UNE launches interdisciplinary center to advance AI-driven education, research, and workforce innovation

From artificial intelligence and biotechnology to environmental analytics and automation, emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping how industries operate, how research is conducted, and how future professionals are prepared for the workforce.

To help students, faculty, and industry partners navigate this evolving landscape, the University of New England has announced the launch of its new Center for Emerging Technologies (CET), a University-wide initiative focused on future-oriented education, interdisciplinary innovation, and workforce development.

Abigail A. Flower, Ph.D., a globally experienced leader in artificial intelligence, optics, applied machine learning, and translational technology development, has been named the center’s inaugural director. Flower will begin her role on June 15.

The CET will serve as a collaborative hub for artificial intelligence and emerging technology initiatives across the University, helping connect academic programs, research efforts, and operational innovation while expanding opportunities for experiential learning, industry partnerships, and applied research.

The center is a key component of UNE’s strategic initiatives and will support academic and research collaborations across the University, including the health sciences, marine and environmental sciences, business, biotechnology, and digital technologies.

 “Emerging technologies are transforming nearly every professional sector, and universities must prepare students not only to understand these tools, but to apply them thoughtfully in ways that advance society,” said Gwendolyn Mahon, UNE provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “The Center for Emerging Technologies reflects UNE’s commitment to future-focused education that bridges disciplines, supports innovation, and equips students with the adaptable skills needed in a rapidly evolving workforce.”

 As director, Flower will work closely with faculty and academic leaders to help integrate emerging technologies into curricula, expand co-curricular learning opportunities, support applied research initiatives, and strengthen partnerships with industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Flower’s research and leadership experience includes machine learning, computer vision, optics, clinical decision support systems, biological and environmental data analytics, and ethical applications of artificial intelligence.

Currently serving as Director of Applied AI and AI/ML Engineering at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Flower brings over 15 years of experience advancing artificial intelligence and data science initiatives across higher education, biomedical research, and industry. Her work has focused on translating advanced analytics and machine learning tools into practical applications in health care, environmental science, biotechnology, and workforce training. 

Prior to joining GSK, Flower was a technical co-founder and CEO of an artificial intelligence startup focused on conversational analytics platforms and previously served as founding faculty and associate professor at the University of Virginia, where she helped develop interdisciplinary data science and AI programs spanning medicine, nursing, and applied analytics. 

Flower said UNE’s collaborative culture and mission-driven approach drew her to the opportunity and align closely with her vision for the center as a place where students can build confidence, embrace uncertainty, and engage boldly with complex global challenges.

“I am truly delighted and honored to be joining the warm, talented, and mission-driven community at UNE. The Center for Emerging Technologies will be a hub where that mission comes alive — advancing innovation for a healthier planet while deepening the university's commitment to cultivating in students the habits of mind that blend critical thinking with a genuine tolerance for ambiguity,” she said. 

“That spirit of adaptive learning is exactly what will prepare students for the world ahead,” she added. “Technological landscapes will keep shifting, and the students who thrive will be the ones who've learned not to fear the unknown, but to meet it with creativity and confidence.”

Dawn Stoyanoff, Ph.D., UNE’s chief information officer, said Flower’s combination of academic, research, and industry experience makes her uniquely positioned to lead the center’s launch.

“Dr. Flower understands how to connect innovation, research, and workforce preparation in meaningful and practical ways,” Stoyanoff said. “Her experience translating emerging technologies into real-world applications aligns exceptionally well with UNE’s strengths in interdisciplinary education and applied research.”

Through internships, fellowships, innovation challenges, and partnerships with external organizations, the center aims to create new pathways for students to gain hands-on experience using emerging technologies to address complex real-world challenges. The CET will also help coordinate and surface artificial intelligence and automation efforts already underway across UNE’s academic, research, and operational units, creating opportunities for collaboration and shared learning across disciplines.