Rowan appoints AI expert to drive strategic adoption

Building on its commitment to provide an education that equips students with the skills to tackle both today’s and tomorrow’s challenges, Rowan University is embracing the transformative power of artificial intelligence in teaching, research and operations. From embedding generative AI into online applications to spearheading groundbreaking AI research, the future of technology is happening at Rowan now.

To help the institution further shape and implement its AI strategy, Rowan has appointed Nidhal C. Bouaynaya, Ph.D., an established artificial intelligence and machine learning expert, as its inaugural associate vice president for artificial intelligence. 

Bouaynaya, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Machine & Artificial Intelligence Virtual Reality Center (MAVRC) at Rowan University, will focus on fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical AI adoption to enhance education, research, operations and community impact.

Bouaynaya’s appointment represents a significant investment in leveraging AI to drive Rowan University's strategic growth. As one of the fastest-growing public research institutions in the country, Rowan University is poised to shape the future of artificial intelligence inside—and outside—the classroom.

“Rowan University is embracing AI in all facets of our institution. AI is here to stay. You can either embrace it or ignore it. We choose to embrace it, and we’re integrating AI into education, training and medical research to drive innovation and opportunity,” said President Ali A. Houshmand.

Bouaynaya will play a key role among other university leaders in guiding the institution through this period of rapid change, reporting directly to the senior vice presidents for the Divisions of Information Resources & Technology and Academic Affairs, who said: “At Rowan University, we are deeply committed to harnessing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence to enrich the academic experience. By integrating AI into our curriculum and research, we empower students with the tools to thrive in an increasingly digital world, ensuring they are not only prepared for the future, but are driving it forward.”

Bouaynaya is the co-founder of MRIMath, LLC, an FDA-approved startup specializing in artificial intelligence for precision medicine, and the founder of Deep AI Solutions, LLC, an IBM protégé startup. She works with government agencies, industry, and startups, including the Federal Aviation Administration to improve the safety of unmanned aircraft systems, Lockheed Martin on trustworthy AI, and IBIS Corp. on automating the de-identification of medical data.