Samantha Juan, assistant professor of nursing, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Faculty Scholars Grant from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Foundation for Academic Nursing to lead the interdisciplinary research project, “Transforming Nursing Education with AI: Predicting Student Competency and Academic Success.”

Juan serves as the principal investigator for the project, joined by co-principal investigators Khalil Dajani, chair of the School of Computer Science and Engineering, and Nabeel Alzahrani, lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Engineering. Together, the team is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence to enhance student learning and success in nursing education.

The project uses AI to analyze data such as grades, participation and learning behaviors to identify students who may need additional academic support and provide personalized strategies to help them thrive. This innovative approach aims to enhance student learning, improve patient safety, and shape the future of healthcare education.

Launched in 2020, the Faculty Scholars Grant Program supports nurse educators whose scholarly work addresses pressing issues in nursing education and practice while advancing AACN’s strategic priorities. This year’s call for proposals featured two theme areas — Integrating Health Policy into the Nursing Curriculum and Using Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Education — and received a record 147 applications nationwide, including 100 AI-themed proposals, making the selection process extremely competitive.

“I’m deeply honored to collaborate with the talented faculty in the School of Computer Science, including Drs. Alzahrani and Dajani,” said Juan. “The challenges we face today, and in the future, are far too complex for any single discipline to solve alone. This grant acknowledges the transformative power of interdisciplinary collaboration, where nursing education and computer science converge to drive innovation, enhance student learning, and ultimately improve patient care.”

The $25,000 Faculty Scholars Grant will fund stipends for the research team and provide paid research opportunities for students. The project will also generate preliminary data to support future large-scale grants focused on expanding AI-driven learning models across higher education.

This national recognition highlights Juan’s leadership and CSUSB’s commitment to advancing innovation in nursing education through technology, collaboration and student-centered research.