Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture Expands STEM Pathways with

Artificial Intelligence Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture Expands STEM Pathways with Transformative Summer AI and Robotics Programs CEA faculty, staff, and students leveraged hands-on learning, research-based instruction, and industry partnerships to inspire the next generation of innovators. The Howard University College of.

The first program, the Robotics and Automation Outreach Program (RAOP), prepares grades 5-12 educators to bring robotics and automation into their classrooms. The second program, our annual Drone Academy, which saw its third year this summer, introduces local high school students to drone technology.

What Happened

CEA faculty, staff, and students leveraged hands-on learning, research-based instruction, and industry partnerships to inspire the next generation of innovators. Together, RAOP and the Drone Academy exemplify CEA’s mission to create meaningful pathways into AI, robotics, engineering and technology while expanding access.

• Supported by a $500,000 National Science Foundation award through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, the five-year initiative addresses a growing national need to equip STEM educators with innovative instructional strategies and practical research.

• Our public relations team can connect you with faculty experts and answer questions about Howard University news and events.

• As the CEA continues to invest in outreach, experiential learning, and community partnerships, programs like RAOP and Drone Academy are helping shape a future with responsible and practical AI and robotics programmers, instructors and.

Key Details

Led by Fadel Lashhab, Ph.D., a faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, RAOP is a part of Howard University's NSF-funded Research Experiences in STEM Settings (RESS) initiative. The program provides authentic research experiences and classroom-ready professional development.

• Together, these initiatives demonstrate Howard's commitment to developing a diverse, technologically skilled workforce and ensuring that students and educators alike have access to transformative STEM learning experiences.

• RAOP equips educators with the tools and confidence to bring robotics and automation into classrooms, while Drone Academy inspires high school students to explore careers in engineering, aviation, robotics, and computing.

• Although designed for different audiences, both programs share a common goal: expanding opportunities in STEM and creating pathways for future innovators.

Why It Matters

The project focuses on educators from underrepresented school districts throughout the Washington metropolitan area, helping them bring cutting-edge STEM concepts directly into their classrooms. Each summer, RAOP will select eight pre-service and in-service STEM educators to participate in an intensive three-week program.

• The experience culminated in live mission flights at Howard's Beltsville Campus, where participants successfully executed autonomous flight paths that showcased their newly acquired coding and piloting skills.

• By the end of the week, students had progressed from assembling to programming drones.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by The Dig at Howard University as more details emerge