Center for Responsible AI Staff
Gabriella Waters - Director
Gabriella Waters is an artificial intelligence researcher committed to increasing the diversity of thought in technology. She is an advocate for interdisciplinary collaborations that advance innovation, responsibility, explainability, transparency, and ethics in AI development and application. Her research explores the intersections of human neurobiology & learning, the quantification of ethics in AI/ML systems, neuro-symbolic architectures, embodied AI, AI TEVV, and the design of intelligent systems that leverage these foundations for enhanced human-computer synergy. She is especially focused on developing technological innovations that support neurodiverse populations. She serves as the inaugural Director of the Center for Responsible AI. She also directs the Cognitive and Neurodiversity AI (CoNA) and Robotics and Digital Twin (RaDiT) Labs.
Maurice B. Jones - Associate Director of Operations
Maurice B. Jones serves as the Associate Director of Operations for Virginia State University’s (VSU) Center for Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CRAI), where he leads operational strategy, learning logistics, and program execution in support of the Center’s mission. In this role, he coordinates workflows, manages cross-functional initiatives, and ensures effective implementation of research-driven programs, workforce development projects, and community engagement activities that reflect CRAI’s commitment to responsible innovation.
Maurice brings over a decade of experience spanning federal government, higher education, and public sector leadership.
He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor teaching Freshman Studies, contributing to student success through instruction, curriculum implementation, and academic engagement. His classroom experience informs his approach to aligning CRAI’s operational and learning initiatives with university priorities and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Sylvia D. Jones - Center Administrator
Ms. Sylvia D. Jones has proudly served Virginia State University for more than 13 years, contributing her expertise across the College of Agriculture, the College of Business, and the Office of the Provost. She brings over 23 years of state service, complemented by private‑sector and non-profit experience in office management, facilities management, human resources, business administration, and employee/staff development.
A two‑time graduate of Virginia State University, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Minor in Marketing) and a Master of Arts in Economics (Project Management). She is an alumna of the Grace E. Harris HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Development Program at Virginia Commonwealth University, holds a certificate from VSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship – Minority Small Business Launch Center, appointed to the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Inclusion & Diversity Fellows program, and is a certified Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion facilitator through VCE.
Dennis G. Donaldson - Affiliate K-12 Education Liason
Dr. Dennis G. Donaldson Jr. is an Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor at Virginia State University, where he focuses on STEM education, maker-based learning, and positive youth development through Cooperative Extension and 4-H. His professional background spans research, secondary and postsecondary education, and applied Extension work. He began his career as a geologic researcher with the National Energy Technology Laboratory, contributing to federally funded research in earth systems and energy-related applications. He later served as a secondary science educator at Caesar Rodney High School, where he taught and mentored students in the classroom, and as an Adjunct Professor of Geology at the University of Delaware, supporting undergraduate instruction. These experiences collectively inform his current role, where he integrates research, teaching, and Extension to expand STEM literacy, workforce pathways, and educational access for youth and communities across Virginia.
