Founder & Director · 2023 – present

CodeBears

CodeBears is a low-cost K–12 initiative at Morgan State University that teaches coding and artificial intelligence through hands-on activities.

Rather than simply teaching students how to use technology, we encourage them to become creators, designers, and problem-solvers.

The 2024 CodeBears campers and staff in matching grey camp shirts, seated in rows on wide wooden steps — The 2024 CodeBears campers and staff.

Program overview

Limited exposure to computer science and few relatable role models can reduce students' interest in computing. That, in turn, limits enrollment in college computing programs and diversity in the technology workforce.

I founded CodeBears through the HAX Lab in 2023 to change that early. Its summer camps, Saturday Academy, spring break camps, and STEM days give K–12 students hands-on experience with coding, AI, robotics, and game development, taught by Morgan State students who serve as relatable role models.

2,100+K–12 students reached through STEM days

160+campers in summer programming

100+Spring Break/Saturday Academy campers

Supported by Google (2023, 2024), Lincoln Financial Group (2023), Transform Morgan (2023, 2024), Morgan State's Center for Equitable AI and Machine Learning Systems (2024, 2025), the NSF Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS) (2024, 2025), and the Morgan State Department of Computer Science (2025).

Programs

2023 – present

What CodeBears offers

OngoingSummer camps. Two-week camps on campus. A free pilot for 36 upper elementary and middle school students in 2023; two sessions of 40+ campers each in 2024, covering AI, game development, and music production; and one session of 30+ campers in 2025, covering AI, game development, and NASA education, with a NASA field trip. Every camp ends with a science fair–style showcase where campers present their projects to family and friends.
OngoingSaturday Academy. Fall 2023 and Spring 2024: 50+ campers came to campus twice a month.
OngoingSpring break camps. Three-day day camps on campus: 30+ campers in 2024 and 24 in 2025.
OngoingSTEM days. Hands-on computer science, robotics, and AI at schools, universities, and community events across Baltimore, reaching more than 2,100 K–12 students since 2024.
PlannedNext. A 2027 summer camp, continued Saturday Academy and STEM days, and professional development workshops for K–12 teachers.

Families, campers, and staff moving among project tables and trifold posters in a bright campus atrium — Families explore campers' projects at the 2025 summer camp showcase.

Across Baltimore

STEM days

2024Woodholme Elementary. 400+ third- to fifth-graders, in partnership with BLK Sons (Black Success Network)
2024AI Day, Morgan State. 100+ Baltimore City middle school basketball players explored computer vision
2024Summer camp STEM Day. 30+ kindergarten to fifth-grade students
2024Morgan State STEM Expo. 718 Baltimore City students
2025Coppin State University. 100+ Baltimore City middle school basketball players
2025Morgan State STEM Expo. 517 Baltimore City students, robotics and emerging technology
2025Hampton Elementary. 60+ kindergarten to fifth-grade students
2026Coppin State University. 100+ Baltimore City middle school basketball players
2026Deep Creek Middle School at Morgan State. 100+ Deep Creek Middle School students visited campus for robotics and STEM activities

Two wheeled robots navigating an obstacle course of red cones on a gym floor while children steer them from tablets — A robot obstacle course at the 2024 Woodholme Elementary STEM Day.

Two students at a table with laptops and green play-dough pads wired with alligator clips to a Makey Makey board — Students utilize Makey Makey controllers with play dough at the 2024 Morgan State STEM Expo.

Morgan State students in navy polos leaning in to help children working at laptops around a table — Morgan State students help young learners at the 2025 Coppin State STEM Day.

Educational approach & mentorship

Lessons cover computer science, AI, and STEM topics. Campers work in small groups of four, grouped by grade level, with instruction adapted to different learning styles. The program emphasizes hands-on, project-based, and game-based learning, connecting directly to my research on human-centered educational technology and broadening participation in computing.

Morgan State students teach the camps, lead STEM day activities, and mentor young learners. HAX Lab student researchers also studied the program and co-authored two papers on it, at ACM SIGCSE 2024 and BICE 2024.

Twelve CodeBears team members in matching navy and orange polos standing together in a school gym — The CodeBears team at the 2024 Woodholme Elementary STEM Day.

CodeBears in action

A grinning camper in a lecture hall raising both hands to clap above his head while classmates around him applaud — A camper celebrates during CodeBears summer camp.

A CodeBears mentor wearing a mentor badge leans over two campers to help them with a tablet activity — A mentor works with summer campers on an activity.

Three campers with name badges run and laugh alongside a small quadcopter drone they programmed, hovering low over a brick plaza — Summer campers follow a drone they programmed.

A camper holding a tablet presents her trifold project board to a group of visitors and fellow campers in a campus atrium — A camper presents her project at the summer camp showcase.