CAA Academic Alliance Announces Inaugural Class Of AI Technologies Champion Network And AI Technologies Network Awardees
Elle Peterson
Richmond, VA (January 20, 2026) – The CAA Academic Alliance announces the inaugural cohort of their newly-launched
AI TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPION Network, as well as the recipients of their inaugural
AI TECHNOLOGIES Network Awards for the 2025/26 Academic Year.
In alignment with the Alliance’s recently adopted Strategic Roadmap, the CAA Academic Alliance has launched a bold leadership initiative tied to student success/holistic well-being, innovative curricula, faculty leadership development, interdisciplinary research, and operational effectiveness. As an important strategic initiative emerging from these priorities, the
AI TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPION Network signals our intent to shape the future of ethical and responsible use of AI technologies in higher education. Through this initiative, the Alliance seeks to drive collaboration, innovation, and inclusion across all thirteen campuses. By combining expertise and working together, Alliance institutions will accomplish more, and much more rapidly, than any single institution could achieve individually, driving synergistic institutional transformation, and resulting in findings that can be disseminated widely, supporting success beyond CAA higher education institutions.
As the use of AI is impacting higher education, structured and collaborative approaches are essential for implementation that is cohesive, consistent and ethical. The
AI TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPION Network initiative addresses this transformational challenge by recognizing leaders across the Alliance, building a community of AI technology champions and preparing inter-institutional teams for near-future extramural funding efforts.
Launching this novel initiative in September, 2025, the CAA Academic Alliance requested applications from the thirteen institutions comprising the Alliance. Nearly 400 applicants responded to the call, with 22 faculty/staff members successfully creating the Class of 2025/26
AI TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPION Network.
The
AI TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPION Network includes participants from Campbell University, Drexel University, Elon University, Hampton University, Hofstra University, Monmouth University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Stony Brook University, Towson University, and William & Mary.
AI TECHNOLOGIES Network Awards are announced as follows:
Daniel J. Anderson, Elon University
Dr. Yimesker Yihun, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Dr. Julian Keith, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Dr. Samita Heslin, Stony Brook University
Dr. Lei Zhang, Towson University
Additional details about the ongoing projects of the Alliance’s
AI TECHNOLOGIES Network Awardees will be shared in a future release. The CAA Academic Alliance provides leadership development and inter-institutional collaborative project opportunities for the
AI TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPION Network and AI TECHNOLOGIES Network Awardees, culminating in a scheduled in-person convening set for June, 2026.
About The CAA Academic Alliance
As a higher education academic consortium that facilitates collaboration and communication across its 13 member institutions, the CAA Academic Alliance was formed in 2002 to academically link the higher education institutions of the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association) conference. The Alliance serves a diverse audience across its member institutions: engaging faculty, staff, and students in meaningful initiatives that enrich the academic environment, advance student success, and drive innovation and best practices in higher education.
www.caa-academics.org