Lighting the Way in AI: Students, Rowen, and Emory Unite for Real-World Innovation
This summer, the AI.Xperience program, hosted by Emory’s Center for AI Learning and the Rowen Foundation, brought together brilliant student minds and bold ideas to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges using artificial intelligence. On August 6, 2025, students from Emory University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Morehouse School of Medicine gathered to share innovative, AI-powered solutions aimed at advancing housing equity, improving healthcare governance, promoting civic transparency, locating data centers and more.
🤝 Rowen Foundation: Connecting the Dots Between Talent, Tools, and Purpose
At the center of this program is the Rowen Foundation, whose mission includes linking bright minds to challenging problems— while using the best tools. More than just a 2,000 acre innovation community, Rowen is a living, breathing ecosystem that fosters connection, inclusion, and purposeful discovery.
By hosting and co-developing this initiative with Emory University, Rowen served as a convenor—a vital connector of students, faculty, industry experts, and civic leaders who believe collaboration is key to real progress.
🔬 Collaboration in Action
The Showcase was more than the culmination of a summer of work. It was:
- A launchpad for real-world problem-solving — Students worked with data and experts from real organizations like Invest Atlanta and the Winship Cancer Institute.
- An interdisciplinary training ground — Bringing together technologists, business students, environmental scientists, and public health scholars.
- A community-wide catalyst — Strengthening ties between Atlanta’s educational institutions, civic infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems.
Last Thursday, the showcase, which served as a living lab, offered an opportunity for the student teams to present their work and collaborate with industry insiders, academic experts and others.
🎥 Seen on Atlanta News First and Peachtree TV
The significance of the showcase reached far beyond the event itself. Coverage from Atlanta News First and Peachtree TV brought the spotlight to these student-led innovations:
The segments highlighted how students applied AI to local and global issues—and how this kind of experiential learning is critical for preparing the next generation of ethical, effective innovators.
🚀 The Future Starts Here
The success of this year’s AI.Xperience Showcase affirms a growing truth: when education, industry, and civic partners come together, students thrive—and society benefits.
Stay tuned to rowenlife.com and ailearning.emory.edu for highlight videos, student stories, and what’s next for this dynamic collaboration.
Announcements
Rowen Foundation Announces Leadership Transition
The Rowen Foundation today announced that President and CEO Mason Ailstock will step down after accepting a new opportunity. The Rowen Board of Directors is conducting a national search for Rowen's next president and CEO with the Board anticipating new leadership later this fall.
Blog
Why Companies Are Choosing Georgia’s Largest Biotech Park
While Boston and San Francisco have long dominated the life sciences conversation, the Southeast is writing a new chapter, and Georgia is leading it. With 2,000 acres of preserved land for state-of-the-art facilities, labs, and collaboration spaces, Rowen is a compelling destination for biopharma and biotech industry investments that value collaborative learning, knowledge sharing, and transformative thinking.
Newsletters
Rowen Stakeholder Newsletter: June 24, 2026
Over the past three months, we’ve seen meaningful progress at Rowen—not just on site, but across the broader community. Our recent State of Rowen event was a defining moment, offering an opportunity to reflect on that shared progress and officially welcoming UCB to Gwinnett County following its $2 billion investment announcement.