Virginia State University Awarded $1.03 Million To Establish Center For AI And Cybersecurity

The new center will focus on helping society better understand and manage the risks of AI while preparing students for an AI-driven world.

Virginia State University welcomed Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan for a campus visit on Tuesday, May 5, to present $1.03 million in federal funding to establish a new Center for Generative AI and Industrial Cybersecurity.

The Center will focus on better understanding and managing the risks of AI, including the spread of misinformation, copyright concerns, bias in technology, and how AI may affect jobs.

“Thank you to Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan for her support and leadership in securing this community project funding award,” said Dr. Dawit Haile, Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology. “This investment will support the infrastructure needed to establish a Center for Generative AI and Industrial Cybersecurity, a forward-looking initiative that will position VSU at the intersection of two critical and rapidly evolving fields.”

“It is always a pleasure to be back home at Virginia State University,” said Congresswoman McClellan, a Petersburg native. “Just like any tool, AI can be used for good, but it can also be used for bad. This Center is to ensure that all of the policies, legal, and ethical frameworks that have governed human interactions also govern AI, and that human beings control AI, not the other way around.”

The Center will give students and faculty access to advanced AI tools and powerful computing systems, enabling them to build and test their own AI models using high-speed computers designed for complex tasks.

Research at the Center will explore ways AI can help protect critical systems, such as those used in manufacturing and infrastructure, by detecting unusual activity and preventing cyberattacks before they cause harm.

To do this, the Center will use a combination of technologies: some that process data locally for faster response times, and others that rely on large, centralized computing systems for more intensive tasks. Together, this setup will support a wide range of research, teaching, and real-world applications in both AI and cybersecurity.

With this investment, Virginia State University continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of innovation, preparing students to lead in rapidly evolving fields while addressing real-world challenges. The Center for Generative AI and Industrial Cybersecurity will serve as a hub for collaboration, discovery, and workforce development, ensuring graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

During her visit, Congresswoman McClellan also connected with local businesses at the University’s Small Business Vendor Fair, held in recognition of Small Business Appreciation Month.