Alabama A&M University alumna Jessica Bynum has returned to her alma mater to pursue a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Administration, even as she continues to shape national conversations on Artificial Intelligence in education. A full-time Business Instructor at Jefferson State Community College and adjunct instructor at Miles College, Bynum is also celebrating the release of her new book, “AI for Beginners: A Quick Start Guide,” available on Amazon.

Her doctoral studies mark a full-circle journey for Bynum, who earned her bachelor’s degree in apparel, merchandising, and design from the University in 1994. When Alabama A&M launched the Ph.D. program in Curriculum and Instruction in 2024, she saw an opportunity to align her passion for culturally responsive pedagogy with her growing expertise in AI.

Alongside her academic pursuits, Bynum is helping educators nationwide embrace innovation in teaching. Her book offers practical strategies for understanding and applying AI in classroom settings, while her creation of C.L.A.R.A. – the Culturally Responsive Learning and AI Resource Assistant – provides educators with tools to make AI integration more equitable and inclusive.

She has delivered faculty workshops at Alabama A&M, Voorhees University, and Jefferson State Community College, and presented at national forums such as the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) UNITE Conference and the UNCF Teaching and Learning Center. Her sessions explore topics such as AI tools for teaching, equitable curriculum development, and culturally responsive classroom practices. Over the past three years, she has been a recurring panelist and presenter at UNCF conferences, adding her expertise to national dialogues on innovation and equity.

Bynum’s professional path reflects more than two decades of experience in higher education. Prior to joining Jefferson State in 2023, she spent over a decade at Miles College as an academic advisor, assistant registrar, and business faculty member. She also earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix and an Ed.S. in Instructional Technology from the University of Montevallo, preparing her to bridge leadership, teaching, and technology.

Born in Stevenson, Alabama – the same town where Alabama A&M University founder William Hooper Councill attended Averyville School – Bynum moved to Birmingham as a child but still considers both places home. Her family maintains strong ties to AAMU. Her daughter, Taniya, is also an alumna, earning a degree in communications media in May 2025, and was an active member of Bulldog Beat and Bulldog Bards.

Looking ahead, Bynum hopes to use her research and experience to influence curriculum development on a national scale, ensuring that technology integration in higher education remains inclusive, equitable, and culturally relevant.

“My journey with technology has truly come full circle. As a student worker at AAMU in the early ’90s, I was introduced to computers by a staff member who told me they would be the ‘wave of the future.’ At the time, I laughed, believing my family would never own one. Today, I find myself leading conversations about technology and AI in teaching, proof of how transformative education and innovation can be.”