COLUMBIA, SC, November 7, 2025, Dr. Hong Jiang is one of the latest awardees of the Minority Serving-Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC) Research Catalyst Program. Jiang is one of the five faculty-led projects to bolster research readiness with cyberinfrastructure at HBCUs.
Jiang’s project will lead the EduCyber project to develop an innovative AI-powered chatbot and integrated cyberinfrastructure platform, aimed at enhancing educational research and student engagement. This one-year project will equip faculty and administrators with interactive visualizations to identify engagement trends and improve course delivery, while also training a diverse team of graduate and undergraduate researchers in AI, data management and ethical AI practices.
Jiang says, “I’m deeply honored to receive this award. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone whose support and dedication made this possible, this recognition truly belongs to all of us. As we continue to explore the impact of AI on education, I’m grateful for the funding and encouragement that enable us to move forward on this exciting journey.”
The program, supported by the National Science Foundation, empowers faculty and researchers to leverage national cyberinfrastructure tools and resources to advance their research, develop their workforce, and strengthen their institutional engagement.
MS-CC helps institutions like Benedict College build capacity for data-intensive research, improve digital infrastructure, and prepare for larger federal funding opportunities.
###
About Benedict College (www.benedict.edu)
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 29 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from several counties in South Carolina, states across America, and countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.