Rep. Aguilar Announces $1 Million to Expand Inland Empire Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Development

The U.S. National Science Foundation grants will provide $600,000 for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and $400,000 for the University of California, Riverside (UCR)

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced $1 million in federal grant funding for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside (UCR), to expand and enhance artificial intelligence (AI) education and workforce development in the Inland Empire. The U.S. National Science Foundation's Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program will provide a $600,000 grant to CSUSB and a $400,000 grant to UCR.

"As the artificial intelligence workforce rapidly expands and evolves, it is essential that students in the Inland Empire have the skills and knowledge they need to have successful careers in this growing field," said Rep. Pete Aguilar. "This grant funding for CSUSB and UCR is an important investment in our students' futures, our region's workforce and our community's economic development."

"With this NSF grant, we will launch new academic programs in AI, establish a community-focused AI Help Desk, and expand research opportunities for all students in the Inland Empire," said Dr. Yunfei Hou, Executive Director of the Leonard Transportation Center and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at CSUSB. "These efforts will provide students with hands-on experience solving real-world challenges, strengthen the region's workforce, and create flexible pathways into AI careers."

"We at UCR are delighted to partner with CSUSB on this grant and provide students in the Inland Empire with a world-class education in AI," said Dr. Evangelos Papalexakis, Professor and Ross Family Chair in Computer Science at the Computer Science and Engineering Department at UCR. "This grant aligns with our ongoing efforts on interdisciplinary AI education and research and the campus-wide RAISE@UCR AI institute, which encompasses around 100 faculty from different departments and colleges and where AI serves as the connective tissue across disciplines."

The funding comes as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Enriching Learning, Programs, and Student Experiences (HSI:ELPSE) grant program. The project, Promoting Regional Opportunities for Practical and Engaged Learning in AI (PROPEL AI), will allow CSUSB to develop new AI-focused academic programs, create an AI Help Desk that supports local businesses and organizations and build inclusive pathways into AI careers for first-generation and underrepresented students. Additionally, the grant funding will allow UCR graduate students to mentor CSUSB undergraduate students on innovative AI research and joint research projects.