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    UNCF UNITE 2026, the nation’s premier conference for HBCU leaders, staff, faculty and students was held in Atlanta, GA, on July 19-23. UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) celebrated the fifth year of its UNITE conference.

    On the third day of UNITE, the Research and Innovation Plenary took a deep dive into how faculty and students can effectively use AI on campus. The session also celebrated female HBCU presidents and the 20th anniversary of ICB.

    HBCUs Pave the Path to the Future through AI

    The first portion of the plenary, moderated by Tiffany Taylor, president, ASU+GSV Summit, focused on how HBCUs can use AI strategically, ethically and prepare students for the future of work. Panelists included: Dr. Bobbie Knight, president, Miles College; Tasha Austin, Ph.D., principal, Deloitte; and Monique Picou, chief strategic officer, Google Cloud.

    Knight emphasized that AI is more than a tool, stressing ownership of AI by developing their own AI certifications and finding ways that AI can be used to positively impact communities. “[We should] not just be consumers of AI but developers, operators, owners,” she said. She advised that HBCUs create their own AI certificates for faculty and staff, before scaling to students.

    Austin emphasized the leadership capacity necessary to explore AI and make sure to ask the right questions. “It’s important that we lean in and think about how we go about speed and innovation,” said Austin. “Asking the right questions is just as important as getting excited about all of the great technology that’s out there.”

    After the panel, Dr. Norman Golar, Ph.D., vice president, institutional effectiveness and research and transformation officer, Stillman College, and the college’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) liaison, was awarded UNCF’s Change Agent Award. Golar was recognized for his vision and strategic insight over his years of service.

    Celebrating the Sisterhood: Pioneering Female HBCU Presidents

    The second portion of the plenary, moderated by Dr. Roslyn Artis, president and CEO, Benedict College, highlighted the work of pioneering female HBCU presidents from Miles College, Saint Augustine University and Savannah State University.

    The session featured panelists from The HBCU Sisterhood: Testimonies of Triumph and Transformation,” a recent anthology showcasing leadership legacies of eight pioneering Black women presidents, co-edited by Artis and Dr. Allia L. Carter, executive vice president and COO, Virginia Union University. The panelists—Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber, former president, Saint Augustine University; Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier, former president, Savanah State University; and Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, former president, Huston-Tillotson University—discussed the diligent work of HBCU female presidents and the importance of sharing their stories to preserve history and create a roadmap for future female leaders.

    “If we don’t tell our stories, people are either going to eliminate our stories, belittle our stories or distort our stories,” said Dozier.

    The panelists spoke on how they measured their own success and how the sisterhood of female presidents helped them on their journey. The presidents reflected on a two hour Zoom meeting during COVID that gave them an outlet to connect and discuss issues they were facing. “It was a safe space. We were in a vault together. It was a brave space to share our fears. We can share our triumphs and challenges,” said Dr. Burnette.

    After the panel, Miles College was awarded UNCF’s Futuristic Award, which highlights the work of HBCUs that are boldly shaping the future through innovation and strategic vision.

    20 Years of Building Capacity for HBCUs

    The plenary rounded out on a high note, celebrating ICB’s 20th anniversary and recognizing founding members and funders. Awards were presented to Rev. Dr. Darryl Ann Lai Fang, assistant vice president of Transformation Support, ICB, UNCF, acknowledging her 16-year service. Ed Smith Lewis, former senior vice president, strategic partnerships and institutional programs, ICB, UNCF, received the UNCF 2026 Champion Award, acknowledging his 10 years of leadership. Over 20 years, ICB has stewarded over nearly a quarter billion dollars in philanthropic investments and developed high impact initiatives including the HBCU Institutional Advancement Program, the Career Pathways Initiative and HBCU Transformation Project.

    The post How UNCF UNITE Is Shaping HBCU Campuses for the Age of AI appeared first on UNCF.

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