Professional Qualifications

Jonathan Adams is a professor teaching in the i-School at The Florida State University. His current research effort is dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. Jonathan leads teh CCI Machine Learning Lab (MLab), lab at Florida State University, with a specialization in developing methods to use synthetic visual data to train artificial intelligence models.

His prior research focused on ICT entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, distance education and online learning. His has more than 20 years’ experience as a small business owner (software design development, management consulting) and than 20 years’ experience as an educator (public schools: elementary & middle, adult programs, corporate training, and University teaching (UMass, Lowell; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering; Boston University, College of Music; Boston University; College of Education and FSU; Communication).

Jonathan's work as an interactive media-software designer with Pilot Media Inc. has been recognized with more than a dozen awards for interaction design, technical achievement, and innovation. While working for Pilot Media he led more than 150 educational software and game productions. During his employment with FSU he has led 2.5 million dollars in federal grant projects and more than 200 thousand dollars in contracts from non-profit or federal agencies.

Jonathan received a Fulbright Scholar Award in 2015 with a rural institution in Northeastern Thailand. The research focused on ICT entrepreneurship and project-based learning. His work included curriculum and online learning design for Ubon Ratchathani, Phayao and Khon Kaen Universities.

Prior to becoming a fulltime professor, he owned and operated two different businesses; a retail business specializing in used piano sales and service for 10 years and then a software company for 8 years (1992-2000), and continued to work as a management and software consultant until 2007. Jonathan continues to have a strong interest in small business development and entrepreneurship. He has developed and/or mentored numerous startup events (startup Weekend, 3-Day Startup) and currently serves as a mentor for Domi Station, a local small business incubator.

His education includes a bachelor's degree in music and graduate work in music composition and teacher education from the UMass, Lowell. He holds a master’s degree in instructional systems design (emphasis in media arts) from the UMass, Boston; and a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction (educational media) from Boston University. He was a tenured public school teacher with teaching certificates in music, behavioral psychology and business management.

Jonathan spends his spare time writing and performing guitar arrangements for jazz, and popular music

Professional Highlights

Director, AI Computer VIsion Lab (2020)
FAA Certified part 107 Remote Aircraft Certification (2018)
Fulbright Scholar, Mukdahan Thailand (2015).
26 professional awards/recognition for accomplishments in teaching (2 awards,1 nomination), research (1), scholarly publication (3), software design (19), commercialization (1).
20+ peer-reviewed journal article and conference proceedings.
$2.3 million grants (SBIR & USDOE)
$203,000 in contracts (federal, national and local agencies).
Consultant to $150 million federal USAID grants with the Florida State University Learning Systems Institute.
Raised more than $25,000 to fund 3 Day Startup events.
New initiatives include:
- iMaker FSU, an interdisciplinary program and facility
- Entrepreneurship events
- ICT Enterprise (COM 3930)
- ICT/IMC undergraduate degree program
- Master's degree program in Interactive and New Communication Technologies
- BU Fusion Multimedia Center
- BU Web TV.
Organized and completed entrepreneurship events; Startup Weekend Tallahassee (2011); FSU 3 Day Startup (2012, 2014 [March & November]); Dandis Awards (2011, 2012, 2013).
Served as a mentor for Domi Ventures, FSU InNolevation Challenge, Startup Weekend Tallahassee, 3 Day Startup Gainesville & Tallahassee, Progressive luncheon, Dandis Awards and the Entrepreneurship Boot camp for Veteran's Families (EBV-F).
Committee member for 30 doctoral committees, chaired 55 masters degree committees, 2 undergraduate thesis (BUS, CS).
International exchange agreement with three foreign institutions; Khon Kaen University, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon, Thailand and UANL, Monterrey, Mexico.
Developed an International Program between FSU and Khon Kaen University (social entrepreneurship).
Current teaching expertise; Online and distance learning systems; Web Design and Usability; IT Enterprise, Social Media Uses and Practices.
Owned and operated a software design company (Pilot Media, full-time 1992 - 1998; consultant 1999 - 2005) and a retail operation (Piano sales and Service 1980-1989) for 9 years..
Certified Project Management Professional (510191).
Entrepreneurial Excellence Program Certificate. Awarded by the Tallahassee Economic Development Council (cohort # 2, 2011).
Protecting Human Research Participants Certificate (National Institutes of Health, Office of Extramural Research). June, 2008. Certificate number 48885.
Formerly tenured public school teacher, Lowell, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts teaching certification in Behavioral Sciences, grades 5-12. Salem State College, Salem, MA. Certificate number: 262194.
Massachusetts teaching certification in Business Management, grades 9-12.Salem State College, Salem, MA. Certificate number: 262194.
Massachusetts teaching certificate in Music Education, grades 5 –12. University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA. Certificate number: 262194.