Moravian University Opens AI Innovation Lab to Train Students in Ethical AI

Led by Jenifer Norton, the new lab empowers students from any major to build practical AI tools for real problems with local business and nonprofit partners.

BETHLEHEM, PA—Moravian University announced the official launch of its AI Innovation Lab, a hands-on physical and collaborative space where students from any academic discipline can test ideas, learn emerging technologies, and build practical AI tools to address real-world challenges.

The launch fulfills a central recommendation of Moravian’s Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, whose four-phase roadmap to establish Moravian as a national model for ethical AI integration was approved by the Board of Trustees in April 2026.

“We have been saying for years an education at Moravian prepares students for careers that don’t even exist yet,” said Bryon Grigsby, president of Moravian University. “Establishing the AI Innovation Lab under Dr. Norton’s leadership ensures we meet that obligation in the age of artificial intelligence, equipping every Moravian student with the ethical AI skills required to pursue those careers in the future.”

The AI Innovation Lab is led by Jenifer Norton, who was recently appointed as Moravian’s inaugural executive director of emerging technologies. Norton brings industry expertise and faculty leadership to the role. In addition to overseeing the lab, Norton works in partnership with Sandra Guzman Foster, dean of the Center for Teaching & Learning Innovation, to guide faculty and staff across the university in integrating AI into their academic and administrative work.

“At Moravian, our goal is not just to use AI well, it’s to use AI for good,” said Norton.  Whether a student comes in with a complex project or just curiosity about what AI can do, the lab gives them the mentorship and technical foundation to turn real problems into working tools.”

How the AI Innovation Lab Works:

• No Prerequisites Required: The lab is open to students across all majors regardless of coding experience or technical background.
  
• Real-World Impact: Projects originate from students, faculty, university departments, Bethlehem nonprofits, and Lehigh Valley businesses. Examples range from nursing students building clinical workflow tools to education majors creating interactive digital resources for World Heritage historical sites.
  
• Ethics at the Core: Every project follows a structured, six-step problem-solving process that evaluates data privacy, potential risks, and accountability from day one.
  
• Direct Career Advantage: Students leave the lab with completed portfolio projects, direct experience working with real community partners, and practical skills that enhance career readiness.

Local organizations, businesses, and regional nonprofits interested in proposing real-world problem challenges for student lab teams can submit inquiries directly to Jenifer Norton at [email protected]. 

To learn more about the AI Innovation Lab and Moravian’s emerging technology initiatives visit moravian.edu/provost/ai-innovation-lab.

Media Contact

Michael Corr
Moravian University
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 610.861.1365

About Moravian University
Moravian University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is the nation’s sixth-oldest university and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. For more than 280 years, the university has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. Moravian University is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NACU), a national consortium of private comprehensive colleges and universities working together to graduate extraordinary professionals for a global workforce and society. 

In 2024, Moravian University became part of a World Heritage designation when Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem, Gracehill (Northern Ireland, UK), and Herrnhut (Saxony, Germany) joined Christiansfeld (Denmark) as a single World Heritage Site—Moravian Church Settlements. Moravian is just the second university in the United States to be part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation and only the eighth university in the world to have this recognition.

Visit moravian.edu to learn more about how Moravian University prepares its students for lifelong success.