FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis has received a 12-month planning grant of $125,000 from Lilly Endowment, Inc., through its initiative, Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education.
This Phase One planning grant will support the university’s efforts to thoughtfully explore the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence in ways that align with the Saint Francis mission. The goal of this work is to better equip and support students, staff, and faculty as Saint Francis engages emerging technologies with purpose and care. As part of this initiative, Saint Francis is also eligible to apply for an implementation grant of up to $5 million, with a submission deadline of May 2026.
The AI project leadership team at Saint Francis includes Director of Teaching and Learning and Grant Project Director Dr. Nathalie Rouamba, and Director of Grants Terri Saltzman. During this planning phase, the university will also partner with a local consulting agency to support its work.
“We are thankful to the Lilly Endowment for this grant to address one of the most important issues of our time in higher education,” Rouamba said.
Lilly Endowment announced that the aim of its new initiative is to help Indiana colleges and universities:
- Consider more fully the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) presents for their institutions and their students.
- Develop new or enhance existing strategies to improve their students’ educational opportunities and outcomes and their preparation to prosper in the workplace and life in a future that will be increasingly shaped by AI.
For more information, contact Dr. Nathalie Rouamba at nrouamba@sf.edu or 260-399-7700, ext. 6066.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Leadership and Business; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.