Now through October 31, we're waiving application fees for all domestic freshman and transfer applicants!
*Common app code: Central27
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 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.
Angle 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.
In 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.
The 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.
As 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.
In 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.
Bush’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.
At 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.
During 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.
“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.”
Ben 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.
“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.”
CMU 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.
“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.”
Andera said proficiency with AI is becoming an expectation, if not a requirement, in many career fields.
“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.
As 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.
“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.”
Patrick 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.
Faculty, staff and students at CMU have been working on AI-related initiatives and research for several years, Andera said.
Students 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.
Two 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.
Embracing 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.
And in June, CMU established an internal AI Advisory Board, which is charged with promoting the understanding and ethical use of AI.
Learn more about AI at CMU with a selection of student, faculty and alumni stories:
