The Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) Executive Director Dr. Derrick Cogburn will lead a workshop in American University’s upcoming “Faculty Institute on Artificial Intelligence in Teaching & Research,” taking place on May 19, 2025. Hosted by the Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning (CTRL), the one-day event will bring together faculty across disciplines to examine the opportunities and challenges posed by generative AI in higher education.

Dr. Cogburn, a CTRL AI Faculty Fellow and professor in both the School of International Service and the Kogod School of Business, will lead an interactive session titled “Using RAG-AI Applications for Research.” His workshop introduces faculty to Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG-AI) tools—AI systems that allow users to customize large language model outputs by grounding them in trusted source material. These tools help reduce misinformation and improve the accuracy of AI-supported research and writing.

Participants will explore user-friendly tools such as NotebookLM, AI Studio, and LearnLM. Dr. Cogburn’s session aligns with IDPP’s mission to ensure emerging technologies are inclusive, transparent, and accessible to all.

To view the workshops, click here.