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Season 10 of FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. Paired With New Season of Local History Series LOST LA On New PBS SoCal 2024 Schedule

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Sixth Season of Regional Historical Documentary Series Features A Look at Local Fast Food, Tiki Culture, Cemeteries, Historic Filipinotown and More With Special Encore January 3 on KCET

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — PBS SoCal and KCET, Southern California’s flagship PBS stations, announced today the 2024 return of the locally produced, historical documentary series LOST LA, a co-production with the University of Southern California Libraries, part of their longstanding commitment to building public engagement with regional history collections. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host for the sixth season of LOST LA with untold histories behind tiki culture, fast food, Historic Filipinotown, hiking, tuberculosis and cemeteries. LOST LA joins the previously announced award-winning, acclaimed series FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR to complete a night of historical exploration. Celebrated scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will helm the 10th anniversary season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS, which will trace the ancestral histories of the series’ first-ever, non-celebrity participants in addition to 18 new celebrity guests. The new season of LOST LA is scheduled on PBS SoCal beginning Tues., Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. PT, leading into 10, all-new episodes of FINDING YOUR ROOTS at 8 p.m. PT. A special encore of LOST LA will also be broadcast on Wed., Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. PT on KCET in Southern California. After the broadcast, each episode of LOST LA and FINDING YOUR ROOTS will be available to stream on their companion websites above and on the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal and KCET will get early access to stream all six episodes on PBS Passport starting Jan. 2.

The half-hour series LOST LA explores the region’s hidden past through documents, photos and other rare artifacts from California libraries and archives. Since its premiere in January of 2016, the series has continued to challenge the assumption that Los Angeles is a city without a history. Instead, LOST LA offers a history of Southern California that is not often told, or has been forgotten, bringing primary sources of Los Angeles history to the screen and connecting them to the Los Angeles of today.

Ten new episodes of FINDING YOUR ROOTS will debut in the new season that in addition to exploring the family mysteries of three members of the viewing public after a nationwide casting call, will solve family mysteries of well-known guests including actors Valerie Bertinelli (“One Day at a Time”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), LeVar Burton (“Star Trek”), Michael Douglas (“Wall Street”), Lena Dunham (“Girls”), Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”), Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Ed O’Neill (“Modern Family”), Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Anthony Ramos (“In the Heights”), Wes Studi (“The Last of the Mohicans”), Jesse Williams (“Grey’s Anatomy”); comedian Iliza Shlesinger; musicians Ciara, Sammy Hagar, Alanis Morissette and Dionne Warwick; and journalist Sunny Hostin.

The new episodes of LOST LA will be telecast as follows (subject to change):

“Fast Food and Car Culture” – Tues., Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. on KCET
From McDonald’s to Taco Bell, many of the world’s most iconic fast-food chains were born in SoCal including Bob’s Big Boy, In-N-Out Burger and Del Taco. This episode explores how car culture and the restaurant industry collided in the LA region, forever shaping the way Americans dine and drive. Featured interviews include: LA Times’ Gustavo Arrellano and Stacy Perman, LA Magazine’s Chris Nichols and author/chef George Geary.

“Historic Filipinotown” – Tues., Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Filipino Americans fight to make their heritage more visible in Los Angeles. This episode explores the Yo-Yo’s surprising origin story, tours Historic Filipinotown in a Jeepny and tastes classic Filipino street foods. Featured interviews include: activist/librarian Florante Ibanez and the hosts of “This Filipino Life” podcast.

“Hiking Trailblazers” – Tues., Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Meet the people who led Angelenos onto their local trails, including early wellness guru Paul Bragg. In this episode, Nathan explores the origins of LA hiking, from the Indigenous people who first walked the land to activists like Walk Good’s Etienne Maurice who blaze new paths over familiar terrain. Featured interviews include: Modern Hiker’s Casey Schreiner.

“Eternal City: Los Angeles Cemeteries” – Tues., Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Visit Forest Lawn, Evergreen and Hollywood Forever to see how LA reinvented the cemetery. In this episode, Nathan and UCLA’s Eric Avila visit the gravesites of the rich and famous while learning how racial segregation once divided the dead. Featured interviews include: The Chinese Historical Society’s Eugene Moy and film historian Karie Bible.

“Tuberculosis, the Forgotten Plague” – Tues., Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Archives reveal the “forgotten plague” that shaped Southern California. In this episode, Nathan explores how California’s fresh air and cheap land drew consumptives to local sanatoriums as well as the stark reality of life as a tuberculosis patient. Featured interviews include: USC’s William Deverell, LA Times’ Patt Morrison and infectious disease specialist Dr. Brenda Jones.

Tiki Bars and Their Hollywood Origins” – Tues., Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal / Wed., Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Nathan explores some of the oldest Tiki bars in Southern California. In this episode, discover the Hollywood origins of Don the Beachcomber and learn how postwar American pop culture appropriated the rich traditions of the South Pacific. Featured interviews include: Tiki Ti’s Mike Buhen, Tiki Scholar Sven Kirsten and Strong Water’s Ying Chang and Robert Adamson.

Digital efforts will build upon the stories told in each of this season’s episodes, highlighting never-before-seen, newly digitized historic images and focusing on the unique access to archives that is at the core of LOST LA. Audiences will also have the opportunity to share their own stories, as well as interact with show creators including host Nathan Masters during a live chat/Q&A on YouTube during the premiere of “Fast Food and Car Culture” on Tues., Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. PT.

In conjunction with the new Lost LA season, PBS SoCal will be making episodes from this and past seasons of the series available on the Events Resource Library on pbssocal.org. With a range of original local content, this free digital hub equips organizations to host community screenings. Offering customizable invites, downloadable episodes and engaging post-screening content, the Events Resource Library fosters local storytelling, dialogue and connections.

LOST LA is supported by The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture and Creative Recovery LA and other generous institutional funders.

For more information about LOST LA and to watch episodes online, visit pbssocal.org/LostLA

Follow on social at @pbssocal and @kcet.

About PBS SOCAL and KCET
PBS SoCal and KCET are both part of the donor-supported community institution, the Public Media Group of Southern California. PBS SoCal is the flagship PBS station for diverse people across California and delivers content and experiences that inspire, inform and educate. PBS SoCal offers the full slate of beloved PBS programs including MASTERPIECE, NOVA, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, and a broad library of documentary films with works from Ken Burns; as well as educational content including PBS KIDS programs like DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and CURIOUS GEORGE. KCET showcases the best of PBS and is a leading source for arts, culture, and news in Southern California. Through innovative storytelling, KCET explores and expresses our dynamic local communities helping residents understand and connect with the region’s diverse communities and ideas. For additional information about both KCET and PBS SoCal productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org and pbssocal.org. Locally produced original content and PBS programs are available to stream on the FREE PBS App, which is available on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO SmartCast TV. PBS SoCal is available to livestream on the PBS App, YouTube TV, Direct TV now, Hulu TV Live and Local Now. KCET is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.

About USC LIBRARIES
The USC Libraries actively support the discovery, creation, and preservation of knowledge at the University of Southern California and beyond. The libraries serve as host institution for L.A. as Subject, an association of more than 267 libraries, cultural institutions, official archives, and private collectors dedicated to preserving and telling the sometimes-hidden histories of the Los Angeles region. Southern California history is among the USC Libraries’ prominent collections and programming strengths, and Lost LA is an emblem of USC’s connection and commitment to Los Angeles as a Pacific Rim megacity.

About McGee Media
McGee Media was founded by award-winning filmmaker Dyllan McGee to produce documentary content that is innovative, compelling, and immersive. Every story is born from a vision of a fairer and more equitable world. Whether it is the sweeping history of the African-American experience, or the intimate personal stories of the hundreds of women who made up the feminist movement, McGee Media uses television, film, and digital media in radical new ways to inform and inspire. Recent projects include Emmy nominated FREDERICK DOUGLASS: IN FIVE SPEECHES (HBO), NOT DONE: WOMEN REMAKING AMERICA (PBS), THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG (PBS), and BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE (PBS) as well as MAKING BLACK AMERICA, RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR (PBS), AFRICA’S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS (PBS), MAKERS (PBS), FINDING YOUR ROOTS (PBS), ONCE & FOR ALL (AOL), FIRST IN HUMAN (Discovery), and RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN (Discovery).

About Inkwell Media
Inkwell Media was founded by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to produce sophisticated documentary films about the African and African-American experience for a broad audience. The six-part PBS documentary series THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS (2013) earned the 2013 Peabody Award and NAACP Image Award. Inkwell has co-produced FREDERICK DOUGLASS: IN FIVE SPEECHES (2022), FINDING YOUR ROOTS, Seasons 1-9 (2012-2023), MAKING BLACK AMERICA (2022), THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG (2021), RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR (2019), AFRICA’S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS (2017), BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE (2016), BLACK IN LATIN AMERICA (2011), FACES OF AMERICA (2010), LOOKING FOR LINCOLN (2009), AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 (2008), OPRAH‘S ROOTS (2007) and AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES (2006).

About Kunhardt Films
Kunhardt Films specializes in documentary films about the people and ideas that shape American history. Most recently completed is the 4 part Apple TV+ documentary series, LINCOLN’S DILEMMA. Previous documentaries include the 3-part HBO series, OBAMA: IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION and feature documentary, A CHOICE OF WEAPONS: INSPIRED BY GORDON PARKS. Past productions include Emmy and Peabody award winning, TRUE JUSTICE: BRYAN STEVENSON’S FIGHT FOR EQUALITY (HBO, 2019); JOHN MCCAIN: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS (HBO, 2018); KING IN THE WILDERNESS (HBO, 2018); THE NEWSPAPERMAN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BEN BRADLEE (HBO, 2017); BECOMING WARREN BUFFETT (HBO, 2017); JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY (HBO, 2016). Other films include LIVING WITH LINCOLN (HBO, 2015); NIXON BY NIXON: IN HIS OWN WORDS (HBO, 2014); FINDING YOUR ROOTS (PBS); MAKERS: WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA (PBS); THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS; (PBS); and GLORIA: IN HER OWN WORDS (HBO, 2011). Kunhardt Films was founded in 1987 as Kunhardt Productions. It is run by Peter Kunhardt and his two sons Teddy and George in Pleasantville, New York.

About WETA
WETA is the leading public broadcaster in the nation’s capital, serving Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia with educational initiatives and with high-quality programming on television, radio and digital platforms. WETA Washington, D.C., is the second-largest producing station for public television in the United States, with news and public affairs programs including PBS NEWSHOUR and WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC; documentaries by Ken Burns and Florentine Films, such as THE AMERICAN BUFFALO and THE U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST; series and documentaries by Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., including GOSPEL and MAKING BLACK AMERICA: THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE; performance specials including IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE and THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG; and health content from Well Beings, a multiplatform campaign. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at http://www.weta.org. Visit http://www.facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook or follow @WETAtvfm on Twitter.

About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 42 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 15 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, and 56 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th‥grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on‥pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet,‥Facebook, Instagram, or through‥our‥apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at‥pbs.org/pressroom‥or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.

PRESS CONTACT:
FindingYourRoots@id-pr.com

Media Contact
Allison Gray, PBS SoCal, 747.201.5298, agray@pmgsocal.org, pbssocal.org/LostLA

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SOURCE PBS SoCal

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Ellucian Announces 2026 Impact Award Winners, Honoring Institutions Leading with Data, SaaS, and Student-First Innovation

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Key Highlights:

Ellucian recognized four institutions for innovative use of the company’s technology solutions to improve student outcomes and operational efficiency.Award winners demonstrated measurable impact through SaaS transformation, data-driven decision-making, and student-first digital experiences.Each winning institution will receive $25,000 USD to support continued innovation and student success initiatives.

RESTON, Va., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, announced the winners of its eighth annual Impact Award at Ellucian Live, the industry’s premier technology conference. The annual Ellucian Impact Award Program celebrates visionary higher education institutions that are inspiring others to push the boundaries of technology and innovation. These institutions demonstrate the impactful use of Ellucian’s AI-powered platform and solutions to transform the student experience and institutional performance.

Recognizing Innovation that Transforms Higher Education

“Higher education is being redefined in real time, and this year’s Impact Award winners exemplify what it means to lead through change,” said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. “These institutions are harnessing the full power of Ellucian’s AI-driven, SaaS-native solutions to break down barriers, unlock insights, and create more connected, student-centered experiences. Their work demonstrates how innovation, when grounded in purpose, can drive meaningful outcomes for students, faculty, staff, and communities worldwide.”

2026 Ellucian Impact Award-winning institutions will each receive a $25,000 USD award recognizing achievements across four categories, including Students First, Unlocking the Power of Data, Shaping the Future through SaaS, and Institutional Agility.

The 2026 Ellucian Impact Award Winners are:

Shaping the Future through SaaS

St. John’s University – Queens, N.Y.

St. John’s University earned recognition for its bold, institution-wide SaaS transformation through Project Genesis, modernizing core systems across student, finance, and HR on Ellucian’s SaaS-native platform. The university retired nearly 800 customizations, reduced support requests by 20%, and enabled faculty and staff to save 30–40% of their time through streamlined processes. Critical services are now significantly faster, with financial aid processing reduced from multiple days to one day and grade changes completed in about an hour instead of a full day. With 99.99% uptime and a more agile operating model, St. John’s is accelerating innovation while strengthening the experience for students, faculty, and staff.

Students First

Florida Polytechnic University – Lakeland, Fla.

Florida Polytechnic University was recognized for transforming the student experience with Ellucian solutions delivering a unified, student-first digital campus. The central workspace, MyFloridaPoly, is a single hub consolidating academic, administrative, and campus life resources. Streamlining access to essential tools and services reduced login barriers by 85%, increased mobile usage by 70%, and helped students save up to two hours per week. At the same time, the university retired more than 100 customizations and reduced infrastructure and licensing costs by 40%, creating a modern, scalable environment built around student success and continuous innovation.

Unlocking the Power of Data

Rend Lake College – Ina, Ill.

Rend Lake College earned recognition for using Ellucian Student powered by Colleague to transform a manual, paper-based state reporting process — collecting required student career and demographic data — into a fully automated, data-driven workflow. The institution expanded its data collection reach by 45%, increasing from 1,290 to more than 1,870 students, while boosting response rates by over 13%. Automation eliminated approximately two weeks of manual data entry, improving accuracy and freeing staff to focus on higher-value, student-centered support. The initiative also delivered measurable financial impact and supported a 5% enrollment growth, demonstrating how targeted data innovation can drive both operational efficiency and institutional outcomes.

Institutional Agility

American University of Beirut – Beirut, Lebanon

The American University of Beirut was recognized for its exceptional institutional agility, leveraging Ellucian solutions to sustain operations and expand global reach amid ongoing national crises. Through the launch of AUB Online and modernization of its digital ecosystem, the university increased its program portfolio to more than 30 offerings and generated $6 million in tuition revenue, with continued growth projected. At the same time, AUB unified access to services through Ellucian’s central workspace capability, simplifying the digital environment by 83% and increasing user adoption from 45% to 90%. Operational efficiency improved significantly, with 80% fewer support tickets, 20% faster registration processes, and a 40% reduction in IT costs — positioning the university to deliver resilient, scalable education to learners worldwide.

To learn more about Ellucian solutions, visit: https://www.ellucian.com/

WHAT IS ELLUCIAN
Ellucian powers innovation for higher education, partnering with approximately 3,000 customers across 50 countries, serving more than 21 million students. Ellucian’s AI-powered platform, trained on the richest dataset available in higher education, drives efficiency, personalized experiences, and strengthened engagement for all students, faculty and staff. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, including data-rich tools for student recruitment, enrolment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian’s innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners and user community of more than 45,000 provides best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes.

Media Contacts
Greg Giangrande, Chief Marketing Officer
Greg.Giangrande@Ellucian.com

Jess Weston, Manager, Communications
Jess.Weston@Ellucian.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ellucian-announces-2026-impact-award-winners-honoring-institutions-leading-with-data-saas-and-student-first-innovation-302749336.html

SOURCE Ellucian

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Bahamas Grid Company Appoints Two New Board Directors

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NASSAU, The Bahamas, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) today announced the appointment of Nikolai Sawyer and Debra Symonette to its Board of Directors, effective April 20, 2026.

These appointments follow the company’s recent transition to a fully independent, Bahamian-led operating model, including the conclusion of Island Grid Solutions’ management role and the appointment of new executive leadership.

Mr. Sawyer is a senior financial attorney with over 20 years of experience across corporate law, banking, and financial services. He brings deep expertise in regulatory strategy, risk management, and corporate governance. 

Ms. Symonette is President and Director of Super Value Food Stores Limited and a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of financial leadership experience. She has held senior roles in accounting, audit, and corporate governance, and currently serves as a Director of Commonwealth Bank. 

“With these appointments, BGC continues to strengthen its governance as we move forward as a fully Bahamian-led organization,” said Anthony Ferguson, Chairman of BGC. “Nikolai and Debra bring extensive legal, financial, and operational experience that will support the company’s long-term performance and accountability.”

“This is an important step in BGC’s continued evolution,” said Dareo McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer. “I look forward to working with the Board to drive long-term performance and reliability across the system.”

The company’s Board of Directors now comprises Anthony Ferguson (Chairman), Nikolai Sawyer, and Debra Symonette.

About Bahamas Grid Company
Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) is a utility company in New Providence responsible for upgrading, maintaining, and operating the island’s transmission and distribution infrastructure, with the goal of delivering reliable, resilient, and sustainable power to all residents and businesses. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bahamas-grid-company-appoints-two-new-board-directors-302750713.html

SOURCE Bahamas Grid Company

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Auburn’s College of Education embraces an AI-powered future to advance its mission

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AUBURN, Ala., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into daily life, Auburn University’s College of Education is sharpening its focus on this powerful tool and exploring how it can strengthen the preparation of future educators and healthcare workers.

Throughout the College of Education (and featured in the recent release of the college’s Keystone Magazine), artificial intelligence is being thoughtfully integrated across its four academic units, reflecting both the breadth of the college and a shared commitment to ethical, human-centered practice. Auburn College of Education Dean Jeffrey Fairbrother shared his perspective on how artificial intelligence aligns with the college’s vision for the future.

“In the College of Education, we’re committed to opening doors and improving lives, and artificial intelligence is an important door to opportunity,” he said. “I am proud of our faculty who are embracing AI to expand access, enhance learning and empower educators, always guided by ethics and integrity. By opening these doors today, we’re building a better future for all, far into the future.”

In the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, faculty are focused on teacher preparation and continuously improving methods of learning. Paul Fitchett, head of C&T, oversees several faculty members leading AI-focused initiatives, including some who are developing a course on the applied use of AI in the workplace that will come with industry credentialing.

“We are exploring AI through a number of different, applied facets,” Fitchett said. “Some individuals are leveraging AI to expand research capabilities while others are engaging AI to support teaching and learning, improving the educational experience for instructors and students alike.”

In Agricultural Education, Leadership and Communications, AI is treated as both a research tool and an object of study, with faculty developing a new AI course and even patent-pending technologies that support agriculture, Extension work and global food systems, always emphasizing the “expert in the loop” and transparency over blind automation. In Elementary Education, future teachers learn to use AI as a collaborative planning and efficiency tool, refining outputs through pedagogical expertise and deep knowledge of learners.

Margaret Flores, interim head of the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling, emphasized the importance of research regarding how AI will impact these professions. SERC faculty members are working to integrate AI into their classrooms to inform their students about future uses in their careers.

In Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, faculty are embedding AI directly into applied coursework, training students to critically evaluate AI-generated vocational data, labor market information and assessment recommendations while grounding decisions in professional judgment and ethics. In the School Counseling Program, students are prepared to navigate AI’s possibilities and limits through ethics-focused coursework and national research, reinforcing that empathy, nuance and confidentiality remain irreplaceable.

Meanwhile, the Education to Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences for Success (EAGLES) Program is leveraging AI as an equalizer for students with intellectual disabilities, using federally funded digital literacy and AI modules to promote independence, self-advocacy and access.

“AI can enhance the services or instruction that we provide, reduce administrative tasks and increase efficiency in research,” Flores said. “We must ensure that researchers are shaping how AI is changing our fields.”

In the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology, faculty are working with AI in multiple ways. Through basic and applied research, faculty are addressing early childhood vocabulary learning and mathematics learning, and learning how AI can help with research workflow, STEM learning and even the development of education policy.

Several faculty members are also incorporating AI into their classrooms, including the use of an AU tutor to support independent learning and AI-explicit language in teaching materials such as syllabi.

EFLT Department Head Hank Murrah said that his unit’s approach is about embracing the changes that come with AI while also working to shape how it will affect the future of education.

“We view AI as both a transformative research tool and a catalyst for innovation in teaching and learning,” Murrah said. “Our faculty are developing AI-driven interventions for STEM education, leveraging AI to streamline research workflows and exploring ethical frameworks for its use in classrooms. These efforts position us to prepare graduates who are not only AI-literate but capable of shaping evidence-based policy and practice. We believe AI will redefine how educators design learning experiences and how researchers generate insights—making education more adaptive, fair and impactful.”

Matt Miller serves as the director of the School of Kinesiology, whose faculty members are exploring how AI can help with conducting research and processing data to find ways to improve a person’s health. Within the School of Kinesiology, AI is being introduced in coursework related to exercise prescription and programming, helping students analyze data, tailor training plans and think critically about how emerging technologies can support safe, individualized, evidence-based practice.

“School of Kinesiology faculty members conduct research that yields large and complex datasets involving measures related to human movement, including but not limited to their physical activity throughout the day, brain activity during exercise, joint angles while walking or throwing a ball and protein expression after exercise training,” Miller said. “AI helps faculty members make sense of these measures to translate research findings into practical knowledge that can be used to enhance health and performance.”

Additionally, in the School of Kinesiology, the Sensorimotor and Rehabilitation (SMART) Neuroscience Lab studies the neuroscience of human movement using virtual and augmented reality simulations. And now, a new member of the lab has joined the team to help understand things like balance and walking: Circuit, the robotic “dog” who comes complete with artificial intelligence built in. Circuit is what’s called a quadruped robot (“robot dog”), and he’s used to explore new ways of supporting older adults’ safety at home.

Led by Director of Physical Therapy Harsimran Baweja, the SMART Neuroscience Lab is using Circuit to study whether robot dogs equipped with artificial intelligence and advanced sensors can reliably track human movement during everyday activities.

While there are many uses for AI, College of Education faculty members are also acutely aware that the human touch is an essential part of their work. The overall goal is to use AI to enhance the service provided to another human being, whether they are a student or a patient.

“Whatever their approach, integrity and professional ethics remain the driving force for our use of generative Artificial Intelligence,” Fitchett said. “Maintaining these principles is essential as we navigate an ever-changing landscape.”

Together, these efforts highlight a college-wide approach to AI that spans disciplines and populations, using emerging technologies not as replacements for human expertise, but as tools to expand opportunity, insight and impact.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/auburns-college-of-education-embraces-an-ai-powered-future-to-advance-its-mission-302750731.html

SOURCE Auburn University College of Education

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