As a pioneer in innovative education, UMGC deftly responds to the evolving landscape of digital learning. From AI-driven tools to immersive virtual environments, the university is at the forefront of next-generation learning.
Read how UMGC’s transformation leadership and educators in business, health management, and cybersecurity are redefining their fields and preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world.
Kris McCall, Chief Transformation Officer:
At UMGC, we are strategically embedding AI across our academic ecosystem—from teaching and learning to student support, advising, operations, and workforce readiness. By integrating AI tools into instruction, administration, and student engagement, we’re reimagining how higher education can scale access, personalize learning, and accelerate outcomes.
AI is transforming nearly every industry, including health care, logistics, finance, education, and the creative arts. For today’s students, understanding and working alongside AI is essential. Employers increasingly seek professionals who can apply AI to improve workflows, enhance decision-making, and drive innovation. Students who can use AI to boost productivity, uncover insights, and adapt to evolving technologies will stand out in the job market.
The University is preparing students for an AI-driven world by combining foundational knowledge with hands-on, career-focused skills. Our students learn core concepts like machine learning and natural language processing, explore real-world applications across industries, and use generative AI creatively. We also emphasize ethical and responsible AI use, teaching students to critically evaluate and guide AI systems. This balanced approach ensures our graduates are not only AI-literate but also ready to lead in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
Liliya Roberts, Program Director, Global Health Services Management and Administration:
AI is transforming health care—from predicting patient outcomes to streamlining hospital operations and personalizing care. It's also helping health care leaders make smarter decisions through tools that support staffing, planning, and performance analysis. At UMGC, we prepare future health care leaders to work confidently with AI. Our programs in Health Services Management, Healthcare Administration, and Health Information Management and Technology teach students how to use data, understand digital health tools, and make ethical decisions around emerging technologies. Students gain hands-on experience with real-world case studies and assignments focused on the future of care. We're not training engineers—we're developing leaders who can guide the responsible use of AI to improve health care quality, fairness, and innovation. As the field moves toward precision medicine and digital transformation, UMGC graduates will be ready to lead with insight and integrity.
Calvin Nobles, Dean and Portfolio Vice President for the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology:
UMGC strategically integrates AI into its cybersecurity programs to prepare students for the evolving demands of the workforce. Recognizing that cyber threats now involve AI-powered attacks, UMGC trains students to use AI defensively to enhance their ability to detect, analyze, and respond to threats faster and more effectively. The curriculum blends AI and cybersecurity, especially in areas like Security Operations Centers (SOCs), where students learn to apply machine learning to real-time threat detection. UMGC also emphasizes the ethical use of AI, acknowledging that while adversaries can innovate without constraints, defenders must operate within legal and ethical boundaries. UMGC is actively pursuing recognition from the NSA [National Security Agency] for its AI-integrated cybersecurity program, underscoring its commitment to excellence. Students are taught that AI is not a job eliminator, but a tool that, when mastered, increases efficiency and value in the workplace. By breaking down silos between AI and cybersecurity, UMGC ensures graduates are not only technically skilled but also strategically prepared. This forward-thinking approach empowers students to lead in a digital landscape where AI is both a challenge and a critical asset.
Pam Carter, Portfolio Vice President and Dean, School of Business:
AI has been transforming industries like finance, health care, and education by powering fraud detection, optimizing operations, and even guiding autonomous vehicles. With the rise of generative AI, which creates new content from data, applications in business across most industries have multiplied exponentially. At the UMGC School of Business, we’re integrating AI into our curriculum in three key ways. First, we teach foundational AI concepts, including how it works and the ethics behind it, so students can use it responsibly. Second, each program explores how AI is applied in its specific industry, giving students relevant, career-ready skills. Third, we focus on using AI to boost personal productivity, helping students work smarter and more efficiently. Career-relevant education has always been central to our mission.
Learn more about UMGC’s Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Undergraduate Certificates in Artificial Intelligence Foundations and Machine Learning.