Morgan State HESA Doctoral Student Nacie Jones-Grigsby Advances Equity-Focused AI Research

Nacie Jones-Grigsby, a doctoral student in Morgan State University’s Higher Education and Student Affairs program, is conducting research on how educators and families understand, trust, and engage with artificial intelligence (AI). Her work is part of Morgan State’s Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) and focuses particularly on equitable engagement with AI in Black and Brown communities.

Jones-Grigsby, who also serves as a Graduate Research Assistant, is working with Dr. Afiya Fredericks, Associate Professor in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy (DASLP) and TRAILS Researcher, on the project “Supporting Equitable Engagement: Cultivating Growth Mindset Within Academic Spaces.” 

The research examines how community-based education can support people as they develop their understanding of and confidence engaging with artificial intelligence. Jones-Grigsby is particularly interested in questions of accessibility, trust, AI literacy, and growth mindset, and how these factors shape engagement with emerging technologies among communities that have historically been marginalized in technology development and decision-making.

By examining participants’ perceptions following AI-focused learning experiences, the project seeks to inform approaches to AI literacy, teacher preparation, professional development, and community engagement that are responsive to the people and communities they are intended to serve.

This work is part of a larger national effort through TRAILS, an interdisciplinary research institute focused on advancing trustworthy artificial intelligence. Funded through a $20 million award from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, TRAILS brings together researchers from Morgan State University, the University of Maryland, George Washington University, and Cornell University. TRAILS researchers examine how trust in AI is established, how AI systems can be designed more responsibly, and how communities can meaningfully participate in conversations about the development and governance of emerging technologies.

At Morgan State, Jones-Grigsby is also advised by Dr. Virginia Byrne, Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs and a TRAILS Co-Principal Investigator. Her work with Drs. Fredericks and Byrne provides an opportunity to connect her doctoral training in higher education with interdisciplinary research on AI, equity, education, and community engagement.

Jones-Grigsby’s research reflects DASLP’s commitment to centering Black students and communities, supporting equity-oriented research, and preparing graduate students to contribute to consequential questions facing education. It also illustrates how students in Morgan State’s graduate programs in education can become involved in funded research alongside faculty while developing their own scholarly interests.