Next-Generation Scholars and Innovators
Clark Atlanta University faculty experts guide students in applying theory to practice. Whether building AI tools, researching new materials, shaping policy, or creating art, student-faculty collaborations are at the heart of a vibrant research community dedicated to learning by doing.
CAU graduates enter the world of work as experienced researchers, problem-solvers, and creative thinkers ready to lead in their fields. Below are some recent highlights of faculty-student research projects in STEM, social sciences, and the arts.
NASA-Funded Autonomous Drone Navigation Project
A team of CAU undergraduates led by faculty mentor Dr. Roy George is advancing drone technology through a NASA-funded research challenge. In this “Assured Autonomy for Human-Assisted Drone Operation” project, students are developing robust autonomous navigation systems for unmanned aerial vehicles in challenging environments.
The student researchers, Justin Williams (team lead), Savannah Shannon, Frank Abdozie, and Mohd Ariful Haque, collaborate closely with Dr. George, gaining practical engineering experience in designing and testing drone software. This project not only earned support from NASA’s University Student Research Challenge, but it also serves as an entrepreneurial learning opportunity. The students conducted a crowdfunding campaign to match the grant, honing skills in science communication and project management.
The mentorship and teamwork involved have given CAU students a real-world engineering research experience, preparing them for graduate study and careers in aerospace technology.
Labor Policy & Advocacy Institute
The newly launched Labor Institute for Advancing Black Strategists, co-founded in 2024 by CAU’s W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Public Policy in partnership with the nonprofit Jobs With Justice, is a hub for training young leaders (including CAU students) in labor policy research and advocacy.
Under guidance from public policy faculty, student fellows in the program take courses and seminars on economic justice, engage in internships and field campaigns with labor organizations, and collaborate on research projects examining Black worker organizing in the U.S. South.
Faculty mentor, Dr. Joseph Jones, executive director of the Du Bois Center, provides one-on-one guidance as students develop policy briefs and papers on issues such as workplace equity and labor rights.
This immersive experience allows students to apply classroom knowledge to community challenges, all while benefiting from mentorship by scholars and practitioners in public policy. The institute highlights CAU’s commitment to social impact research and showcases how faculty-student collaboration can empower communities and influence public policy.
Art & Fashion Senior Exhibition
Every spring, CAU’s Art and Fashion Department produces an Art & Fashion Week and Senior Exhibition, a creative showcase that exemplifies faculty-student collaboration in the arts. Spearheaded by Professor B.J. Arnett (department chair), this week-long event is the culmination of student creative projects in visual arts, graphic design, and fashion merchandising.
Under Professor Arnett’s mentorship, students form committees to handle every aspect of the production, from marketing and PR to exhibit curation and show choreography. This process allows students to take ownership of their work in a high-profile public venue, while faculty provide guidance and industry connections.
The result is a vibrant public exhibition where student artists and designers present their work alongside faculty contributions, reflecting an inviting community of creativity. With performances, artist talks, and a capstone fashion show, the Art & Fashion Exhibition illustrates CAU’s engaged learning in the arts. Students and professors work together to turn academic projects into professional-level artistic presentations.
AI Hub @ CAU Initiative
In 2024, CAU launched AIHUB@CAU, a new artificial intelligence research and education hub in collaboration with Georgia Tech’s NSF AI4OPT institute. Supported by a $2.79 million National Science Foundation grant, this multi-year project is led by Dr. Charles Pierre of CAU’s Mathematical Sciences faculty.
The AI Hub focuses on building new undergraduate and graduate AI programs and creating research opportunities in areas such as machine learning, optimization, and data analytics. A key goal is to mentor more Black students into AI careers by offering hands-on projects and industry-partnered capstones.
Students work with CAU faculty and Georgia Tech researchers on joint AI research projects and even participate in summer internships at Georgia Tech’s labs. Through faculty-guided research experiences and new AI coursework, the initiative is cultivating the next generation of diverse AI innovators while positioning CAU as an emerging center of AI workforce readiness.
HBCU “CHIPS” Semiconductor Network
Backed by a recent $2 million award from the National Science Foundation, CAU serves as the lead institution for the HBCU CHIPS Network, which unites multiple HBCUs with government and industry partners to innovate in microelectronics.
Dr. Frances Williams (CAU’s VP of Research) heads this two-year project, coordinating faculty researchers and students across campuses. Together, the network is establishing shared lab facilities and protocols to design and fabricate an integrated microelectronic system (a collaborative chip design project).
The network emphasizes student mentorship and workforce development. Participating students gain access to semiconductor internships, hands-on training in chip fabrication, and a specialized curriculum in semiconductor technology. By leveraging the collective expertise of HBCU faculty and engaging students in cutting-edge chip research, the initiative is preparing a diverse talent pipeline for the high-tech semiconductor industry while contributing to national research goals.
