Vassil Roussev, professor and chair of computer science at the University of New Orleans, has been selected as part of the inaugural cohort of NSF NAIRR AI Education Fellows, a national initiative led by the Computing Research Association.

The program includes 25 fellows from institutions across 23 states and is funded by the National Science Foundation. Fellows will serve as ambassadors for artificial intelligence education, working to support faculty and expand the use of AI-focused teaching resources through the NAIRR Pilot Classroom and the NAIRR AI EDU Research Coordination Network.

Roussev will contribute to efforts to integrate AI education into undergraduate courses, including piloting and adapting classroom materials and participating in national discussions on curriculum development. The fellowship runs from March 2026 through February 2027 and includes a stipend and opportunities for collaboration with faculty across the country.

At UNO, Roussev serves as the Canizaro-Livingston Endowed Professor in Cybersecurity and director of the UNO Cyber Center. His current work focuses on AI-assisted computing education, including the development of tools that help students interact with course content in more adaptive ways.

He has led multiple projects supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense and has secured more than $10 million in external funding across approximately 35 grants. His work has also contributed to broader efforts in digital forensics and computing infrastructure, including involvement with the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative.

The fellowship is designed to support faculty leaders in advancing undergraduate AI education and building a national community focused on teaching and learning in the field.