Pennsylvania Western University is extending its commitment to the future of learning and workforce preparation by launching the PennWest Center for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies.  

The Center, set to open in Spring 2025, will serve as a dynamic hub preparing students, employees, and community partners for the responsible adoption and innovative use of AI and emerging technologies.  

“As a next-generation public university, we are excited to launch the Center as an accessible and impactful resource for our students and the region,” said Dr. James Fisher, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. 

The center will help faculty navigate the transformative impact of AI and emerging technologies on education by providing tools, knowledge, and training to integrate AI effectively into their teaching. It will foster an inclusive environment where students can become proficient, adaptable, and career-ready users of AI in a rapidly evolving world. 

Additionally, the center will facilitate meaningful dialogue and thought leadership to address the economic, ethical, cultural, educational, political, and legal challenges AI poses. Collaboration with community partners — including schools, nonprofits, governments, and industry — will help meet the challenges and opportunities of an AI-driven future. 

Dr. Camille Dempsey, Associate Professor of Education, will serve as the center’s inaugural director. Dempsey, a nationally known expert and consultant in AI and education technology, is a Faculty Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence through the International Society of Technology in Education (ITSE) and an EDSAFE AI Alliance Catalyst Fellow. She also serves as a Google Women Ambassador, a Google AI Mastermind for Women, and a Google Educator Group leader. 

“AI is transforming the way we live and work,” said Dempsey. “PennWest has a strong cluster of AI-related talent, and the center will leverage that talent to benefit our community of educators and community stakeholders.” 

For more information about the PennWest Center for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, visit https://www.pennwest.edu/institutes/ai.php.