UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) will become the new home of the Nittany AI Alliance, effective Jan. 1, 2025.  

Developed as a Penn State Outreach initiative, the alliance creates programs to address real-world problems through experiential learning projects using artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions. Transitioning it to the College of IST will promote a level of synergy that will help propel the University as leader in AI.  

"This strategic move to the College of IST marks an exciting new chapter for the Nittany AI Alliance,” said Executive Director Daren Coudriet. “By combining our experiential learning programs with IST's academic expertise, we're creating a powerhouse for AI innovation at Penn State.”

The Nittany AI Alliance provides students with unique out-of-classroom learning opportunities via three programs that facilitate innovative collaboration among businesses and top talent at Penn State and across the commonwealth.  

• Nittany AI Inspire demonstrates how artificial intelligence can be applied to create solutions to some of society’s most pressing issues. Students, subject matter experts and AI companies and partners come together to explore challenges, current and emerging technologies and the ethical implications of AI’s evolving role in our world. 

• Nittany AI Challenge offers teams of students the chance to compete for funding by developing and presenting AI-based solutions that solve real-world problems. Students leverage diverse skill sets in multi-disciplinary teams to experience the true innovation that occurs when working collaboratively to harness the power of AI.  

• Nittany AI Advance provides Penn State students with hands-on experience that enhances their classroom learning through AI-related projects. Through team-based projects, students collaborate with industry and nonprofit organizations to demonstrate how AI could solve challenges and create opportunities.  

“This collaboration with IST will not only enhance our ability to prepare students for the AI-driven future but also accelerate our impact in addressing real-world challenges through artificial intelligence,” Coudriet said. “We're thrilled about the synergies this transition will create and the expanded opportunities it will offer to our students, partners and the broader Penn State community." 

Since 1999, the College of IST has taken a multidisciplinary approach to providing collaborative solutions for a rapidly evolving Information Age. With four core research areas — data sciences and artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, privacy and security and social and organizational informatics — the college prepares graduates for information and digital technology careers in fields ranging from health care and finance to homeland security and entertainment.  

“From day one, IST has demonstrated the importance of using collaboration to solve real-world problems,” said Andrea Tapia, dean of the College of IST. “Now, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, it is fitting that we join forces with the Nittany AI Alliance to explore and discover innovative ways to use AI for good.”