Three Caldwell University faculty members have been selected through a competitive process to participate in the Faculty Futures AI Studio, a cross-institutional initiative of the New Jersey AI Hub designed to shape the future of AI integration in higher education across the state. Aneesha Jean, Assistant Dean and Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Services; Erin McIntyre, Communication and Media Studies Chair and Assistant Professor in the School of Arts & Sciences; and Mohamed Gebril, Assistant Professor of Leadership and Management in the School of Business & Computer Science, will represent Caldwell University alongside faculty from Drew, TCNJ, Rider, and Fairleigh Dickinson University in one of two inaugural cohorts.

“We are incredibly proud of our colleagues for their selection to this important initiative,” said Jennifer Fischer, Caldwell’s Chief AI Officer and Director of the Institute for Innovation & Emerging Technologies. “Their participation demonstrates Caldwell’s commitment to thoughtful AI integration in higher education and ensures our voice is represented as New Jersey establishes itself as a national leader in AI education.”

The NJ AI Hub: A Public-Private Partnership

The New Jersey AI Hub, which officially opened in March 2025, represents a groundbreaking collaboration between Princeton University, the State of New Jersey through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Microsoft, and CoreWeave. The Hub has attracted over $72 million in investment to establish New Jersey as a global leader in artificial intelligence innovation.

The initiative, central to New Jersey’s economic development strategy, positions the state as the premier East Coast destination for Al research, innovation, and workforce development. The Hub brings together AI researchers, industry leaders, startups, and higher education institutions to advance ethical Al development, while creating jobs and economic opportunities.

Through the Faculty Futures Al Studio, our faculty will help set the direction for higher education statewide and contribute directly to New Jersey’s talent pipeline and workforce readiness. “We are immensely appreciative of this opportunity to work in collaboration with other institutions throughout New Jersey and to have this level of support,” said Dr. George Abaunza, Caldwell Vice President of Academic Affairs. “We need all the help and collective engagement available to us in higher education so that we can successfully and responsibly navigate the unknown waters of rapidly emerging technologies.”

Faculty Futures AI Studio: Building the Curriculum of Tomorrow

The Faculty Futures Al Studio, running from January through May 2026, is organized into three specialized tracks: Technical, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Governance. Faculty participants will meet monthly at the NJ Al Hub in Princeton for collaborative working sessions, with additional asynchronous work throughout the spring semester.

The program aims to develop baseline definitions of AI competency across disciplines, create assignments and assessments that expose students to AI as a professional tool, and establish shareable resources that other universities can adopt, including frameworks for university AI policies and guidelines.

At the conclusion of the program in June 2026, cohort members will present their modules and teaching tools at a statewide convening open to all New Jersey faculty, with plans for Fall 2026 implementation in courses at participating institutions.

The NJ Al Hub Accelerator: Supporting Innovation

The NJ Al Hub also operates an Al Accelerator program powered by Plug and Play, a global innovation platform. The Accelerator connects New Jersey’s Al startups and higher-education-affiliated entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and industry partners, leveraging Plug and Play’s network of more than 100,000 startups and 550 corporate partners across 60 innovation hubs in over 25 countries.

Caldwell’s Al Leadership

Caldwell University’s participation in the Faculty Futures Al Studio positions the institution at the forefront of a statewide movement to reimagine higher education for the Al era. As one of only ten New Jersey universities selected for this inaugural cohort, Caldwell faculty will help establish the frameworks and competencies that will define AI literacy across disciplines for years to come. This collaborative leadership role reinforces the University’s commitment to preparing students not just for today’s workforce, but for careers that will increasingly require AI fluency across all professional fields.

“The University’s engagement in the Faculty Futures AI Studio also strengthens its partnerships with state government, major technology companies, and peer institutions-connections that will create new opportunities for students, faculty research, and institutional innovation as New Jersey’s AI ecosystem continues to expand,” said Fischer.

For more information about the NJ Al Hub and its programs, visit njaihub.org.