Wright State University leads $2.5 million federal initiative to bring AI education to rural Ohio

Wright State is leading a $2.5 million grant project to improve students’ AI literacy and prepare them for careers in a workforce increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Wright State University has been awarded a $2.5 million federal grant to develop new AI-focused curriculum, train educators to teach it and build advanced AI tools to power it — with the goal of expanding artificial intelligence literacy from rural schools through colleges and into the workforce.

The four-year award, funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, supports a project titled “Strengthening American Competitiveness with AI Education.” It targets underserved rural communities in Ohio and Kansas, where access to AI education has lagged behind urban areas.

The project aims to create a through line for students by offering AI literacy earlier in school, deepening those skills in college, and better preparing graduates for careers in a workforce increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

The effort brings together faculty from two Wright State colleges: the College of Engineering and Computer Science will contribute technical expertise and experience teaching with AI, while the College of Health, Education and Human Services will focus on pedagogy and teacher preparation.

“This four‑year award underscores Wright State University’s commitment to workforce‑driven education and innovation and reflects the university’s leadership in artificial intelligence education and applied research,” said Provost Jim Denniston, Ph.D. “Through Strengthening American Competitiveness with AI Education, we will expand access to artificial intelligence education, prepare students for high‑demand careers, and strengthen the region’s, and the nation’s, capacity to compete in a rapidly evolving technological economy.”

Wright State is collaborating with faculty at Kansas State University and the University of Florida. Kansas State brings significant expertise in AI and education, along with an established network across Kansas’s rural communities, making it a natural partner for the project’s outreach goals. The University of Florida will serve as an external evaluator and develop metrics to assess the AI curriculum’s effectiveness.

The project is led by Cogan Shimizu, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science at Wright State.

Cogan Shimizu, assistant professor of computer science, is leading Wright State’s “Strengthening American Competitiveness with AI Education” project.

“This grant is designed to address the rapid rise of AI across industries by helping learners understand both its benefits and risks, while equipping them with the skills to use these tools to stay competitive in the national and global workforce,” Shimizu said.

The project places a particular emphasis on rural communities in Ohio and Kansas, where there are limited opportunities for students and workers to receive AI education and training.

“Rural communities are impacted by a growing dearth of opportunity in the AI space,” Shimizu said. “Both Ohio and Kansas have large rural communities outside of their urban spaces, but high entrepreneurial spirit, meaning that these communities still have much potential.”

A distinctive feature of the project is its use of neurosymbolic AI, which combines neural systems, such as large language models and machine learning, with symbolic systems like knowledge graphs and expert systems. The approach is intended to reduce the risk of AI-generated errors, making the tools more reliable for use in educational settings.

The project will teach educators how to use AI tools in their classrooms while building their understanding of core AI concepts. In addition to developing curriculum, the project will provide professional development for educators beginning this summer, helping them integrate AI tools into their classrooms while building a foundation in core AI concepts.

Sheri Stover, Ph.D., professor and program director of instructional design and learning technologies, and Valerie Shalin, Ph.D., professor of psychology and provost faculty fellow in AI, are leading the design of these training opportunities.

The project also creates a pathway for Wright State students into AI education work. Each year, three students will be selected to help develop curriculum, the creation of AI tools and gain hands-on teaching experience.

“Students won’t just learn how to use AI, but also how AI systems work, how to reason about them and their behaviors, when they can be trusted and when they are the best tools for the job,” Shimizu said. “In 2026, AI literacy is critical for both self-protection and competitiveness in the global workforce.”