Greetings IAIER Supporters,

We hope you have enjoyed a wonderful and restorative summer. At the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research, we have spent the summer building on our momentum and preparing for an exciting new chapter of innovation, research, education, and engagement.

This summer, IAIER hosted its inaugural AI Career Immersion Camp in partnership with Leidos, providing students with hands-on opportunities to explore artificial intelligence, computer vision, and emerging career pathways. We have also been preparing for a historic milestone: the grand opening of the IAIER Innovation Hub on August 10, 2026. IAIER will officially have a dedicated home on NCCU’s campus, and we cannot wait to welcome you into this new space for learning, collaboration, and discovery.

In this fall edition of the IAIER Pulse, you will:

As we begin the fall semester, we invite you to remain actively connected to IAIER. You can support our work by attending and sharing our events, exploring opportunities for collaboration and partnership, and investing in programs that expand access to AI education, research, and workforce development.

The future is taking shape at NCCU, and we look forward to engaging with you throughout the year as we continue soaring to new heights.

AI is for everyone.

Warm Regards,

🔘 💻 Leading the Conversation: Dr. Grady’s National AI Impact

Over the summer, Dr. Siobahn Day Grady continued to elevate the national presence of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) and North Carolina Central University through her participation in several high-profile events focused on artificial intelligence, technology, and the future of higher education. 

Perspectives: Strengths in Every Stitch

Dr. Grady joined leaders from business, government, and higher education as a panelist for Perspectives: Strengths in Every Stitch, contributing to the session “Technology, People, and the Tapestry of Work in the Age of AI and Broadband.”

Her remarks emphasized responsible innovation, thoughtful leadership, and preparing organizations for the future of work. She encouraged attendees to evaluate emerging technologies strategically and adopt AI in ways that enhance productivity, support informed decision-making, and strengthen organizational outcomes. 

🔘 🌍 Lenovo North Carolina Technology Day

As a featured panelist at Lenovo North Carolina Technology Day, Dr. Grady joined executives from Lenovo, AMD, Cisco, SAS, and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology to discuss the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Representing IAIER; the nation’s first AI institute established at an HBCU, she highlighted the institute’s mission to advance AI literacy, foster cross-sector collaboration, and prepare students, faculty, and professionals to lead in an AI-driven future.

🔘 🔬 Google & GSV Ed Leader Fellowship

Dr. Grady is currently participating in the Google & GSV Ed Leader Fellowship as a member of the inaugural North America Higher Education Cohort. The fellowship convenes higher education leaders from across the continent to explore the future of teaching, learning, and institutional leadership in the age of artificial intelligence.

Through collaborative workshops and strategic discussions, participants examine practical approaches for integrating AI into higher education while supporting innovation, operational excellence, and student success.

These engagements reflect Dr. Grady’s continued leadership in national conversations surrounding artificial intelligence and higher education. By collaborating with leaders across academia, government, and industry, she strengthens IAIER’s mission of advancing AI knowledge, building strategic partnerships, and preparing the next generation of leaders to thrive in an AI-enabled world.

🔹 👩🏼‍💼👨🏽‍💼 IAIER x Leidos AI STEM Experience: Summer Camp Impact  

The IAIER x Leidos AI STEM Experience brought together high school students from across North Carolina for a hands-on, immersive introduction to artificial intelligence. Over multiple days, students explored foundational AI concepts, built projects, engaged in ethical discussions, and connected with industry professionals.

Pos-event survey results showed that 100% of students reported above-average understanding of AI foundations, safety, and how AI works. All participants increased their confidence using AI tools. Students rated hands-on activities, clarity of instruction, and overall experience as far above average. Career interest expanded across fields such as machine learning, cybersecurity, computer vision, prompt engineering, and AI ethics. Students also expressed strong interest in AI certifications, mentorship, robotics, healthcare applications, and real-world community challenges.

The camp continues to serve as one of IAIER’s strongest pipelines for early AI literacy, workforce development, and community engagement, reinforcing NCCU’s leadership in expanding access to AI education.

IAIER x Leidos Summer Camp Impact

📓 National Back to School Month: Building AI-Ready Learners 

August marks National Back to School Month, a time when students, educators, and families prepare for a new academic year filled with possibility. At IAIER, this season represents more than a return to classrooms; it’s a renewed commitment to building AI-ready learners, AI-confident educators, and AI-empowered communities.

As NCCU enters the fall semester, IAIER is expanding: AI literacy programming, faculty development opportunities, student credentialing pathways, community-centered AI workshops, and industry partnerships that bring real-world tools directly to campus.

Back to School Month reminds us that preparing for the future means preparing for a world shaped by artificial intelligence. IAIER is proud to support NCCU in leading that transformation. 

16 Students. One Summer of Discovery.

This summer, 16 high school students participated in the IAIER x Leidos AI STEM Experience, gaining hands-on exposure to artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and future-focused career pathways.

Beyond participation, the experience reflected IAIER’s continued commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young learners to explore, build, and imagine what is possible in an AI-driven world.

🥳 Welcome our new 2026-2027 AI Emerging Scholars and Leaders

IAIER is proud to welcome the 2026–2027 cohort of AI Emerging Scholars and AI Emerging Leaders. This year-long initiative brings together NCCU students, faculty, and staff to strengthen their knowledge of artificial intelligence through mentoring, hands-on projects, leadership development, and professional learning.

Each Scholar will be paired with an Emerging Leader, creating opportunities for meaningful mentorship, shared learning, and collaboration throughout the academic year. Participants will also engage in IAIER workshops and events, develop applied AI projects, and showcase their work in spring 2027.

Dr. Drew Johnson will lead this year’s program and serve as the primary point of contact for participants. We look forward to seeing how this talented cohort will learn, lead, and help advance AI innovation across NCCU.

🔬 New Report Impact Report Highlights IAIER Seed-Funded Scholarship

IAIER is pleased to release its inaugural Research Impact Report, highlighting the work emerging from its 2025–2026 seed grant portfolio. The report showcases how NCCU faculty researchers are advancing innovative ideas, building interdisciplinary collaborations, and applying artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to real-world challenges.

This publication reflects IAIER’s continued commitment to investing in faculty scholarship and strengthening NCCU’s research capacity. It also celebrates the researchers whose work is helping expand the university’s contributions to the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Explore the report to learn more about the projects, progress, and possibilities emerging from IAIER-supported research.

Read more here: 2025-2026 IAIER Research Brief

As the semester begins, we are excited to begin in our new innovation hub! Here’s a look at what’s ahead as IAIER continues building into the fall semester. For the full picture download our calendar of events below.

🌱 Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

📅 August 10, 2026
👥 By RSVP Only

Join NCCU and Lenovo for the official opening of the IAIER Building. This celebration marks a major milestone in NCCU’s AI leadership, featuring demonstrations, partner engagement, and a showcase of new AI learning spaces designed to support students, faculty, and community members.

👉🏾 Learn more here.

🌱 Superhuman - AI-Powered Productivity Workshop

📅 Thursday, September 3, 2026
👥 Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members

Representatives from Superhuman will lead an interactive session exploring how AI is transforming productivity, communication, and decision-making. Attendees will learn how user research data informs product design and may participate in hands-on activities using Superhuman Go to build and customize AI agents.

👉🏾 Learn more here.

🌱 OpenAI Academy - HBCU Innovation Summit

📅 Friday, September 4, 2026
👥 Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members

This full-day summit brings together students, educators, leaders, and partners across the HBCU ecosystem to explore the theme “From AI Literacy to AI Leadership.” Participants will engage in learning sessions, hear from industry experts, and collaborate in the Codex Build Challenge to create AI solutions for real-world needs.'

👉🏾 Learn more here.

🌱 IBM SkillsBuild - Credentialing Webinar

📅 Tuesday, September 8, 2026
👥 Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members

Discover IBM SkillsBuild, a free online learning platform offering industry-recognized digital credentials. This webinar will guide participants through accessing courses, navigating the platform, and building career-ready skills in AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, and professional development.

👉🏾 Learn more here.

🌱 McGraw Hill - AI Ready Institutions

📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
👥 Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members

McGraw Hill will lead a session on how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education. Participants will explore personalized learning, predictive analytics, and responsible adoption strategies, along with an introduction to Sharpen Advantage, McGraw Hill’s AI-powered platform for student engagement and institutional success.

👉🏾 Learn more here.

🌱 AI Book Club: The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman (IAIER Building)

📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026 @ 11:00AM
👥 Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members

👉🏾 Learn more here.

Curated events and opportunities we’re watching across the region.

Tech Night at the Durham Bulls — Hosted by RapidScale 📅 Sept. 9, 2026 | ⏰ Gates open at 5:30 p.m. | 📍 Durham Bulls Athletic Park

RapidScale will host a tech-focused student picnic at the Durham Bulls, bringing students together for an evening of networking, connection, and community. Additional details and registration information will be shared later this spring.

What We Do
Advance responsible AI education, research, and workforce readiness across NCCU.

How We Show Up
• Faculty research and seed grant support
• Student learning pathways and leadership development
• Campus and community engagement
• Strategic industry and institutional partnerships

What We’re Not
An IT help desk or one-off consulting service. IAIER focuses on scalable, university-wide impact.

Want a deeper look? View the full IAIER overview (PDF).