With a ribbon cutting ceremony gathering faculty, staff, students and community partners, LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) recently celebrated the grand opening of its Technology Innovation and Research Center (TIRC) located at 835 Saxon Ave., Memphis, Tennessee.
The Technology Innovation and Research Center serves as a hub providing access to resources and technologies for advancing academic support, workforce readiness, and innovation for the college and community. The grand opening held tours through the new space with a testing lab, virtual reality space, and classrooms. Student-led activations were held for attendees to learn more about focus areas including virtual reality simulation, robotics, digital tools, and AI literacy.
“This is a space where students will help us solve real problems that are challenging not just our institution, but also our community,” said Kimberly Bailey, Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at LeMoyne-Owen College. “Our students can bring their unique qualities to this building and find a place to land all their amazing ideas. And it’s not just a place for our students, but also for faculty, staff, high school students, and others in our community. We want people to hold conferences here, complete certifications, take exams like the ACTs, research, and explore ideas.”
LOC’s Technology Innovation and Research Center also expands space for continued partnerships and events with local institutions.
“We also envision the center as a place where local businesses can find brilliant young people they can recruit for their hiring pipeline,” Bailey said. “So, it shouldn’t just be a place to learn and stop; there should be a destination reaching beyond that into our community, into employers, and even entrepreneurship for our students.”
“The opening of TIRC exemplifies LeMoyne-Owen College’s perpetual impact of preparing students as they become innovators and leaders who will accelerate strengthening our community,” said Dr. Christopher B. Davis, President of LeMoyne-Owen College. “The center is also a dedicated place where Memphians can receive support and access tools that will equip them for success and contribute to the city’s economy. It’s another opportunity to invest in our students and in our city.”
Visitors can access the center during normal business hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For inquiries to reserve the space for events, contact Brittany Morrow, Director of the Technology Innovation and Research Center, at brittany_morrow@loc.edu.