Hudson County Community College Students Complete Inaugural AI for Impact New Jersey Community College Fellowship
February 2, 2026
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President Dr. Christopher Reber joined students Marlon Peña Crespo and Sachin Shrestha at the report-out and recognition event recently held at the New Jersey Council of County Colleges offices near Trenton. The students presented their work as mentees of the first AI for Impact New Jersey Community College Fellowship cohort.
Two HCCC students were among five finalists selected from 89 applicants.
February 2, 2026, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) students Marlon Peña Crespo and Sachin Shrestha
served in the first cohort of the AI for Impact New Jersey Community College Fellowship.
The experiential learning program was created through a partnership of the New Jersey
Office of Innovation, New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC), and New Jersey
Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). InnovateUS, a key partner supporting the State
of New Jersey and the Office of the Chief AI Strategist, facilitated the Fellows’
professional development and training.
The AI fellowship paired community college students with New Jersey Office of Innovation professional advisors to address government challenges and spark innovation in the public sector. Eighty-nine community college students throughout New Jersey applied for the Fall 2025 cohort and five were selected including HCCC students Crespo and Shrestha. Requirements included completion of at least 30 credits and a 3.0 GPA.
The New Jersey Office of Innovation has helped 65,000 entrepreneurs launch businesses faster, modernized state call centers to reduce wait times, used advanced data to enroll 100,000 children in a social safety net program, and redesigned the unemployment insurance application.
The fellowship professional development series focused on human-centered, data-driven project management and in-depth AI exploration. Students collaborated with a team from the Office of Innovation to understand partner needs. They were also charged with:
- Conducting qualitative and quantitative research;
- Improving communication gaps between state agencies and New Jersey residents;
- Developing responsible solutions;
- Managing the design and execution of AI-enabled projects;
- Utilizing industry-leading AI platforms and tools, including large language models, cloud-based AI services, and AI code assistants; and,
- Presenting their work to a public audience.
Marlon and Sachin continued studying for their Computer Science and Business Administration degrees, respectively, while working 20 hours per week and earning stipends during their four-month fellowship.
“We are proud of Marlon and Sachin for their contributions to this inaugural AI cohort designed to help New Jersey address complex societal challenges,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “The experience they gained using emerging technologies in a public-sector context underscores the value they bring in helping improve government operations.”
“The fellowship demonstrates the power of collaboration across higher education, state government, and economic development partners,” said NJCCC President Dr. Aaron Fichtner. “By connecting community college students with real-world projects that improve the lives of New Jerseyans, the AI for Impact fellowship model builds the students’ technical and professional skills, supports the positive impact of the NJ Office of Innovation, and reinforces the role our colleges play in preparing New Jersey’s AI talent pipeline.”
According to Acting NJEDA CEO Mary Maples, “The Murphy Administration made workforce development a cornerstone of New Jersey’s economic strategy, focusing on emerging industries such as Artificial Intelligence. Through collaboration with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and the Office of Innovation, the AI for Impact Fellowship equipped students with in-demand skills, helping strengthen our talent pipeline and prepare New Jerseyans for good-paying jobs that will drive innovation, productivity, and long-term economic growth in a burgeoning industry.”
HCCC recognizes AI is rapidly transforming education and the workforce and prepares students by developing discipline-specific AI literacy, and providing opportunities to use AI tools in the same ways they will be utilized in future careers. Last fall, the College established the Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Governance Council (AISGC) to shape strategy, policy, and infrastructure; support teaching, learning, and operations; and uphold the College’s mission and values. AI Spark Grants help encourage discipline-specific curricular integration to prepare students for the future workforce. HCCC’s GenAI Professional Learning Community benefits students, faculty, and staff.