Greenville Technical College Builds Center for AI and Cyber Defense

The 59,315-square-foot facility at the Barton Campus will house 18 specialized labs, serving an estimated 6,600 students annually. Administrators expect every student at the college to utilize the space for at least one course. The center features a student-led Security Operations Center, providing hands-on experience in incident response, threat monitoring, and cyber defense, alongside dedicated labs for networking and AI-driven data pathways.

Dr. Candice Lewis, chief academic officer, noted that the college is aligning its curriculum with national trends where AI and cybersecurity function as interconnected fields. To support this integration, the college joined the National Applied AI Consortium Institutional Mentorship Program. This partnership provides faculty with professional development and strategic guidance to embed AI education across diverse departments, including existing technical and health-related programs like the new AI-integrated welding lab and dental hygiene diagnostic tools.

Beyond traditional degrees, the center will offer corporate training to bolster the regional workforce. Dr. Kelvin Byrd, chief economic development officer, stated that this dual-focus approach helps local companies leverage AI innovation while simultaneously mitigating the associated security risks. By combining technical hardware labs with real-world simulation, the college intends to produce graduates prepared for immediate entry into software development, machine learning, and cybersecurity roles.