SLHRD Hosts RESS NSF Launch Event Highlighting AI and Cybersecurity Education
June 18, 2026
Baton Rouge, LA - The School of Leadership & Human Resource Development hosted the Robert Noyce Research Experiences in STEM Settings (RESS) Launch Event on May 31, 2026, bringing together grant participants, LSU & Louisiana education leaders, program faculty, and invited guests to formally begin the next phase of an innovative National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported teacher development initiative.
Led by Petra A. Robinson, PhD, the event marked the launch of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program: Research Experiences in STEM Settings (RESS), a multi-year project designed to prepare middle school STEM teachers to integrate research, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity concepts into classroom instruction. Hosted in the iconic Huey P. Long Ballroom on LSU’s campus, the evening introduced participants to the project’s goals, instructional team, and upcoming learning experiences.
A central focus of the event was the program’s emphasis on AI and cybersecurity education. Through the RESS initiative, participating teachers will engage in on-campus summer intensives, applied research experiences, and professional development activities that connect emerging technologies with practical STEM teaching strategies. The project aims to help educators bring future-focused AI and cybersecurity learning into middle school classrooms across Louisiana.
Participants represented the Zachary Community School District and East Baton Rouge Parish School System, including educators from Belfair Montessori Magnet, Coppermill Elementary, Glasgow Magnet, LSU University Lab School, Northwestern Middle, Park Forest Middle, and Woodlawn Middle School.
Several distinguished guests attended in support of the launch, including Roland Mitchell, PhD, Dean of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education; Troy Blanchard, PhD, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost; Rebecca Boniol, Esq., LSU Board of Supervisors; Ronnie Morris of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); and Ben Necaise, Superintendent of the Zachary Community School District.
The RESS NSF Launch Kick-Off Event provided participants with an opportunity to connect with fellow educators, LSU faculty, and program leadership while learning more about the structure and purpose of the program. As the project moves forward, SLHRD and its partners will support teachers as they develop new ways to introduce students to high-demand areas in AI, cybersecurity, and STEM.
About the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development
The LSU School of Leadership & Human Resource Development (SLHRD) delivers premier programs crafted to shape exceptional leaders, expert practitioners, and distinguished educators in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Development. Offering BS, MS, and PhD degrees, SLHRD equips professionals with cutting-edge skills in leadership, strategic planning, critical analysis, problem-solving, and change management—key competencies essential for driving success in today’s dynamic global landscape.
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