- CentralAI, a registered student organization, helps students learn about and engage with AI tools.\n- Faculty member Jen Weible discusses how teachers and students can effectively use AI in the classroom\n- Faculty member Gustav Verhulsdonck’s research explores the human-AI connection.\n- Faculty member Matt Katz discusses the significant ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in numerous fields, and discusses the possibility of self-aware AI.","excerpt":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.","extraction":{"state":"ok","confidence":0.9,"error":null,"explanation":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448,"usable_text_length":8027,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448}}},"display_formats":["compact","card","full","digest_section","json"]},"daily_stack_record":{"title":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion - Central Michigan University","url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","summary":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.","source":"Central Michigan University","date":"2026-09-29T20:54:36+00:00","content":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.\nA tale of success and paying it forward\nAngle Bush didn’t intend to build a career in artificial intelligence. In fact, her two degrees from CMU were completely unrelated to that field: a bachelor’s degree in community development and a master’s degree in administration.\nIn 2019, one idea changed the trajectory of her career. She decided to build a robot whose sole job would be to bring her hot cocoa; she named it Usher. As she began researching what it would take to build the robot, including the technology, programming and other components, she kept encountering another topic: artificial intelligence.\nThe more she learned about AI, the more interested she became in its possibilities. Soon, her curiosity had moved beyond building a robot. Bush began exploring the technology itself, how it was being developed and who was participating in shaping its future.\nAs she learned more, she became aware of the lack of representation in the artificial intelligence industry and decided to do something about it. Instead of building a robot, she built something much larger. What began as curiosity about a robot grew into a mission to expand access to and participation in artificial intelligence, she said.\nIn 2020, Bush founded Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, a global technology-focused organization dedicated to teaching, mentoring and supporting women while building innovative technology and products. Since then, Bush has become an influential voice in the field. In August 2026, TIME named her to the TIME100 AI, its annual list recognizing the world’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. She also has established partnerships with some of the nation's top technology companies.\nBush’s deep connections in the industry played a key role in establishing CMU’s relationship with NVIDIA, a global leader in AI technology. Earlier this year, CMU, BWIAI and NVIDIA established a five-year, non-binding framework to expand applied artificial intelligence across teaching, research, workforce development, and regional engagement.\nAt CMU, Bush currently serves on the Science and Engineering Advisory Board for the College of Science and Engineering and has participated in several campus discussions on technology and artificial intelligence, including a moderated conversation with the provost in February 2024 and a visit with students from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in late 2025.\nDuring those discussions, she emphasized the importance of expanding CMU’s AI offerings to prepare students for a workforce in which artificial intelligence will influence every sector.\n“Artificial intelligence is often described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Bush said. “For CMU students and scholars to succeed in this rapidly evolving landscape, it is critical that we provide opportunities to deepen their knowledge, build practical skills and prepare for the future of work.”\nBuilding on a CMU strength\nBen Andera, executive director of academic and research computing at CMU and the university's special advisor for artificial intelligence, said CMU has a long history of providing students with hands-on experience and partnering with private sector companies to ensure students enter the workforce ready for success.\n“For decades, industry partners have worked with CMU to ensure our students have opportunities to use technology to address real-world problems and scenarios,” Andera said. “This collaboration with BWIAI, fueled by NVIDIA tools, will help us prepare students to make a difference in the workplace and in society while working with and learning from the leading experts in artificial intelligence.”\nCMU is already implementing AI in numerous academic programs, and many faculty members and students have incorporated AI tools into their research and scholarly activities, Andera said.\n“Use of AI at CMU is not new. In Curriculum and Instructional Support and the Office of Information Technology especially, we’ve been embracing AI, and trying to understand the university’s needs and to address AI’s many challenges and opportunities,” he said. “Together with BWIAI, we will ensure that every student, faculty and staff member has access to tools and resources that can strengthen their skills and accelerate their research.”\nAndera said proficiency with AI is becoming an expectation, if not a requirement, in many career fields.\n“AI is already extremely prevalent and is going to continue to be really important in the future. This is about seeing a world that’s changing quickly and understanding that we need to bring everyone along,” Andera said. “This is just a really great opportunity for CMU to partner with a very innovative company, and innovation is one of our values.\nAI for access and inclusion\nAs the university and BWIAI partner to prepare future leaders in the classroom, Kaleb Patrick, vice president of CMU Online, said they’re also taking a broader look at how to engage with community organizations to ensure equitable access to the technology.\n“Our shared goals include seeking ways to make AI more accessible and understandable for people in the communities we serve beyond our campus. AI can be a true equalizer for people from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, in much the same way that the internet was in the past,” Patrick said. “Part of our goal is to help underrepresented populations gain access and understanding of these AI tools and incorporate them as a way to address problems they see in society.”\nPatrick said the university is developing several initiatives focused on addressing the needs of rural communities, where access to specialized resources and training can be limited.\nExisting AI opportunities at CMU\nFaculty, staff and students at CMU have been working on AI-related initiatives and research for several years, Andera said.\nStudents in any undergraduate program can add a minor in applied artificial intelligence, and CMU also offers a graduate certificate in AI for learning, design and technology.\nTwo CMU faculty members in the Department of Computer Science, Jesse Eickholt and Razi Iqbal, have already completed a program to become NVIDIA Ambassadors, giving them access to numerous teaching tools and educational content for use in their classes. In Fall 2025, more than 20 students earned NVIDIA certification through a CMU workshop.\nEmbracing AI at CMU, an initiative led by Stephen Juris, director of institutional assessment and curriculum in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support, is a Go Grant-funded project designed to develop guidance and curriculum recommendations for use of AI in the classroom and across campus. Student and faculty researchers have been exploring the use of AI to improve medical care, strategic communication, innovation, cybersecurity and network security, global business systems, and more.\nAnd in June, CMU established an internal AI Advisory Board, which is charged with promoting the understanding and ethical use of AI.\nWatch, listen and read - AI at CMU\nLearn more about AI at CMU with a selection of student, faculty and alumni stories:\n- CentralAI, a registered student organization, helps students learn about and engage with AI tools.\n- Faculty member Jen Weible discusses how teachers and students can effectively use AI in the classroom\n- Faculty member Gustav Verhulsdonck’s research explores the human-AI connection.\n- Faculty member Matt Katz discusses the significant ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in numerous fields, and discusses the possibility of self-aware AI.","confidence":0.9,"diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","quality_bucket":"high","failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"quality_reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448,"usable_text_length":8027,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448}},"tags":[]},"fallback_formats":["markdown","json","html"],"actions":{"read":"/item/93022","export_markdown":"/api/items/93022/export?format=markdown","export_json":"/api/items/93022/export?format=json","diagnose":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion"},"formats":{"full":{"id":93022,"title":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion - Central Michigan University","url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","source":"Central Michigan University","author":null,"published_at":"2026-09-29T20:54:36+00:00","locale":"en","topic":"ai","tags":[],"excerpt":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.","full_text":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.\nA tale of success and paying it forward\nAngle Bush didn’t intend to build a career in artificial intelligence. In fact, her two degrees from CMU were completely unrelated to that field: a bachelor’s degree in community development and a master’s degree in administration.\nIn 2019, one idea changed the trajectory of her career. She decided to build a robot whose sole job would be to bring her hot cocoa; she named it Usher. As she began researching what it would take to build the robot, including the technology, programming and other components, she kept encountering another topic: artificial intelligence.\nThe more she learned about AI, the more interested she became in its possibilities. Soon, her curiosity had moved beyond building a robot. Bush began exploring the technology itself, how it was being developed and who was participating in shaping its future.\nAs she learned more, she became aware of the lack of representation in the artificial intelligence industry and decided to do something about it. Instead of building a robot, she built something much larger. What began as curiosity about a robot grew into a mission to expand access to and participation in artificial intelligence, she said.\nIn 2020, Bush founded Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, a global technology-focused organization dedicated to teaching, mentoring and supporting women while building innovative technology and products. Since then, Bush has become an influential voice in the field. In August 2026, TIME named her to the TIME100 AI, its annual list recognizing the world’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. She also has established partnerships with some of the nation's top technology companies.\nBush’s deep connections in the industry played a key role in establishing CMU’s relationship with NVIDIA, a global leader in AI technology. Earlier this year, CMU, BWIAI and NVIDIA established a five-year, non-binding framework to expand applied artificial intelligence across teaching, research, workforce development, and regional engagement.\nAt CMU, Bush currently serves on the Science and Engineering Advisory Board for the College of Science and Engineering and has participated in several campus discussions on technology and artificial intelligence, including a moderated conversation with the provost in February 2024 and a visit with students from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in late 2025.\nDuring those discussions, she emphasized the importance of expanding CMU’s AI offerings to prepare students for a workforce in which artificial intelligence will influence every sector.\n“Artificial intelligence is often described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Bush said. “For CMU students and scholars to succeed in this rapidly evolving landscape, it is critical that we provide opportunities to deepen their knowledge, build practical skills and prepare for the future of work.”\nBuilding on a CMU strength\nBen Andera, executive director of academic and research computing at CMU and the university's special advisor for artificial intelligence, said CMU has a long history of providing students with hands-on experience and partnering with private sector companies to ensure students enter the workforce ready for success.\n“For decades, industry partners have worked with CMU to ensure our students have opportunities to use technology to address real-world problems and scenarios,” Andera said. “This collaboration with BWIAI, fueled by NVIDIA tools, will help us prepare students to make a difference in the workplace and in society while working with and learning from the leading experts in artificial intelligence.”\nCMU is already implementing AI in numerous academic programs, and many faculty members and students have incorporated AI tools into their research and scholarly activities, Andera said.\n“Use of AI at CMU is not new. In Curriculum and Instructional Support and the Office of Information Technology especially, we’ve been embracing AI, and trying to understand the university’s needs and to address AI’s many challenges and opportunities,” he said. “Together with BWIAI, we will ensure that every student, faculty and staff member has access to tools and resources that can strengthen their skills and accelerate their research.”\nAndera said proficiency with AI is becoming an expectation, if not a requirement, in many career fields.\n“AI is already extremely prevalent and is going to continue to be really important in the future. This is about seeing a world that’s changing quickly and understanding that we need to bring everyone along,” Andera said. “This is just a really great opportunity for CMU to partner with a very innovative company, and innovation is one of our values.\nAI for access and inclusion\nAs the university and BWIAI partner to prepare future leaders in the classroom, Kaleb Patrick, vice president of CMU Online, said they’re also taking a broader look at how to engage with community organizations to ensure equitable access to the technology.\n“Our shared goals include seeking ways to make AI more accessible and understandable for people in the communities we serve beyond our campus. AI can be a true equalizer for people from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, in much the same way that the internet was in the past,” Patrick said. “Part of our goal is to help underrepresented populations gain access and understanding of these AI tools and incorporate them as a way to address problems they see in society.”\nPatrick said the university is developing several initiatives focused on addressing the needs of rural communities, where access to specialized resources and training can be limited.\nExisting AI opportunities at CMU\nFaculty, staff and students at CMU have been working on AI-related initiatives and research for several years, Andera said.\nStudents in any undergraduate program can add a minor in applied artificial intelligence, and CMU also offers a graduate certificate in AI for learning, design and technology.\nTwo CMU faculty members in the Department of Computer Science, Jesse Eickholt and Razi Iqbal, have already completed a program to become NVIDIA Ambassadors, giving them access to numerous teaching tools and educational content for use in their classes. In Fall 2025, more than 20 students earned NVIDIA certification through a CMU workshop.\nEmbracing AI at CMU, an initiative led by Stephen Juris, director of institutional assessment and curriculum in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support, is a Go Grant-funded project designed to develop guidance and curriculum recommendations for use of AI in the classroom and across campus. Student and faculty researchers have been exploring the use of AI to improve medical care, strategic communication, innovation, cybersecurity and network security, global business systems, and more.\nAnd in June, CMU established an internal AI Advisory Board, which is charged with promoting the understanding and ethical use of AI.\nWatch, listen and read - AI at CMU\nLearn more about AI at CMU with a selection of student, faculty and alumni stories:\n- CentralAI, a registered student organization, helps students learn about and engage with AI tools.\n- Faculty member Jen Weible discusses how teachers and students can effectively use AI in the classroom\n- Faculty member Gustav Verhulsdonck’s research explores the human-AI connection.\n- Faculty member Matt Katz discusses the significant ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in numerous fields, and discusses the possibility of self-aware AI.","reading_time_min":6,"extraction":{"state":"ok","confidence":0.9,"error":null,"explanation":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448,"usable_text_length":8027,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448}}},"quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448,"usable_text_length":8027,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448}},"actions":{"read":"/item/93022","export_markdown":"/api/items/93022/export?format=markdown","export_json":"/api/items/93022/export?format=json","diagnose":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion"}},"digest":{"id":93022,"title":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion - Central Michigan University","url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","source":"Central Michigan University","topic":"ai","published_at":"2026-09-29T20:54:36+00:00","excerpt":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion New collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology Angle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and…","quality_bucket":"high","quality_reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","reading_time_min":6,"cluster_id":null},"card":{"display_title":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion - Central Michigan University","subtitle":"Central Michigan University · 2026-09-29","summary":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion New collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology Angle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using…","badges":["quality:high"],"links":{"read":"/item/93022","original":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","diagnose":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion"},"quality_warning":null},"export":{"title":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion - Central Michigan University","url":"https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","summary":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.","source":"Central Michigan University","date":"2026-09-29T20:54:36+00:00","content":"Making AI stand for access and inclusion\nNew collaboration seeks to expand understanding and responsible use of technology\nAngle Bush, a two-time graduate of Central Michigan University, wants to see more people using artificial intelligence responsibly, effectively and creatively. Her company, Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, is partnering with CMU to strengthen education and access at the university, in the local community, and beyond.\nA tale of success and paying it forward\nAngle Bush didn’t intend to build a career in artificial intelligence. In fact, her two degrees from CMU were completely unrelated to that field: a bachelor’s degree in community development and a master’s degree in administration.\nIn 2019, one idea changed the trajectory of her career. She decided to build a robot whose sole job would be to bring her hot cocoa; she named it Usher. As she began researching what it would take to build the robot, including the technology, programming and other components, she kept encountering another topic: artificial intelligence.\nThe more she learned about AI, the more interested she became in its possibilities. Soon, her curiosity had moved beyond building a robot. Bush began exploring the technology itself, how it was being developed and who was participating in shaping its future.\nAs she learned more, she became aware of the lack of representation in the artificial intelligence industry and decided to do something about it. Instead of building a robot, she built something much larger. What began as curiosity about a robot grew into a mission to expand access to and participation in artificial intelligence, she said.\nIn 2020, Bush founded Black Women in Artificial Intelligence, a global technology-focused organization dedicated to teaching, mentoring and supporting women while building innovative technology and products. Since then, Bush has become an influential voice in the field. In August 2026, TIME named her to the TIME100 AI, its annual list recognizing the world’s 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence. She also has established partnerships with some of the nation's top technology companies.\nBush’s deep connections in the industry played a key role in establishing CMU’s relationship with NVIDIA, a global leader in AI technology. Earlier this year, CMU, BWIAI and NVIDIA established a five-year, non-binding framework to expand applied artificial intelligence across teaching, research, workforce development, and regional engagement.\nAt CMU, Bush currently serves on the Science and Engineering Advisory Board for the College of Science and Engineering and has participated in several campus discussions on technology and artificial intelligence, including a moderated conversation with the provost in February 2024 and a visit with students from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in late 2025.\nDuring those discussions, she emphasized the importance of expanding CMU’s AI offerings to prepare students for a workforce in which artificial intelligence will influence every sector.\n“Artificial intelligence is often described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Bush said. “For CMU students and scholars to succeed in this rapidly evolving landscape, it is critical that we provide opportunities to deepen their knowledge, build practical skills and prepare for the future of work.”\nBuilding on a CMU strength\nBen Andera, executive director of academic and research computing at CMU and the university's special advisor for artificial intelligence, said CMU has a long history of providing students with hands-on experience and partnering with private sector companies to ensure students enter the workforce ready for success.\n“For decades, industry partners have worked with CMU to ensure our students have opportunities to use technology to address real-world problems and scenarios,” Andera said. “This collaboration with BWIAI, fueled by NVIDIA tools, will help us prepare students to make a difference in the workplace and in society while working with and learning from the leading experts in artificial intelligence.”\nCMU is already implementing AI in numerous academic programs, and many faculty members and students have incorporated AI tools into their research and scholarly activities, Andera said.\n“Use of AI at CMU is not new. In Curriculum and Instructional Support and the Office of Information Technology especially, we’ve been embracing AI, and trying to understand the university’s needs and to address AI’s many challenges and opportunities,” he said. “Together with BWIAI, we will ensure that every student, faculty and staff member has access to tools and resources that can strengthen their skills and accelerate their research.”\nAndera said proficiency with AI is becoming an expectation, if not a requirement, in many career fields.\n“AI is already extremely prevalent and is going to continue to be really important in the future. This is about seeing a world that’s changing quickly and understanding that we need to bring everyone along,” Andera said. “This is just a really great opportunity for CMU to partner with a very innovative company, and innovation is one of our values.\nAI for access and inclusion\nAs the university and BWIAI partner to prepare future leaders in the classroom, Kaleb Patrick, vice president of CMU Online, said they’re also taking a broader look at how to engage with community organizations to ensure equitable access to the technology.\n“Our shared goals include seeking ways to make AI more accessible and understandable for people in the communities we serve beyond our campus. AI can be a true equalizer for people from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, in much the same way that the internet was in the past,” Patrick said. “Part of our goal is to help underrepresented populations gain access and understanding of these AI tools and incorporate them as a way to address problems they see in society.”\nPatrick said the university is developing several initiatives focused on addressing the needs of rural communities, where access to specialized resources and training can be limited.\nExisting AI opportunities at CMU\nFaculty, staff and students at CMU have been working on AI-related initiatives and research for several years, Andera said.\nStudents in any undergraduate program can add a minor in applied artificial intelligence, and CMU also offers a graduate certificate in AI for learning, design and technology.\nTwo CMU faculty members in the Department of Computer Science, Jesse Eickholt and Razi Iqbal, have already completed a program to become NVIDIA Ambassadors, giving them access to numerous teaching tools and educational content for use in their classes. In Fall 2025, more than 20 students earned NVIDIA certification through a CMU workshop.\nEmbracing AI at CMU, an initiative led by Stephen Juris, director of institutional assessment and curriculum in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support, is a Go Grant-funded project designed to develop guidance and curriculum recommendations for use of AI in the classroom and across campus. Student and faculty researchers have been exploring the use of AI to improve medical care, strategic communication, innovation, cybersecurity and network security, global business systems, and more.\nAnd in June, CMU established an internal AI Advisory Board, which is charged with promoting the understanding and ethical use of AI.\nWatch, listen and read - AI at CMU\nLearn more about AI at CMU with a selection of student, faculty and alumni stories:\n- CentralAI, a registered student organization, helps students learn about and engage with AI tools.\n- Faculty member Jen Weible discusses how teachers and students can effectively use AI in the classroom\n- Faculty member Gustav Verhulsdonck’s research explores the human-AI connection.\n- Faculty member Matt Katz discusses the significant ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in numerous fields, and discusses the possibility of self-aware AI.","confidence":0.9,"diagnostics_url":"/api/diagnose?url=https%3A//www.cmich.edu/news/details/making-ai-stand-for-access-and-inclusion","quality_bucket":"high","failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"quality_reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","quality_profile":{"profile_version":"extraction_quality.v2","bucket":"high","confidence":0.9,"failure_kind":"none","retryable":false,"retry_after_attempts":0,"reason":"High confidence: full text extraction produced 8027 characters.","operator_guidance":{"severity":"ok","recommended_action":"trust_full_text","next_step":"Use the extracted full text as the primary article source.","operator_label":"Ready","can_retry":false,"can_use_summary":false,"diagnostics_required":false},"content_depth":{"contract_version":"content_depth.v1","category":"full_text","label":"Full text","has_full_text":true,"has_summary":true,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448,"usable_text_length":8027,"source_field":"content"},"legacy_collapsed":false,"signals":{"extract_state":"ok","extract_error":null,"extract_retries":1,"content_length":8027,"summary_length":448}},"tags":[],"format_contract_version":"news_item_formats.v1"}}}