Morgan State DASLP Faculty Receive TRAILS Awards for Trustworthy AI Projects in Education

The Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy (DASLP) at Morgan State University is proud to share that three faculty members, Dr. Krishna Bista, Dr. Virginia Byrne, and Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, recently received TRAILS Broader Impact Awards to lead summer projects focused on trustworthy artificial intelligence in education. Two additional Morgan State School of Education and Urban Studies faculty members in teacher education, Dr. Martha James and Dr. Valerie Riggs, also received awards, highlighting the university’s growing leadership in AI literacy, ethical AI, and equity-focused educational innovation.

The TRAILS Broader Impact Awards, announced on March 11, 2026, support seed projects of up to $25,000 that expand access, participation, and understanding of trustworthy AI. According to TRAILS, the program is designed to help diverse communities engage with and shape the future of artificial intelligence through grassroots initiatives that connect academia, industry, and local communities.

Among the funded Morgan State projects, Professor Dr. Krishna Bista will lead “AI Learning Labs: Cross-Sector Seminars & Participatory Design Tools for Community Colleges.” His project will offer a three-week online seminar series featuring TRAILS researchers and external experts, engaging community college and higher education leaders in applied learning and participatory design focused on responsible AI adoption. The project will also create a curated repository of tools to guide ethical, context-sensitive AI implementation across diverse campuses.

Associate Professor Dr. Virginia Byrne, in collaboration with University of Maryland faculty member Sarah McGrew, will co-lead “AI Literacy Codesign Workshops with Social Studies Teachers.” The project will bring together middle and high school educators to develop lessons that help students critically evaluate AI-generated text and media, align AI literacy concepts with existing curricular standards, and pilot classroom-ready materials.

Associate Professor Dr. Elizabeth Morgan will lead “AI for IA: Artificial Intelligence for Inclusion and Access.” Her project will work with families of children receiving special education services in California and Maryland, helping them learn how AI tools can support advocacy related to IEPs and 504 plans. The initiative will also produce a public AI for Family Advocacy Toolkit.

These awards reflect DASLP’s commitment to equity-oriented teaching, research, leadership, and service. They also create new opportunities for Morgan State faculty and students to shape how trustworthy AI is understood and, when appropriate and ethical, used in schools, colleges, and communities. 

Learn more about the TRAILS Broader Impacts awards here:

https://www.trails.umd.edu/news/trails-announces-11-broader-impact-awards-to-cultivate-next-generation-of-trustworthy-ai-leaders