Stephanie Moore and Victor Law from the College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences (CULLS) have been named fellows of Microsoft’s inaugural AI Economy Institute. The fellowship acknowledges their work in artificial intelligence research and their efforts to promote innovation, skill development, and adoption in the field.
Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute aims to foster collaboration among industry leaders, policymakers, and higher education institutions to advance AI innovation. As part of this initiative, Moore and Law will participate in discussions, share ideas, and help shape the future direction of AI in both academic and industrial settings.
The fellowship comes with $80,000 in funding for their project titled “Creating Inter-disciplinary Educational Pathways for AI Leadership.” The project seeks to develop an “AI for All” course using open resources and a separate course on “AI in Work and Learning,” which will focus on how AI is used within organizations. The broader objectives include increasing AI literacy, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and integrating ethical decision-making into artificial intelligence systems development. Their research will document course design knowledge, establish strategies for teaching AI literacy, and examine methods for embedding ethics into the curriculum.
A design-based research approach will be used to create these courses. In related efforts at the University of New Mexico (UNM), a 15-credit graduate certificate program is being developed in responsive and resilient AIS engineering. This program includes research on autonomy in artificial intelligence systems (AIS), core coursework on ethics in AIS, and collaborative projects with external partners. While initially aimed at students from computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and systems engineering backgrounds, there are plans to expand it to other disciplines.
Mark Emmons, dean of CULLS at UNM said: “Congratulations to Dr. Stephanie Moore and Dr. Victor Law on being named fellows of Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute. I have seen firsthand their expertise in AI and workplace learning, and I know it will guide their work. The courses that they will develop on AI for All and AI in Work and Learning will broaden access to AI education and prepare students to navigate its impact in the workplace.”
Moore serves as an associate professor within the Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences program at UNM. She is also a Barbara Bush Foundation / Dollar General Foundation Fellow with research interests spanning technology use among adult readers; digital literacies; online learning design; ethics surrounding technology use; as well as consulting globally through U.S Department of State programs.
Law is a professor who previously directed the Organization Information & Learning Sciences Program at UNM. He holds a Ph.D. from University of Oklahoma specializing in instructional psychology & technology—with research focused on areas such as artificial intelligence applications within education environments.
Through this fellowship opportunity provided by Microsoft’s new institute initiative—Moore & Law join others working toward defining higher education’s role regarding responsible development/adoption practices surrounding artificial intelligence technologies.
