Designation Follows AAMU Hosting National HBCU Artificial Intelligence Summit

Alabama A&M University (AAMU) has been selected as a regional lead institution for Amazon Web Services–Machine Learning University (AWS-MLU), further elevating the University's role as a leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning education, research, and workforce development.

AAMU joins Delaware State University, Howard University, City Colleges of Chicago, and Oklahoma City Community College as one of five institutions nationwide chosen to serve as a regional lead by AWS-MLU.

“Establishing five regional lead institutions for the AWS-MLU Program marks a powerful step forward in scaling AI and machine learning education nationwide,” said Dr. Margie Vela, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Machine Learning University, Amazon Web Services. “I am especially enthusiastic about co-developing content with HBCUs and community colleges — uniting faculty expertise with industry insight to create learning experiences that are rigorous, relevant, and accessible. HBCUs continue to lead at the forefront of AI innovation, while community colleges serve as critical engines of workforce mobility and technology adoption. Together, they are not simply participating in the AI future — they are defining it. This is how we build national momentum: through regional leadership, shared creation, and a collective commitment to preparing students everywhere to thrive in an AI-driven world.”

“This designation recognizes Alabama A&M as a leader in AI and machine learning education and research,” said Dr. Majed El-Dweik, Vice President for Research and Economic Development. “It gives our faculty and students access to world-class resources, strengthens collaborations with industry and other HBCUs, and helps prepare a diverse generation of technology leaders who will drive innovation across our region and beyond.”

The designation follows AAMU's convening of a national gathering of Historically Black Colleges and Universities focused on artificial intelligence, underscoring the institution's growing leadership in expanding access to emerging technologies and strengthening collaboration among HBCUs.

As a regional lead, AAMU will expand access to Amazon's industry-leading machine learning curriculum — the same content used to train Amazon engineers — while providing low to no cost cloud-based computing resources through Amazon SageMaker Studio Lab. These resources support hands-on learning and research in machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, giving students practical experience with real-world applications.

Faculty will receive professional development, lesson-planning support, course playbooks, and AWS cloud credits to strengthen classroom instruction and advance research initiatives. The regional lead designation also creates expanded opportunities for collaboration with AWS experts and peer institutions in the AWS-MLU network, enhancing the University's research capacity in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.

For students, the initiative establishes direct pathways to high-demand careers in AI and ML fields. By pairing applied learning experiences with real-world industry applications, the program addresses the national shortage of technology talent while expanding access for students historically underrepresented in computer science and related disciplines.

Beyond the classroom, AAMU will serve as a regional resource for AI and ML education and training, collaborating with industry partners and community organizations to help drive economic development through technology workforce preparation. Faculty and students will have opportunities to present research at annual AWS symposiums and engage in broader scholarly and industry collaborations.

Programs under the regional lead designation are scheduled to launch in the upcoming academic year, with faculty training and curriculum integration beginning this summer and student enrollment in AWS-MLU courses — developed by faculty members of the 2025–2026 AWS-MLU cohort — to follow in the fall semester.

“We are excited to collaborate with AWS to support faculty learning and advance workforce development across Alabama and the Southeast region,” said Dr. Peter Eley, Professor and Interim Director of Research. “Through this collaboration, we are positioned to lead in AI innovation and remain at the forefront of artificial intelligence development by leveraging Amazon's resources.”

As a regional lead for AWS-Machine Learning University, Alabama A&M University is committed to advancing equitable access to AI and machine learning education across the Southeast. Through this initiative, AAMU will continue to build a pipeline of faculty and students equipped with the skills and knowledge to lead in an increasingly technology-driven workforce and economy.

About Machine Learning University

Through its Machine Learning University (MLU) Educators Consortium and Transformation Alliance, AWS is dedicated to expanding access to AI and ML education. These initiatives empower faculty and senior administrators — particularly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and community colleges — to integrate AI/ML into undergraduate instruction and research through hands-on technical training, open-access curriculum, and peer collaboration. By promoting inclusive and industry-aligned tech education, AWS is helping to cultivate the next generation of diverse and skilled technology leaders.