California State University, Bakersfield faculty excellence and regional leadership are reflected in two major grants awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program. Together, the grants will provide approximately $8 million over five years to expand innovative education and workforce pathways in artificial intelligence, agriculture and food safety.
The $3 million CATALYST grant, or Cultivating Adaptive Teaching and Learning with AI-Supported Technologies, is led by Dr. Amin Malekmohammadi, associate professor, of the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The project will strengthen STEM curricula and align workforce preparation with artificial intelligence, including industry-recognized Amazon Web Services credential pathways. The project will also advance teaching and learning through the faculty-developed Adaptive AI Learning Companion, an innovative tool designed to support student learning and engagement.
CSUB also received an expected $5 million Cooperative Arrangement Grant for Cultivating the Rural Agronomy Workforce: A Central Valley Transfer Pathway. The project is led by Dr. Aaron Hegde, professor in the Department of Economics, along with Isolde Francis, professor in the Department of Biology.
The grant will support the establishment of the region’s first Bachelor of Science in agronomy degree and two stackable, credit-bearing food safety certificates, anchored by CSUB’s soon-to-be-acquired 80-acre Shafter Research Station. In partnership with three regional community colleges, the project will establish a structured transfer pathway, expand industry partnerships and increase work-based learning opportunities. These efforts will prepare students for high-demand careers while strengthening the Central Valley’s agricultural workforce.
These awards demonstrate the vision, scholarly expertise and collaborative leadership of CSUB faculty. They also highlight the important support provided by the Office of Grants Research and Sponsored Programs (GRaSP), whose guidance helps faculty develop competitive proposals, secure external funding and advance projects that deliver significant benefits to our students and our regions.
