Engage with me on social media

The pace of … well, just about everything, seems to be quickening, so it should be no surprise that the 2024-25 academic year moved at warp speed. And who knows? The research that professors and learners are conducting in quantum theory and applications in A&T labs may someday enable our bodies to move as quickly as our minds.

We are producers of knowledge at N.C. A&T, not just consumers. We create knowledge, generate new ways of thinking about the world and approach problem solving in unexpected ways and from unexpected angles.

As we bring this academic year to a close, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to the university’s success. Together, we have not only advanced knowledge but strengthened our mission to advance the human condition and facilitate economic growth. This commitment positions us in a space of empowerment and influence.

This year, we’ve seen groundbreaking research take shape across campus. From pioneering advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, to AI-empowered precision agriculture, to new frameworks to understand the human genome, to community-based solutions in dementia caregiving, the transformative impact of our faculty, professional staff and students advances the frontiers of science.

Our business programs have harnessed artificial intelligence to improve organizational processes, demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can drive efficiency and insight. Our students continue to shine beyond the classroom impressing judges at research conferences, in pitch competitions, town-gown performances, hackathons and maker spaces. Our graduates are not only career-ready, they are future leaders in numerous fields and professions.

Perhaps most importantly, we have remained true to our deepest commitment: to advance social mobility. By offering robust student support and flexible degree pathways, and fostering a culture of excellence, we continue to help students from all backgrounds achieve their goals and transform their lives and the lives of others. Education, after all, is not just a pathway to opportunity — it is liberation. It gives a voice to the voiceless, hope to the striving and power to those determined to create a better world such that we can all bring our very best to the spaces we share.

As we close out this year, thank you all for your passion, resilience and dedication. You have made this year one to remember, and I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the future. Students, please do not forget to enroll in summer sessions. Even if you are away at an internship, there are plenty of online summer courses to take to continue your commitment to life-long learning. Registration is open; visit the University Registrar's website for dates and FAQs. Stay on track or get ahead!

Faculty and staff, summer is the time to continue supporting our students and investing in yourself by upskilling. Always remain in learning mode. Aggies Do! Aggies never stop learning!

North Carolina Department of Transportation delegation at N.C. A&T's autonomous vehicle research site during
their visit on April 29.

North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins and Anthony “Tony” Lathrop, chair of the North Carolina Board of Transportation, were among nearly 45 NCDOT leaders and board members who visited North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to tour the university’s innovative transportation research facilities and autonomous vehicle technologies on Tuesday, April 29.

The visit began at the Harold L. Martin Sr. Engineering Research and Innovation Complex, where the delegation explored several of the university’s advanced research labs and projects related to intelligent transportation systems, autonomous vehicles, connected mobility solutions, infrastructure inspection and cyber security of transportation networks. Later in the afternoon, the group traveled to Gateway Research Park North to visit the Aggie Auto autonomous vehicle research site.

“Every time I come to the Martin Complex there are new, innovative and transformative projects the university engages in. Having partnerships with A&T and on the leading edge of research is really moving us forward. It’s just amazing to see the technology that can help us, the environment, traffic congestion and safety."

A&T has emerged as a leader in transportation innovation through strong partnerships with federal and state transportation departments. The university leads the Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2), a federally-funded regional University Transportation Center. It aims to address transportation hurdles and provide innovative connected and coordinated multimodal solutions in the southeastern region, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Tennessee. Ali Karimoddini, Ph.D., is the director of CR2C2.

Sponsored by NCDOT, A&T leads two centers of excellence in autonomy, the North Carolina Transportation Center of Excellence on Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology (NC-CAV), which is also directed by Karimoddini, and the University Transportation Center of Excellence for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). In addition to these centers. NCDOT has supported a number of autonomous vehicle research initiatives led by A&T researchers. A&T is also home to the Autonomous Control and Information Technology Institute and Center for Advanced Transportation Mobility.

During the tour, attendees viewed demonstrations in several research labs, including the ACCESS Laboratory, the Facility for Intelligent Robotics, Sensing, and Telepresence (FIRST), the Cyber Defense and AI Lab and one of three A&T Makerspaces. Both faculty members and students showcased projects ranging from autonomous vehicle simulation and cyber security in transportation networks to air traffic control modeling and holographic and digital twin technologies.

“It is a great privilege and honor to be able to really showcase what we do in the transportation area,” said College of Engineering Dean Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, Ph.D. “Opportunities to open our doors to state officials allows them to see the extraordinary work our faculty and students are doing and how they can better partner with us.” 

(Far right): Mike Fox, N.C. Board of Transportation member, representing the Greensboro area, in the robotics lab.

Following the Martin Complex tour, the group proceeded to Gateway Research Park, North Campus, to experience the Aggie Auto Shuttles and the unique rural test track facility. Participants had the opportunity to ride in the shuttles on a two-mile rural test track designed to simulate real-world driving conditions. The track enables researchers to test and refine autonomous vehicle technology developed at A&T, particularly for rural and regional mobility applications.

“The visit highlighted the growing role of N.C. A&T as a hub for transportation technology research and innovation, as well as the university’s significant contributions to advancing the future of autonomous and connected vehicle technologies in partnership with NCDOT,” Karimoddini said.

“If anyone in the transportation industry is overlooking N.C. A&T and the research happening here, their eyes are not on the prize,” Hopkins said.

Dr. Ali Karimoddini (left) presenting autonomous vehicle tracking data software to a Board of Transportation representative (right). 

Board of Transportation member operating a robotic vehicle during the NCDOT visit to the Martin Engineering Research and Innovation Complex.

“Hey Sam, this is AGGIE on behalf of NC A&T. I'm here to support you.”

- A&T'S AI-driven chatbot

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University students receive a message like this, mental health checks or reminders to register for classes, every seven to 10 days from an AI-powered chatbot, affectionally known as AGGIE. The weekly check-ins inquire about experiences with classes, campus life and the overall college journey, further advancing the university’s commitment to innovation and student success.

When shopping online, it’s almost guaranteed a chatbot will appear. They provide instant customer service and answer frequently asked questions for consumers. They also help organizations filter their customers to the best place to receive additional help quicker and more efficiently. N.C. A&T’s University Student Success Office (USSO) implemented AGGIE to do just that.

The student-centered chatbot, launched in October 2024, is designed to meet students where they are by providing continuous support and enhancing communications across campus, strengthening connectivity for students feeling isolated, addressing concerns promptly and helping students persist to graduation. And students don’t have to wait for check-ins, they can use the chat anytime.

The chatbot is backed by a robust knowledge base centered around four key risk drivers: academic, engagement, financial and wellness, enabling staff members to intervene when necessary if the AI is unable to fully address a student's needs. Since implementation, 20,400 messages have been sent with 98% of students opting in and nearly a 40% engagement rate.

One student used AGGIE as they considered withdrawing. AGGIE connected the student with Dionne Caldwell, University Innovation Alliance fellow. “We met to discuss the challenges the student was facing,” Caldwell said. “I was able to connect her with like-minded peers and introduce her to the coordinator of a campus mentoring program. In our most recent meeting, she expressed that these connections had been extremely helpful and shared her renewed excitement about continuing her educational journey here at A&T.”

Caldwell and Kase Gregory, an academic recovery coordinator, partnered to develop the knowledge base for the chatbot.

AGGIE is just one example of how technology can assist with student success for Dwayne Tutt, Ph.D., associate vice provost for student success. He says the USSO is actively pursuing AI-driven technologies to support students, including academically.

“We also have ALEKS, a math tutoring platform using AI, that is heavily used in our College of Education and math department,” Tutt stated. “In both areas, we are seeing data-supported improvement in students using the program.”

Artificial intelligence continues to play a major role in shaping the future of the Aggie experience.

Our students aren't exclusively competing on fields and courts. They are also highly engaged and successful in trade competitions using their academic and co-curricular passions on some of the biggest stages. Students from the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics and College of Engineering prevailed over tough competition recently. Here are two stories about Aggies reaching the top of the podium while emphasizing learning outside of the classroom.

N.C. A&T's four-person team and faculty advisor at HBCU Stock Pitch Competition

Four students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University distinguished themselves as a top-performing team, winning first place in the fifth annual historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) Stock Pitch Competition, earning a total of $15,000 in prize money.

Under the leadership of Collins Okafor, Ph.D., freshmen Samariya Boru-Kelly and Auria Perry, sophomore William Hoskins and junior Daniel Martin showcased their financial acumen and competitive edge against peers from Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Morgan State University, Morehouse College and Spelman College. This marks the fourth time N.C. A&T has placed first in this competition, in addition to a second-place finish.

“Dr. Okafor has done a really good job leading the previous teams before, so A&T had a good reputation going into it,” said Martin, a finance major. “Aggie Pride is something we say here a lot and I thought we really embodied that.”

The HBCU Stock Pitch Competition allows students to demonstrate their skills in stock analysis, and enhance their strengths in teamwork and communication, while also introducing them to career opportunities in finance and trading through workshops and networking experiences.

Starting their preparation in January, the students combined in-depth research with mathematical and statistical analysis to evaluate stocks, and make high-yield and high-value investment recommendations before a panel of senior portfolio managers and finance executives.

Read more...

One of N.C. A&T student teams at the IEEE Conference in Charlotte, N.C.

Electrical engineering students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University earned top honors at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) SoutheastCon 2025, showcasing their innovation, technical expertise and team spirit.

Two student teams from N.C. A&T’S College of Engineering (COE) claimed first-place finishes in the Circuit Design and Ethics competitions, standing out among peer institutions from across the Southeast. These awards highlight the students’ technical excellence and their understanding of professional ethics and responsibilities.

“I’m incredibly proud of our IEEE team and all they accomplished,” said Yazmin Wilson, IEEE A&T student branch outgoing president. “With our two first place wins, A&T was the winningest university at the conference and that’s something to celebrate. But it’s not just about the wins. Many of our teams spent months, some nearly a year, preparing for these competitions. Even those who didn’t place showed incredible dedication, teamwork, and passion. Everyone who competed made A&T proud and I can’t wait to see what’s next for our IEEE team.”

More than a dozen students from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Department of Computer Science represented A&T at the annual regional conference held March 27-30 in Charlotte, North Carolina. SoutheastCon combines student competitions with professional networking and learning. Students were accompanied by Christopher Horne, Ph.D., COE’s IEEE student branch advisor; Corey Graves, Ph.D., hardware competition team advisor; and Shenell Summers, ECE student services specialist.

Read more...

Next Stop: A&T Solidifies Partnership in South Africa

N.C. A&T's push for globalization recently added a new partner, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley, South Africa, by signing an International Partnership Agreement. This formalizes a mutual interest to develop opportunities benefiting students and faculty from both institutions like student exchange and study abroad programs, joint degree offerings and research collaborations. A&T’s College of Education, a mutual academic focus outlined in the partnership, is already engaging in student development events with SPU.

This is one of multiple international partnerships the Division of Academic Affairs is exploring in South Africa. Sedibene TVET College (STC) and Cape Peninsula University of Technology are engaging in collaborative programing as administrators detail a formal IPA. In March and April, A&T and STC co-hosted the Student Virtual Global Institute, where students engaged intercultural dialogue and developed leadership and socio-cultural skills. 

CAES Confers First Ph.D. Recipients 

During the 2025 Spring Graduate Commencement, Arjun Thapa and William Oyom will receive the first doctoral degrees from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science or CAES.

Thapa’s doctoral degree is in Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, where his research focused on the use of cover crops and tall grass strips in commercial agriculture to improve both water quality and quantity in watersheds. He’s very active in research, having already published two journal papers in the Journal of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Journal of Food and Agriculture. Congratulations, Dr. Arjun Thapa.

Oyom is graduating from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in food science, human nutrition and health. His research focused on the use of gel coatings to reduce the unhealthy compounds found in chicken fried in fat. Congratulations, Dr. William Oyom.

Dr. Arjun Thapa

Dr. William Oyom

Researchers Study Deepfakes Detection and Impacts

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to create a professional headshot, swap faces with someone else or see what your future child may look like, and more, has underscored how the ability to alter images and video has become increasingly accessible.

“Maybe six years ago you would need a computer scientist or a computer engineer to do what we are seeing today, but now anyone can use AI,” said Kaushik Roy, Ph.D., director of the Center for Cyber Defense at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. “It easily becomes a huge problem when fake videos and images are out there.”

Read more...

She’s a Star: Senior is a Two-Time Astronaut Scholar

In 2023, Breyana Robinson was the first student from the College of Agriculture and Animal Sciences to receive the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship. One year later, Robinson has done it again.

In 2024, the senior laboratory animal sciences major was awarded again – making her one of two N.C. A&T students to be named a 2024 Astronaut Scholar from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation; Robinson’s latest scholarship makes her the first female-identifying Aggie and third student overall to receive the scholarship twice.

Read more...

Three Schools Collaborate on U.S. Department of Education Grant to Boost Biomedical Research

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has joined the North Carolina Shared Research and Education (NCShare) partnership, led by Duke University, which will enhance N.C. A&T researchers’ capacity to process large amounts of data and train artificial intelligence models faster.

“You need a lot of resources, especially when the researchers are working on millions of images and large video data files,” said Kaushik Roy, Ph.D., chair of A&T’s Department of Computer Science. “So, we need a lot of computing power, which is not possible using the regular desktop, CPU-based machine. A solution is a graphics processing unit, or GPU-based AI machine, to scale up our capability and improve our computing power and processing very quickly.”

Read more...

A&T Hosts Undergraduate Research Symposium

More than 200 North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University undergraduates participated in this year’s Undergraduate Research Symposium and Graduate College information session. 

Sponsored by N.C. A&T’s Office of Undergraduate Research, the symposium welcomed 204 student presenters spanning 59 academic degree disciplines who presented their research project findings, vied for cash prizes and represented their colleges with excellence.

Read more...

Cheerleaders Repeat as National Champions

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Cheerleading Program has cemented its place in history as a repeat winner in the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and National Dance Alliance (NDA) College National Championship.

With a final event score of 95.0093 and no deductions, the N.C. A&T team took first place again in the Intermediate Small Coed Division I group for this year’s event, held April 9-13 in Daytona, Florida.

Read more...