AI Institute positions FLC as a tech hub for our region

The AI Institute at Fort Lewis College was established in Fall 2024 as a hub for innovation, learning, and regional partnerships. Supported by philanthropy and Academic Affairs, the Institute promotes AI exploration across campus and the broader Four Corners community through student involvement, ethical innovation, and AI as a tool for real-world problem solving. 

The Institute's Elevate AI incubator program has funded nine complete faculty projects spanning innovation and equity initiatives. Free community workshops provide vital AI education for local small businesses and nonprofits. Two student employees serve as Junior AI Analysts, gaining hands-on experience helping businesses implement AI tools under faculty mentorship. 

Tom Miaskiewicz, Ph.D., inaugural Katz School of Business Endowed Professor and the director of the AI Institute, emphasizes donor impact: "None of this progress would have been possible without the support of the Katz Endowed Professorship." The funding enables AI software subscriptions, training, and rapid experimentation essential for cutting-edge work. 

The second annual AI Conference, "AI for Rural Communities," is on December 16, 2025.