TLDR: Youngstown State University (YSU) has been awarded a $320,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a three-year project aimed at developing artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among undergraduate engineering and technology students. Led by Associate Professor Corey Brozina, the initiative will integrate AI into the first-year engineering curriculum, focusing on both technical skills and ethical implications. This grant marks Brozina’s fourth NSF award, bringing his total funding to approximately $1.6 million, and positions YSU as a leader in AI education among universities of similar size.
Youngstown State University (YSU) is set to significantly enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) education and research capabilities following the award of a $320,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This substantial funding will support a three-year project titled “Developing Artificial Intelligence Literacy Among Undergraduate Engineering and Technology Students Through Case-Based Instruction,” spearheaded by Corey Brozina, an associate professor and associate director of the Rayen School of Engineering at YSU.
The grant, which officially commences on October 1, positions YSU at the forefront of AI education, particularly when compared to institutions of similar size. This latest award is Brozina’s fourth NSF grant, elevating his total NSF funding to an impressive $1.6 million, including the largest NSF grant in YSU’s history, received in 2020. The achievement is particularly notable given that less than 12 percent of NSF applications nationwide are approved.
The core objective of the project is to seamlessly integrate AI into the university’s engineering curriculum. The initiative will focus on equipping students with the necessary skills to utilize AI as a professional tool, while simultaneously fostering an understanding of its broader societal and ethical implications. Brozina is collaborating with Aditya Johri, a professor of information sciences and technology in the College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University, to develop a case-based instructional curriculum.
“Our goal is to equip students with both the technical skills to effectively use AI tools and the awareness to evaluate their societal and ethical impacts,” stated Professor Brozina. He added, “By doing so, we’re preparing them to enter a future where AI is reshaping every field.”
The innovative curriculum will be introduced in YSU’s first-year engineering program. It will feature ready-to-use case studies that allow students to engage in role-playing scenarios, demonstrating the responsible application of AI in real-world contexts. These cases are designed to expose students to situations they might encounter early in their careers, ranging from automated hiring systems to critical sustainability concerns within AI computing.
Beyond curriculum development, the $320,000 grant will also provide valuable resources to expand research opportunities at YSU. This includes funding for undergraduate researchers, a two-year master’s student, and a one-year postdoctoral position. Brozina’s leadership is instrumental in positioning YSU to influence the national conversation on AI literacy across higher education.
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Following their pilot and refinement at YSU, these AI literacy case studies will be shared and implemented in first-year engineering programs at various partner institutions. Collaborators include the University of Florida, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Texas A&M, Case Western, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, and Iowa State. Brozina emphasized the broader impact, stating, “This work not only strengthens opportunities for YSU students, it puts us in a position to share how AI education is taught across the country.” This collaborative approach ensures that the developed materials are practical, effective, and impactful across diverse educational settings.
