UVI student Zeidan Bass presents his research poster to Dr. Rick Nader, UVI Vice President for Research and Economic Development, during the Amazon Machine Learning University Symposium. Photo Credit: UVI
Last updated at 10:51 a.m. on Tues. Sept. 30, 2025
A University of the Virgin Islands student has represented the territory on the national stage, presenting research at the Amazon Machine Learning University (MLU) Symposium on September 26 at Amazon’s global headquarters.
According to UVI, the symposium brought together students, faculty, and leaders from across the country to highlight innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Among those selected were UVI students Zeidan Bass, Lilian Alexander, and Aushaun Brown, whose research was chosen for presentation in abstract poster form. Bass represented the team on-site, where he joined peers from other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and institutions nationwide in technical sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions with Amazon Web Services (AWS) experts.
Their participation marks a milestone in UVI’s advancement of AI/ML education through its membership in the Amazon Machine Learning University Educators Consortium, announced in August.
“We are incredibly proud of our students for representing UVI and the U.S. Virgin Islands on a national stage,” said UVI President Dr. Safiya George. “Their involvement in this symposium reflects not only their hard work and talent, but also the University’s commitment to preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.”
Bass commented, “This was an enriching and unmatched experience, and I am truly grateful to AWS for the opportunity. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the College of Science and Mathematics at UVI, my research partners Aushaun Brown and Lillian Alexandar, my research mentor Dr. Marc Boumedine, and President Dr. Safiya George, for their unwavering support and dedication to creating transformative opportunities for students through partnerships like this.”
The AWS-MLU Symposium forms part of the Machine Learning University Educator Enablement Program (MLU-EEP), which provides curriculum resources, AWS cloud technology, and advanced training to 35 institutions across the country. UVI is one of only a few HBCUs selected for the program.
“This opportunity gives our students direct access to cutting-edge AI/ML knowledge, industry experts and a national network of peers,” said Dr. Boumedine, UVI Associate Professor of Computer Science, who accompanied Bass to the event. “It is exciting to see UVI students engage with the very technologies that are transforming industries around the globe.”
In addition to presenting at the symposium, the students also shared their findings during the Emerging Caribbean Scientists Research Symposium on September 28 at UVI’s Orville E. Kean Campus.
Advertisements
