Welcome to the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) at North Carolina Central University. I am honored to serve as the founding director of an institute dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence through research, education, and strategic engagement that serves both our campus and broader communities.
IAIER was established to position NCCU at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation while remaining grounded in our institutional mission. Following a comprehensive review process, the Institute was formally approved by the NCCU Board of Trustees in December 2025, affirming its role as a university-wide hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, workforce development, and applied AI research.
Our work focuses on preparing students, faculty, and partners to thoughtfully engage with AI technologies across disciplines and sectors. Through academic programming, research initiatives, public-facing events, and strategic partnerships, IAIER supports responsible innovation that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to real-world challenges.
At IAIER, collaboration is central to everything we do. We work across schools and units at NCCU, and with industry, government, and community partners, to ensure that emerging technologies are developed and applied in ways that expand opportunity and strengthen societal impact.
We invite you to engage with IAIER — whether as a student exploring AI pathways, a faculty member pursuing research or curricular innovation, an industry partner seeking collaboration, or a supporter interested in advancing this work. Your involvement helps us extend the reach and impact of the Institute.
Thank you for visiting. Together, we are shaping a future where artificial intelligence advances knowledge, strengthens communities, and supports responsible innovation.
Warm regards,
Dr. Siobahn Day Grady
Founding Director, Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research
North Carolina Central University