Hostos Community College has been awarded more than $100,000 in competitive funding from the CUNY AI Innovation Fund, recognizing the College’s leadership in advancing ethical artificial intelligence (AI), innovative pedagogy, and faculty-driven instructional transformation.
Following a rigorous review process led by CUNY’s Office of Academic Innovation Implementation, five Hostos-led projects were selected for funding based on their potential to expand AI literacy, enhance teaching and learning, and support responsible AI use across the curriculum.
“This recognition affirms our commitment to educational equity, innovation, and ethical leadership in emerging technologies,” said Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Hostos President. “Our faculty are leading the way in reimagining how artificial intelligence can be taught and used responsibly to empower students, strengthen teaching, and expand opportunity. We are proud to contribute to CUNY’s vision for a future where AI serves the public good.”
The awarded projects include:
- Hostos Academic Learning Center (HALC) AI Guide
Principal Investigator: Dr. Lissette Jourdain, HALC Director
Award: $25,000
- Hostos AI Studio: A Faculty Lab for Ethical AI Literacy and Pedagogy Innovation
Principal Investigator: Dr. Nelson Nuñez Rodriguez, Natural Sciences
Award: $25,000
- AI Infosynthesis: A Critical AI Literacy Module for First Year Seminar
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jason Matthew Buchanan, English
Award: $27,000
- Teaching With AI: Revamping Technology-SLO Courses for Real Research and Creative Expression
Principal Investigator: Dr. Alisa Roost, Humanities
Award: $19,500
- Faculty as Builders: Using AI to Build Flexible Active Learning Tools
Principal Investigator: Ana Marjanovic, EdTech
Award: $7,585
“These awards reflect the creativity, rigor, and pedagogical leadership of Hostos faculty and staff. By centering ethical AI literacy, critical thinking, and real-world application, these projects will meaningfully enhance our curriculum and support student success,” shared Dr. Andrea Fabrizio, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “This work underscores Hostos’s commitment to inclusive, forward-thinking academic innovation within CUNY.”
Collectively, these projects reinforce Hostos’s role as a leader in ethical, equity-centered AI education and reflect the college’s ongoing commitment to preparing students with the critical skills needed to navigate and shape an AI-driven world. Through this work, Hostos continues to advance CUNY’s mission of innovation in service of opportunity, access, and the public good.