Penn State Harrisburg advances regional artificial intelligence leadership

MIDDLETOWN, Pa.  -  As Penn State continues to elevate artificial intelligence as a University-wide priority, Penn State Harrisburg is emerging as a regional hub for applied and ethical AI education, research and innovation. 

Guided by a comprehensive strategy and guidance from the college's AI Coordinating Council, the college is aligning with the University's goals to expand AI literacy, integrate AI across curricula, advance interdisciplinary research, and foster a culture of innovation.

"Artificial intelligence is reshaping every sector of society," said Penn State Harrisburg Chancellor David Callejo Pérez. "As an early adopter of artificial intelligence, we recognize the growing influence it will have on how students learn, study and interact with the world, and we are pleased to help lead this work in our region by advancing ethical, human-centered innovation across academics, research, operations and partnerships."

A coordinated, college-wide approach

Penn State Harrisburg's AI efforts are driven by a cohesive, college-wide strategy that spans academics, operations, and community engagement, according to Callejo Pérez.

The Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Curricular Innovation is a seed funding initiative that supports both direct instruction in AI and the thoughtful integration of AI tools into courses and co-curricular experiences. Complementing this work, the AI-Enabled Operational Efficiency and Improvement initiative invites faculty and staff to apply AI to streamline workflows, improve services, and strengthen institutional effectiveness through seed funding.

Together, these efforts reflect a broader commitment to preparing students, faculty and staff to engage with AI in ways that are responsible, equitable and impactful, Callejo Pérez said.

Expanding academic programs and access

Beginning in fall 2026, the college will launch a bachelor of science degree in artificial intelligence methods and applications, an interdisciplinary program that combines technical rigor with applied, real-world learning. The college is also partnering with the College of Liberal Arts for a new bachelor of arts in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies that focuses on ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies. The college is also planning to add a bachelor of science in artificial intelligence engineering that will position the college to engage with the AI education and research community, including Penn State's Nittany AI Alliance.

AI learning opportunities also extend beyond traditional computing majors. Through focused electives, general education courses, and service courses, students in fields such as engineering, science and business are building foundational AI literacy alongside discipline-specific skills, including a new graduate certificate with the College of Medicine in healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship.

To support this growth, Penn State Harrisburg has approved a cluster hire of five tenure-track faculty positions across multiple schools, and with the Institute of Computational and Data Sciences, strengthening AI scholarship and instruction campus wide, Callejo Pérez said. This initiative builds on existing partnerships with the College of Medicine, Center for Medical Innovation and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Penn State Harrisburg also participates in national initiatives to improve student success and strengthen the computing and AI talent pipeline, including the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Higher Ed Learning Circles for Undergraduate Programs.The college also will launch an AI Immersive Lab in fall 2026. Guided by the AI Coordinating Council, the lab's mission will be to provide hands-on, interdisciplinary AI experiences that drive learning and real-world impact in alignment with the joint work with the Institute of Computational and Data Sciences,

To further support this work, Roderick Lee, associate professor of information systems in the School of Business Administration and associate professor of human-centered computing and social informatics in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, has been appointed AI Curriculum Integration Lead (AICIL) at Penn State Harrisburg, where he will lead efforts to integrate artificial intelligence across academic programs, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and align innovation with workforce needs and emerging fields like health technologies, smart systems and applied AI.

Advancing research and innovation

AI research has been a key component of the college's growing research enterprise, including more than 20 seed funding projects, applying machine learning and data science to challenges in areas such as health care, engineering and public-interest technology. Penn State Harrisburg researchers are engaged in several projects, including collaborations with faculty across the University. Some notable projects include:

• The development of AI-driven tools to improve diagnosis and prognosis prediction for Parkinson's disease, including efforts to better distinguish it from related movement disorders. 

• The establishment of a research lab focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve health care access and outcomes.

These initiatives are also increasing opportunities for students to engage in hands-on, disciplinary  research, Callejo Pérez said.

Engaging campus and community

Penn State Harrisburg is investing in faculty and staff development while expanding AI fluency through workshops, hands-on learning and partnerships with industry, community organizations and K-12 schools.

Recent and upcoming events include an AI open house, highlighting AI initiatives involving students, faculty and staff; and an AI and Teaching Summit hosted by the Center for Teaching Excellence, inviting all faculty across the University to explore ideas, policies and tools related to the integration of AI tools in courses. Faculty members can register for the summit online here. 

Continuing education programs further extend this impact, offering flexible courses and certificates in AI, machine learning and deep learning for working professionals and adult learners.

Community engagement remains central to the college's approach. Future plans include public events to foster dialogue around AI, expanded workforce development partnerships, and deeper collaboration with regional organizations such as the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania.

A vision for ethical, inclusive innovation

By fall 2026, Penn State Harrisburg aims to embed AI literacy across the student experience, integrate ethical considerations into every stage of AI development and use, and ensure equitable access to emerging technologies.

"As the college advances toward fall 2026, our goal is to leverage Penn State Harrisburg's strengths in artificial intelligence, including our faculty, staff, students and research, to drive innovation, expand access and strengthen communities across the region," said Callejo Pérez. "This vision empowers learners, advances innovation, and supports the economic and social vitality of Central Pennsylvania."