The weeklong program from July 20-24 brought rising sixth through eighth graders to campus for an immersive exploration of artificial intelligence and computer science.

Led by Assistant Professor Alexis Goslen in the Department of Computer Science at 乱伦视频 the program offered local youth a hands-on introduction to the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

“Students are coming into contact with AI a lot more than ever before, so understanding it is becoming essential,” Goslen said. “They already have really interesting, profound perspectives on how they use these tools. Our goal was to get them to understand the vocabulary of AI, beyond just generative models like ChatGPT, so they can walk away as informed, critical users of the technology they interact with every day.”

Structured around core AI principles, daily lessons broke down complex computer science concepts into interactive, high-energy challenges. Students explored robotic perception through a “robot relay” to learn how autonomous systems sense and navigate physical environments in real time, while a hands-on candy-sorting exercise modeled machine learning and neural network decision-making.

Interactive discussions guided campers through AI ethics and data privacy, focusing on algorithmic fairness and responsible technology use, before they put their newfound knowledge into practice by designing and coding their own digital game projects throughout the week.

For middle schoolers like Cooper Ryan of Oakridge Middle School, the camp offered a deeper look at the digital footprint people leave behind every day.

“When I heard about the AI Play Camp, I thought it was pretty cool and wanted to check it out,” Ryan shared. “The more I learned about it, the more it surprised me. I never knew how AI tracks your data and how much it actually knows about you.”

The message hit home for campers like Julian Taylor, a rising seventh grader at Charlotte Country Day School, who walked away with a clearer picture of how artificial intelligence operates.

“I’ve always been intrigued by AI and how it works, so I knew I wanted to do this camp,” Taylor said. “I liked learning about how AI computes everything and that it doesn’t think like a human. I used to think it could just get whatever it wanted from the web, but now I know it can only do what it’s been taught and trained to do.”

For university leaders, hosting the middle schoolers was an opportunity to highlight the rapid innovation and responsibility that comes with emerging tools.

Kenitra Horsley, chief operating officer at Queens, shared her personal trajectory in technology with the campers, tracing her path from U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to serving as chief information officer at Queens, and ultimately into her executive role as chief operating officer.

“When I was in school, there were no smartphones, no AI, and no ChatGPT,” Horsley told the students. “My journey into tech started in high school just like yours is starting today, by being curious, trying something new, and exploring different areas of technology to see how it works.”

Horsley emphasized that university administrators and professors are working alongside students to navigate the rapid evolution of tools like artificial intelligence.

“Even in higher education today, we are actively navigating how to use AI. The goal isn’t to suppress it or ban it, but to leverage it smartly,” Horsley noted. “AI can handle research and process data far faster than we can on our own, but the real key for students is using it as a tool while continuing to build their own critical thinking skills.”

The camp also featured interactive sessions led by 乱伦视频 alumni currently working in Charlotte鈥檚 growing technology sector.

, a recent graduate and founder and CEO of , led a workshop where middle schoolers built interactive AI agents from scratch.

“Instead of just talking about AI, the campers built it,” Mason said, noting that students created over 70 working AI agents in a single day, ranging from custom game avatars to interactive rap battles. “My biggest hope is that they leave believing they can build with it, not just use it.鈥�

Joining Mason was fellow 乱伦视频 alumnus Luke Freudenthal ’23, a computer science graduate currently working as an AI-first operations engineer at Charlotte-based software firm Bluefields Specialty, an insurance technology company. Freudenthal led a session centered on pattern recognition, helping campers understand the distinct capabilities of human intuition versus machine logic.

“Pattern recognition is core to developing strong problem-solving skills,” Freudenthal said. “I broke down the differences between our strengths as human beings and how artificial intelligence works differently.鈥�

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence formed a central theme of the camp’s discussions. Unlike previous technological shifts, the current wave of generative AI and automated decision-making is accelerating at an unprecedented rate.

“Historically, technology moves gradually, but AI is growing on a rapid ‘hockey stick’ curve unlike anything we鈥檝e seen before,” Horsley shared with the young campers. “While it鈥檚 hard to imagine exactly where it will be in 10 years, I believe it will make things better, especially in fields like medical research. With the right checks and balances in place, the possibilities for positive impact are enormous.”

“Technology is an enabler. It helps us improve, grow, and see things faster, but it should ultimately be used for the greater good. My hope for this next generation is that they ask challenging questions, stay curious, and find new, creative ways to leverage these tools to solve real-world problems.”

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the modern world, Goslen said, initiatives like AI Play help bridge the gap between abstract computer science concepts and everyday life.

“It’s really exciting to see young people develop that vocabulary and confidence,” she said. “They get to learn about these concepts here, take those conversations home to their families, and carry that understanding forward into whatever they do next.”

The program paired undergraduate students with faculty members to support AI-related projects across the school. Student fellows helped develop and deliver workshops, interview faculty and build materials for future courses and boot camps.

Sakura Kawakami 鈥�26 worked with Scott Oakes, assistant teaching professor of management, and fellow students Julia Amodeo 鈥�26 and Katie Geraghty 鈥�26 on workshops for Gateway classes.

The team visited eight classes and reached approximately 240 students through 20-minute sessions with hands-on exercises. The workshops introduced students to Gemini Pro, available through 乱伦视频, and focused on practical skills such as improving prompts through iteration and added context.

鈥淭he primary goal was to establish a baseline of AI fluency among Gateway students, who are primarily first-year business students,鈥� Oakes said. 鈥淲e also wanted to test whether a short, bootcamp-style training session could effectively introduce students to practical AI skills within a classroom setting.鈥�

Faculty established the project鈥檚 overall objectives before the students joined. Kawakami, Amodeo and Geraghty then helped develop classroom activities, learning objectives, presentation materials, pre- and post-session surveys, and the rollout plan. The students also led the workshops and helped analyze the resulting data.

鈥淢y role as an AI Fellow was to act as a bridge between students and faculty, advising students on how to use AI to enhance their learning, not replace it,鈥� said Kawakami, a Business Analytics and Project Management major from Rotorua, New Zealand. 鈥淭he goal was to make sure students felt confident using these tools in ways that supported them.鈥�

One focus was helping students understand that effective use of AI often requires refining a prompt rather than accepting the first response.

鈥淥ne of our biggest teaching points was the importance of iteration when prompting AI,鈥� Kawakami said. 鈥淏y refining and tailoring your prompts to your own needs, you get far more accurate and useful responses.鈥�

Oakes said the student fellows strengthened the project by bringing their own experiences with AI into the classroom.

鈥淧eer-to-peer learning is incredibly powerful,鈥� he said. 鈥淔irst-year students often feel more comfortable asking questions and exploring new technologies when they see successful upper-level students demonstrating how they actually use those tools.鈥�

Another team worked with Kem Zhang, associate professor of business analytics, on projects designed to support more advanced AI use in business courses.

Thomas Case 鈥�26, a supply chain management and business analytics major from Atlanta, G.A. and Oliver Lorraine 鈥�27, a project management and business analytics major from Red Bank, N.J. gathered input from faculty and developed materials for future workshops. One project focused on Associate Professor David Jiang鈥檚, Bring the Venture to Life entrepreneurship course, where students develop and launch venture ideas.

Based on the needs identified for the course, the team created materials for an 鈥淎I-powered entrepreneurship鈥� workshop covering topics such as prompting for code, e-commerce, payment integration and deployment.

Case led the workshop design and drafted presentation materials. Lorraine documented the development process and built reusable coding templates for future workshops and boot camps.

鈥淭he transition from AI users to AI builders or AI architects is an important distinction because knowing how to use a tool generally is much different than knowing how to use a tool to innovate,鈥� said Case.

Lorraine also created Google Colab notebooks with coding templates for future use.

Zhang said the goal is to help students move beyond basic familiarity with AI tools.

鈥淔or business students, knowing how to use an AI tool is expected,鈥� Zhang said. 鈥淭he real advantage comes when they understand how these tools can be used in problem solving and to create concrete, AI-based solutions.鈥�

Several projects from the spring semester are expected to continue during the 2026-27 academic year, including the entrepreneurship workshop, an AI Boot Camp for incoming students and additional work on AI integration.

The spring 2026 AI Student Fellows were Brandon Boudreau 鈥�27, Thomas Case 鈥�26, Oliver Lorraine 鈥�27, Dylan Stone 鈥�28, Julia Amodeo 鈥�26, Sakura Kawakami 鈥�26, Lindsay Balick 鈥�27, Katie Geraghty 鈥�26, Katrina Papierman 鈥�26 and Tristan D鈥橝damo 鈥�28.

乱伦视频 Professor of BIology Dave Gammon recently attended the of the in Cincinnati, Ohio. He presented research he began while working in the summer of 2025 with a SURE student, Virginia Campbell 鈥�26.

The research project Gammon presented at ABS centers on the evolution of vocal mimicry in the taxonomic family that includes the , , and the . He specifically compared the mimicry of these three species and found that mockingbirds mimic five times as much as the other two species. Counterintuitively, he also found that the diversity of mimicry is similar between the three species.

One of his most intriguing findings is that each mimic species puts its own ‘vocal stamp’ on the sounds of the species they imitate. For example, even though normally repeat their syllable phrases four or five times, catbirds don’t repeat wren phrases at all, thrashers repeat them just twice, and mockingbirds repeat them three or more times. These numerical differences match acoustic differences already found in the nonmimetic sounds of these three mimic species, suggesting that copying models perfectly is less important than following species-specific rules for how to sing.

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• The Month in Photos: June 2026
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• The Month in Photos: April 2026

While many students are away for the summer, July remained a busy month at 乱伦视频. Student researchers shared the results of projects driven by curiosity and purpose, high school students experienced campus through summer programs and the university continued to welcome visitors for camps and community events. Take a look back at some of the month鈥檚 highlights through the eyes of the staff in University Communications.

乱伦视频 Engage

The Engage program at 乱伦视频 provides an opportunity for incoming students to spend a week on campus before their first semester, learning more about the university and volunteering in the local community. It is聽one of 乱伦视频鈥檚聽First-Year Summer Experience (FSE)聽programs, which聽gives incoming 乱伦视频 students a preview of the university during the summer before their first semester

Adventures in Leadership

Another FSE program, Adventures in Leadership, allows incoming first-year students to explore the outdoors across North Carolina.

A combined College Coffee

乱伦视频 faculty and staff visited Queens University for a day of collaborative learning, professional development and Queens’ first-ever College Coffee event fostering connection and community between both institutions.

Research together

More than 50 乱伦视频 and Queens University of Charlotte students came together for the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations on July 23 in Schar Hall.

The largest Odyssey

乱伦视频鈥檚聽Odyssey Program welcomed its largest cohort in history during Odyssey Week, a collection of events that introduces the students to the scholarship program and college life.

Phoenix Summer

乱伦视频 hosted its inaugural Phoenix Summer residential camp this month for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in preparing for the transition to college.

Twenty-six students participated in Phoenix Summer, held July 6-17 on 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus, where they immersed themselves in hands-on, college-style academics while fostering curiosity, community and independence.

Off-the-Court

Seven incoming first-year students explored careers in the sport industry this summer through the Off-the-Court First Year Summer Experience, an immersive program designed to help students discover where they fit in the business of sport before declaring a major.

Led by sport management faculty members Cara Lucia and Khirey Walker, participants toured 乱伦视频 Athletics facilities, connected with alumni in Charlotte, toured Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, and visited organizations such as the Carolina Core Elite Training Center and the Burlington Sock Puppets, gaining firsthand insight into the many career paths within the sport industry.

A recent graduate of Queens University of Charlotte has been elected to serve as a youth trustee for 乱伦视频, bringing to the role his record of student leadership on campus with a commitment to service across the community.

will serve a three-year term as聽Youth Trustee, joining Elizabeth 鈥淟iz鈥� Kwon L鈥�23 and Rafi Dahdal 鈥�24 G鈥�24聽in youth leadership roles for the university鈥檚 governing body.

The Board of Trustees聽has ultimate corporate and fiduciary responsibility for 乱伦视频. It oversees 乱伦视频鈥檚 long-term health and strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations, and overall advancement of the university鈥檚 mission.

As a Presidential Fellow in the Office of the President at Queens, Omari supported executive leadership through institutional research, governance analysis for the Board of Trustees, strategic benchmarking of peer institutions, coordinated executive-level events, and board communications.

Omari, who described his youth trustee appointment as 鈥渢ruly an honor,鈥� also served as senior class president, a four-term international representative in the Student Government Association, president of the iBelong Mentoring Program and co-president of the Health Equity Alliance.

Additional leadership roles include service on the Student Alumni Council, the Data Analytics Student Association executive board and as an admissions ambassador. In recognition of his achievements, , the most prestigious undergraduate award bestowed at Queens.

Originally from Accra, Ghana, Omari came to Queens as an international student and Presidential Scholar. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in data analytics and minors in finance and mathematics. He begins work in September as an artificial intelligence and data associate consultant at Ernst & Young in New York City.

With experience spanning data, artificial intelligence, institutional governance and student leadership, Omari said he looks forward to joining the 乱伦视频 Board of Trustees as a youth trustee and contributing his recent student perspective informed by academic achievement, public service and cross-campus leadership.

鈥淢y role as a youth trustee presents an opportunity to help shape a historic moment for both institutions,鈥� Omari said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to contribute a recent student perspective to conversations about how the traditions of both institutions might be honored while creating a stronger future together.鈥�

About 乱伦视频

乱伦视频 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At 乱伦视频, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 80 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. 乱伦视频 is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

乱伦视频鈥檚 academic divisions include 乱伦视频 College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2025, 乱伦视频 and Queens University of Charlotte announced plans to merge, pending final approval from SACSCOC and the U.S. Department of Education by 2028.

, the annual conference, brings together researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, advocates, and individuals with Tourette syndrome and their families. This diverse and interdisciplinary audience provides a unique opportunity to share research directly with those most affected by it while also informing the work of clinicians, educators, and others who support people with Tourette syndrome.

The presentation, Beyond “Only 10%”: Coprolalia, Stigma, and (Not) Being the Stereotype,聽presented with psychologist Michael Himle (University of Utah), examined how stereotypes about coprolalia (the involuntary utterance of socially inappropriate words or phrases) shape the ways people with Tourette syndrome understand, discuss, and experience their condition. The session also invited attendees to reflect on how the language used by individuals, professionals and organizations can either reinforce or challenge stigma surrounding coprolalia and other highly stigmatized tics.

The presentation, Making Disclosure Work for You: Lessons from Social Science, presented with health communication specialist M.J. Dunne (Oregon Health & Science University), drew on Zito’s research alongside findings from across the social sciences to examine how people with both invisible and more readily apparent neurological conditions navigate decisions about disclosing their diagnoses. The session explored evidence-based strategies for informal disclosure in everyday interactions with strangers, coworkers, family members, friends, and others.

Rivera-Serrano, Hutchinson and Roberts represented 乱伦视频 at the 45th annual meeting of the , held July 27鈥�30 at the University of Minnesota鈥揟win Cities.

Rivera-Serrano received a Teacher of Undergraduates Travel Award, while Hutchinson and Roberts each received Undergraduate Travel Awards. The awards supported their participation in the national meeting, where all three presented posters highlighting research conducted in the Rivera-Serrano Lab.

Rivera-Serrano presented 鈥淒evelopment of Laboratory Modules in Virology Suitable for the Undergraduate Classroom.鈥� The project focuses on developing accessible laboratory activities that allow undergraduate students to investigate fundamental concepts in virology, including viral infection, replication and interactions with host cells. The modules are designed particularly for institutions where opportunities to incorporate experimental virology into the undergraduate curriculum may be limited.

Hutchinson presented 鈥淩eovirus Reassortants Reveal Context-Dependent Oncolytic Phenotypes Across Epithelial Cancer Cell Lines.鈥� His poster highlighted findings from a recently published study examining how genetically diverse reoviruses infect and kill different epithelial cancer cell models. The work demonstrated that the anticancer properties of individual reovirus strains can vary depending on the type of cancer cell being studied, emphasizing the importance of both viral genetics and cellular context when identifying potential cancer-targeting viruses.

Roberts presented 鈥淭argeting Immune Pathways to Enhance the Oncolytic Potential of Reovirus Against Fibrosarcoma Cells.鈥� His research explores whether disrupting antiviral immune pathways within fibrosarcoma cells can improve the ability of reovirus to infect and kill the cancer cells. Roberts recently completed 乱伦视频鈥檚 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience under Rivera-Serrano鈥檚 mentorship and will continue his research during his senior year. Roberts鈥� project has received support from the North Carolina Academy of Sciences, North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) and 乱伦视频鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Program. His recent聽NCICU Undergraduate Research Award application received the highest rating among the 2026 award recipients in recognition of the project鈥檚 scientific merit, feasibility and broader significance.

Participation in the ASV meeting provided Hutchinson and Roberts with opportunities to communicate their research to virologists from across the United States and abroad, receive feedback from experts in the field and learn about current advances in virology. The experience also reflects the Rivera-Serrano Lab鈥檚 commitment to involving undergraduate students in collaborative biomedical research and supporting their development as independent scientists.

乱伦视频 Assistant Teaching Professor of Economics Devon Hawkins was featured in a recent examining how tariffs are beginning to affect the cost of vehicle repairs for businesses and consumers across the Piedmont Triad.

The story highlights how local auto repair shops are seeing price increases on imported parts, with many warning that those higher costs are likely to be passed on to customers.

“You’re going to see the American people (consumers) taking the brunt of most of that increase in cost with tariffs,” said Hawkins. “We may not see the full impact on consumers. It may take six to 18 months.”

Three 乱伦视频 Los Angeles area alumnae attended the world premiere of their grant-funded films at the sold-out inaugural 乱伦视频 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

Julie Boyd 鈥�15, Bex Evans 鈥�16 and Mirai 鈥�07 were recipients of $3,000 each through the 2025-26 乱伦视频 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition last fall.

Grant recipients were selected through a review and ranking process by a selection committee comprised of industry leaders, including several 乱伦视频 alumni. The selection committee was co-chaired by Jordan Roman 鈥�15.

Production of the three short films 鈥� Boyd鈥檚 鈥淭he Life and Times of,鈥� Evans鈥檚 鈥淪hadow Dusk鈥� and Mirai鈥檚 鈥�#StopAsianKate鈥� 鈥� took place in the spring and included opportunities for spring 2026 乱伦视频 Los Angeles students to participate in and observe the production process.

In addition to the screenings of the three films, the festival included a panel discussion with 乱伦视频 alumni Lindsey Emerson, vice president of streaming, global strategy & operations at Paramount Skydance and Alex Stevenson, account lead at Creative Artists Agency. They each offered perspective and advice to both current students and alumni about creating job opportunities and career growth in a shifting industry landscape.

A meet-and–connect reception on one of the studio鈥檚 back lot streets followed the festival screening program.

Unique alumni engagement opportunities for 乱伦视频 Los Angeles students are at the core of the 乱伦视频 Los Angeles experience. Based in the heart of historic Hollywood, applications are now being accepted for students to participate in the spring 2027 and National Campus Programs Los Angeles experience that also features specific LA-focused academic courses, site-based internships and community service.

Pinkley, who will compete on Queens鈥� cross country and track and field teams, has an impressive lineup of accolades, including being named a Texas Student Hero, an honor awarded by the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to just 15 students across the entire state in recognition of their outstanding volunteer service. Big Spring Independent School District Superintendent Jay McWilliams nominated Pinkley for her outstanding academic accomplishments, extraordinary leadership and dedication to community service.

This year, 165 students across Texas were nominated for the award, with only one recipient chosen from each of the state’s 15 SBOE districts.

鈥淏ergan stands out among her peers in every way. As class salutatorian and a four-year regional athlete in cross country and track, she is the true definition of a student-athlete,” McWilliams said. “She radiates positive energy, brings an incredible work ethic, and has the ability to connect with anyone. Bergan will be an exceptional teammate and a phenomenal asset to the Queens community.”

Pinkley鈥檚 passion for service came to life during her junior year at Big Spring High School, when she launched an initiative creating personalized, handcrafted cards for local nursing home residents. Each card took up to 30 minutes to make, featuring unique artwork and encouraging messages. The program grew so successful that local volunteers plan to keep it running after Pinkley moves to Charlotte.

“I realized how lonely it can be for nursing home residents and how some of them don’t get many visitors,” Pinkley shared. “Each card was handcrafted with a personal note inside telling them that they still matter and haven’t been forgotten. Seeing their faces light up was an incredible award in itself.”

Her urge to make others feel seen stems from a deeply personal place. Before discovering her passion for running, Pinkley was inspired by her late brother-in-law, Eric Stinson. A passionate runner who battled Ewing sarcoma before passing away in 2019, Stinson left a lasting mark on both Pinkley鈥檚 family and her community.

“He was the embodiment of sunshine,” Pinkley said. “Watching him run showed me how hard something can be, but how much joy you can find in it. Joining cross country and track was my way of connecting with him. He鈥檚 been with me at all my hard practices and meets. And I know he鈥檒l be with me as I start this next chapter at Queens.”

As she prepares for the move to Charlotte from her hometown of Big Spring, Texas, Pinkley is eager to embrace campus life, explore new academic interests, and live out the university鈥檚 motto, 鈥淣ot to be served, but to serve.鈥�

“I鈥檓 excited to expand my horizons in a bigger city and find new ways to give back,鈥� said Pinkley, who plans to study psychology. 鈥淲hether that鈥檚 volunteering at local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or animal rescues, I鈥檓 just excited for all of it.”