Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we learn, work and solve problems. The University of Baltimore is meeting that moment head-on.
In its first year, the Center for AI Learning and Community-Engaged Innovation (CAILI) has moved quickly from vision to action, building programs that reach every corner of campus and extend into the heart of Baltimore. Launched under the leadership of founding director Dr. Jessica A. Stansbury, CAILI's mission is to cultivate AI-literate and community-engaged leaders who apply artificial intelligence to solve real-world challenges with equity, ethics and impact at the core. Rather than treating AI as an abstract technology, CAILI grounds its work in real urban challenges, because the most meaningful AI solutions are developed with communities, not simply for them.
That commitment began with access. One of CAILI's first major initiatives was securing a campus-wide partnership with BoodleBox, giving all UBalt students, faculty and staff free, unlimited access to enterprise-grade AI tools through a single, secure, education-focused platform. Students now have access to leading AI models alongside tools for research assistance, writing support and collaborative projects. With that foundation in place, AI literacy has become part of the education happening at UBalt today.
Ensuring faculty could engage with those tools confidently and creatively was equally important. This spring, CAILI launched its AI Navigator Fellows program, bringing together a cohort of UBalt faculty to serve as departmental thought leaders and hands-on experimenters in their own classrooms. Fellows guided colleagues in exploring how AI can be integrated ethically and effectively into teaching, tested tools in their own courses, and developed original Signature Projects documenting their findings. The program culminates in the AI Navigators Showcase on May 6.
Now in its third year, CAILI's AI Summit has grown into one of the region's most important convenings at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, and community innovation. This year's Summit on June 4 brings together leaders from education, government, technology, and infrastructure to address critical questions about Baltimore's AI readiness and long-term competitiveness. The day will feature cross-sector dialogue on what it takes to position Baltimore as a leading AI city, and collaborative design sprints to create pathways forward.
CAILI's first year has been about more than launching programs. It's been about building something durable: a campus that takes AI seriously, a faculty that engages with it thoughtfully, and a city that's ready to lead. That work is now reaching beyond Baltimore. This May, UBalt will bring its AI story to the AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C., and showcase what it looks like when a university commits fully to preparing students, faculty, and communities for an AI-driven world.
Learn more about CAILI by visiting our web page on the UBalt website or following CAILI on LinkedIn.
This blog post was developed with the assistance of BoodleBox (Model: Claude 4.6 Sonnet) before publishing on May 6, 2026. The AI was used for brainstorming, structural feedback and editorial refinement. The final text was written, reviewed and edited by CAILI staff to ensure brand alignment and accuracy.