Mentorship lies at the heart of the Bridge2AI model. Participants are paired with multi-tiered mentoring teams to ensure continuous academic, technical, and emotional support. Mentoring occurs through structured meetings, peer collaboration, and professional consultations.

Mentoring Structure:

• JMU Faculty Mentors: Guide to foundational knowledge and academic development.
• CGI Industry Mentors: Provide occupation-specific training and career insights.
• Peer Mentors: Encourage collaboration and community across cohorts.
• Graduate Student Mentors: Offer technical support and office hours each week.

Mentoring Activities:

• Biweekly faculty mentoring meetings
• Monthly industry mentor check-ins
• Peer mentoring between cohorts to build continuity
• One-on-one technical support from graduate assistants
• Confidential support from the external evaluator to address concerns

Team & Partners

Dr. Ying Jin (Principal Investigator) Email: jin4yx@jmu.edu 
Associate Director, JMU CARE; Associate Professor, Department of Learning, Technology, and Leadership Education
Dr. Jin redirected her career into quantitative methods and has over a decade of experience mentoring nontraditional learners. She leads this project’s design and management, applying her research in workforce development and experiential learning.

Dr. Rhonda Syler (Co-Principal Investigator) Email: sylerra@jmu.edu 
Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics
Dr. Syler brings expertise in cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI education. She leads recruitment efforts, engages industry partners, and supports mentoring and data-driven training for rural participants transitioning into AI roles.

Dr. Elham Torabi (Co-Principal Investigator) Email: torabiex@jmu.edu 
Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics
Dr. Torabi specializes in data-centered models for improving decision-making and has a deep commitment to human flourishing through education. She leads community-building efforts, sustaining collaboration with partners and coordinating outreach.

Dr. Maryam Sadat Sharifian (Co-Principal Investigator) Email: sharifms@jmu.edu 
Executive Director, JMU CARE
Dr. Sharifian’s research focuses on the needs of children and families in rural communities. She leads recruitment through childcare networks, develops sustainability plans, and oversees program integration with JMU CARE’s mission to promote family welfare and community resilience.

Dr. Zhuojun Duan (Senior Personnel) Email: duanzx@jmu.edu 
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science
Dr. Duan teaches courses in AI, programming, and data mining, and serves as a lead mentor for Women in Technology at JMU. She oversees IDP development and supervises graduate mentors providing technical support.

Dr. Amelia Underwood (Senior Personnel) Email: underwaf@jmu.edu 
Assistant Professor, Adult Learning and Human Resource Development
Dr. Underwood specializes in leadership identity and career transitions, with prior experience as a U.S. Army Officer and corporate leader. She provides leadership development, advising, and mentoring support for participants transitioning into technology fields.

Jacquelyn Craddock (CGI Coordinator)
Manager of Workforce Initiatives, CGI Strategic Operations
Jacquelyn coordinates CGI’s internal resources for ExLENT participants.

William LaBar (CGI Coordinator)
Vice President, CGI
William coordinates CGI resources across business units to support workforce training, experiential learning, and data-driven project development.

Community & Industry Partners:
• CGI
• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)
• Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA)
• Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board (SVWDB)
• Industrial Development Authority of Russell County
• Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC)

Contact
Center for Advancement Research in Education (CARE)
James Madison University
Email: Dr. Ying Jin (Principal Investigator) Email: jin4yx@jmu.edu