The Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) continues to make its mark on the national stage. On October 20, 2025, Siobahn Grady, Ph.D., founding director of IAIER, spoke at the inaugural Higher Education Guild in the OpenAI Forum in San Francisco, Calif.
The forum brought together leading faculty innovators and university leaders to share how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching, research, and administration.
Grady served as the closing presenter, delivering remarks on “Operationalizing the University with AI.” She shared how IAIER is advancing impactful and ethical AI research through interdisciplinary collaboration and positioning NCCU to integrate AI across teaching and scholarship. Grady encouraged educators to start small, partner across academia and government, and use AI to amplify human potential.
Her message resonated strongly with attendees, highlighting the importance of IAIER’s work at a historically Black college and university (HBCU) and the institute’s growing influence in shaping how AI is understood and applied in higher education.
Grady was the only HBCU and North Carolina representative to speak at the event—an important milestone for NCCU and IAIER. Following her presentation, educators from across the country expressed interest in learning more about the institute’s approach to integrating AI in teaching and research.
IAIER’s partnership with OpenAI has continued to expand. Earlier this year, the OpenAI Academy hosted its first-ever AI Summit with an HBCU in collaboration with IAIER, strengthening dialogue and innovation between the two organizations.