The University of Kentucky's Commonwealth AI Transdisciplinary Strategy initiative, or CATS AI, is entering a new phase with a new director, a pilot research challenge and expanded learning opportunities for the campus community. At its core, CATS AI is about people - preparing students for a changing future, supporting researchers as they pursue new ideas and helping Kentucky communities benefit from responsible innovation.
New CATS AI director announced
CATS AI recently welcomed Shirley Mitchell as director. In the role, Mitchell will guide campuswide efforts to make AI practical, responsible and useful for Kentucky and its communities.
A Lexington native and University of Kentucky graduate, Mitchell brings deep experience leading digital and technology initiatives at Valvoline Global and Lexmark. She has led global teams, launched large-scale platforms and advanced early AI-driven efforts in sales, commerce and decision-making.
At Valvoline Global, Mitchell developed customer platforms and digital commerce strategies. Early in her career at Lexmark, Mitchell focused on global operations and customer experience, scaling digital systems in international markets. She also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, where she led construction and infrastructure projects in the U.S. and abroad.
In this new role at her alma mater, Mitchell will collaborate with faculty, campus leaders and external partners to connect UK's AI expertise with some of Kentucky's most complex challenges. The focus is on people first, with technology serving teaching, research, healthcare and outreach.
"This moment in time is about people, not technology, and what becomes possible when we equip them to be more, learn more and lead in new ways," Mitchell said. "At the University of Kentucky, we are approaching this moment with purpose; seeing it not as a replacement, but as a way to amplify the very best of our students, our workforce and our communities. If we lead with vision and responsibility, Kentucky can help show the country what it means to harness innovation in service of the public good - because in the end, the true measure of progress is not what we build, but who we lift."
Pilot AI Research Challenge to advance discovery
CATS AI also is launching a pilot AI Research Challenge to fund early-stage projects at the university. The challenge is designed to help teams gather preliminary results for external grant proposals or build shared resources that researchers at UK can use.
The goal is to move promising ideas closer to practical use, especially when they respond to needs in the Commonwealth. Selected projects may receive direct cost funding, access to AI tools and computing resources or a combination of resources, depending on project needs and available funding. Interdisciplinary proposals are strongly encouraged. Each project will have six months to reach proposed milestones after the award date.
Applications are due Sept. 11. Learn more about the challenge online.
Continued AI literacy training across campus
The CATS AI ALT (AI Literacy and Training) Hub, led by director Katherine Thompson, Ph.D., and associate director James Brusuelas, Ph.D., continues to expand campus learning through partnerships with Microsoft and Phygital Labs. The sessions give faculty, staff and students practical ways to understand AI and apply it in daily work. To date, more than 1,000 participants have taken part in CATS AI-supported training opportunities.
The ALT Hub also backs projects that apply AI to real-world needs, including agriculture, health, student learning and community well-being:
- Students are using deep learning models to detect tall fescue, a plant that can pose risks to horses.
- Teams are developing AI-based tools to identify gluten contamination using mobile imaging.
- Graduate students are applying machine learning models to identify patients at higher risk of missing colorectal cancer screenings.
"Our goal is to make AI accessible to everyone and demystify it in the process," Thompson said. "The ALT Hub connects faculty, staff, students and external partners with accessible learning opportunities, emerging tool trainings and AI collaborators. Through foundational and literacy trainings and immersive learning opportunities for students, the ALT Hub helps users build their toolkit of responsible and practical AI use."
What comes next?
As CATS AI grows, more people at UK will have opportunities to learn how artificial intelligence can strengthen what they do each day. Under Mitchell's leadership, the effort will connect university expertise with opportunities to serve Kentucky's workforce, economy, health systems and communities.
"AI is transforming how we learn, how we work and how we deliver care, and Kentucky is uniquely positioned to lead that change. We are expanding AI training, advancing research, healthcare and innovation to strengthen workforce readiness and fuel economic development," Mitchell said. "Through our strategy and partnerships, we are accelerating this work to deliver meaningful impact for every Kentuckian. And if we do this right, Kentucky won't just keep pace with the future - we will help define it."
