National Center for Secure AI Education

Program Overview

The Fall 2026 AI & Quantum Computing Cohort is a 12-week, university-based innovation competition organized by the National Center for Secure AI Education and Edventure Partners.

Student teams will represent participating universities and compete to design, build, test, and present working solutions that apply artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and responsible technology practices to real business and public-sector challenges.

Participants may earn a SecureAI Certification: Policy, Governance, or Technical.

For more information, contact Willie Lee, Executive Director & Chief Architect, on LinkedIn.

University Teams

Each university team may pursue a different project based on its academic strengths, faculty leadership, student interests, and industry partnerships.

Alabama State University

2 members

Dinona Tsegay
Computer Science
Alabama State University
Nahom Tesfay
Computer Science
Alabama State University

Clemson University

4 members

Marcus Wilson
Financial Management
Clemson University
Tristan Gist
Accounting
Clemson University
Victor Venn
Business Administration & Data Analysis
Liberty University
Whitney Lee
Accounting
Clemson University

Florida State University

2 members

Caleb Joseph
Computer Science
Florida State University
Kieon Dunlap
Valdosta State University

Georgia State University

7 members

Eden McKenzie
Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology
Eshika Julian
Computer Science
Georgia State University
Jada Emodogo
Post-Baccalaureate, Harvard Quantum Initiative
Harvard University
Josiah McCombs
Computer Information Systems
Georgia State University
Najja McGee
Data Science
Georgia State University
Samia Haynes
Computer Science
Georgia State University
Zayda Townsend
Computer Information Systems
Georgia State University

Corporate Sponsors & Industry Partners

The Fall 2026 competition is supported by our corporate sponsors, who contribute industry perspective, mentorship, and connections to the emerging AI and quantum technology ecosystem.

Entanglix Quantum Solutions

From space exploration and advanced robotics to battle system computers and national defense — engineered for domains where performance is not optional and failure is not an acceptable outcome. Powered by SaxonQ's room-temperature, diamond-chip NV-center platform.

H5 Strategic Alliances

“Intelligent IT” — a full-suite technology support provider specializing in cybersecurity, IT professional services, and IT project staffing. H5 brings the teams hands-on security engineering and risk-management practice from real enterprise environments.

Alordium

Alordium centralizes entities, agreements, financial infrastructure, and compliance into a single, auditable platform—giving you complete visibility and control across your organization.

Support the Fall 2026 Cohort

Companies partner with the National Center for Secure AI Education in whatever form fits — funding, a real problem to solve, mentors, technology, or early access to the talent coming out of the program. Every level of support is credited on this page and at the final presentations.

Cohort Sponsorship
Underwrite student stipends, equipment, and cohort operations for one or more university teams.
Project Challenge
Bring a real business or public-sector problem for a team to design, build, and demo over 12 weeks.
Mentorship & Judging
Put your engineers, policy leads, and researchers in front of student teams at checkpoints and final presentations.
In-Kind Technology
Contribute compute, quantum hardware access, licenses, or tooling the teams build on.
Talent Pipeline
Meet and evaluate students trained in secure AI, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and governance before they graduate.

Prefer to talk first? Reach Willie Lee, Executive Director & Chief Architect, on LinkedIn.

Program Outcome

By the end of the cohort, each university team will have developed a functioning technical prototype, supporting documentation, a public demonstration, and a presentation explaining the problem, architecture, implementation, results, limitations, and future potential of its solution.

The program is designed to give students experience working in a multidisciplinary innovation environment that reflects how modern AI and quantum technology products are developed in industry.

Applications closed · Fall 2026 Cohort

Join the Waiting List

Applications for the Fall 2026 AI & Quantum Computing Cohort are now closed. Add your name to the waiting list and we'll reach out if a seat opens on your university's team — and you'll be first to hear when the next cohort opens for applications.