Human-Centered AI for Education, Research, and Regional Impact
The Dendritic Institute for Human-Centered AI & Data Science is FGCU's hub for responsible artificial intelligence, data science, education, applied research, and regional innovation. As an academic sub-brand of the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering and located at the Emergent Technologies Institute, Dendritic connects students, faculty, staff, industry, government, nonprofits, and community partners to help people and organizations understand, evaluate, and use AI responsibly, critically, and productively.
What We Do
Dendritic advances human-centered AI through three connected branches.
AI Education
Prepares students, faculty, staff, professionals, and community members to understand and use AI responsibly, through workshops, trainings, webinars, micro-credentials, summer academies, and faculty development.
AI Excellence Hub
Helps organizations adopt AI responsibly and effectively through readiness assessments, strategy workshops, upskilling, applied projects, industry forums, and innovation partnerships.
AI Research Builder
Strengthens FGCU's capacity for AI and data science research through interdisciplinary collaboration, student research, grant development, publications, and applied prototypes.
Dendritic Impact
1,485
AI Summer Academy Registration
457
Industry Forums Registrations
14
AI Tutors developed
35
Micro-Credential Badges Issued
A Closer Look
| Impact Area | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Signature Events | 6 Industry Forums, 5 Research Seminars & Webinars, and 2 Annual AI Summer Academies |
| 2026 FGCU AI Summer Academy | 31 sessions across 18 program days; 316 unique participants, 26 expert instructors; 872 registrations, 544 total attendees; 106 certificates issued, 31 micro-credential badges across 5 pathways |
| Research Funding | 3 grants actively running |
| AI Awareness and Readiness Survey | 212 respondents to the survey, witha notable 91%/33%/22-point gap finding on AI awareness vs. readiness |
| New AI Micro-Credential Badges | 7 new micro-credential badges created in partnership with Innovative Education and Partnerships |
| National Recognition | Microsoft Techspark - only Florida awardee among 12 nationwide |
| AI Tutors | 14 AI Tutors developed for the Whitaker College of Engineering Learning Hub |
| Faculty Professional Development | 10 faculty members participating in the development of FGCU's Teaching with AI Framework |
Current Strategic Initiatives
AI-Aware to AI-Enabled University
Supporting FGCU's transition to responsible AI-enabled teaching, learning, research, productivity, and student success.
A Framework for Teaching with AI
Helping people think with AI responsibly and critically through assignment redesign, assessment innovation, and AI literacy.
AI Tutors and Student Success
Personalized academic assistants aligned with gateway courses and human-supported learning.
Regional AI Innovation
Responsible AI adoption, workforce development, and applied research across Southwest Florida.
Dendritic : A Human-Centered AI and Data Science Institute
Fort Myers, FL 33913
(239) 590-1362
dendritic@fgcu.edu
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
