Jacksonville AL – As first reported by Brett Buckner with JSU’s media department, Jacksonville State University faculty members Dr. Jianping Huang, Dr. Mark Sciuchetti, and Jodi Poe have been awarded grants from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) to advance artificial intelligence research and workforce preparation in Alabama.
Dr. Huang, associate professor of marketing, and Dr. Sciuchetti, senior director of honors and associate professor of geography, received a $5,000 grant to establish the Geo AI and Marketing Academy within the Lyons Department of Management and Marketing in JSU’s College of Business and Industry. The Academy is part of ACHE’s All in Alabamainitiative, designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in areas such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, and technology.
The program brings together geography and marketing, disciplines that are rarely taught side by side but are increasingly linked in modern business practices. The initiative will embed artificial intelligence training into existing courses—GY208, MKT301, and MKT378—offering students a stackable, credit-bearing credential. Students completing the program will earn a digital badge and transcript certification in Geo AI and Marketing.
Dr. Sciuchetti emphasized the importance of aligning education with industry needs. “Our goal with this grant is to prepare students for careers by embedding AI skills into existing courses in geography and marketing,” he said. Students will gain hands-on experience with AI tools including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, ArcGIS AI, and Smart Eye-tracking software, applying them to projects that simulate challenges in Alabama industries such as logistics planning, retail site selection, and consumer behavior analysis.
Dr. Huang noted the competitive advantage this provides for students. “I really enjoy teaching students new skills in AI, GIS, and Eye Tracking, as I believe these give them an advantage that students at many other schools don’t have,” he said.
In addition, Jodi Poe, head of library services at Houston Cole Library, received a $5,000 ACHE grant to expand JSU’s Artificial Intelligence Literacy Microcredential. Originally launched as a nine-hour program in fall 2024, the credential will be broadened through partnerships with departments such as Applied Engineering, Criminal Justice, Forensic Investigation, Finance, Nursing, and Respiratory Therapy.
This expansion is scheduled for curriculum development during the 2025–2026 academic year and implementation in the 2026–2027 Undergraduate Catalog. Poe said the goal is to create discipline-specific AI electives that provide students with relevant competencies to support workforce readiness.
The Office of Sponsored Programs supported the faculty efforts. “Through sponsored programs and funded projects, we help empower students to pursue their ambitions, explore their curiosity, and transform their passions into meaningful futures,” said Patty Daigle, assistant director for the Office of Sponsored Programs.
These initiatives reflect JSU’s commitment to preparing students for careers in a rapidly evolving technological landscape while contributing to the state’s economic development.
