Houston City College awards 2026 Innovation Grants to support student success and academic excellence

Five outstanding faculty members at Houston City College have been selected by a committee of their peers to receive 2026 Houston City College Innovation Grants.

These grants, totaling $5,000 for each project, support faculty-led initiatives to enhance student success, strengthen workforce preparation and advance instructional innovation across the college.

Faculty recipients will use the funding, made possible through a partnership between the HCC Foundation and the Chancellor’s Office, to develop hands-on learning experiences, expand access to emerging technologies and create new pathways for student engagement and achievement.

Recipients of Innovation Grants will be designated as Distinguished Educators. They are:

Dr. Mayyada Chami, Psychology: “MindLab: Advancing Experiential Learning in Behavioral Sciences” Dr. Chami’s project seeks to develop a technology-driven learning and research space at Houston City College focused on immersing psychology students in the practical applications of behavioral science and neuroscience. The initiative aims to create dedicated laboratory facilities by pairing hands-on opportunities with emerging technologies, brain function and brain-behavior relationships in an interactive, real-world context that extends learning beyond traditional textbooks and lectures.

Dr. Reem Salim, Engineering: “Electronics Innovation Lab” The Electronics Innovation Lab will provide a dedicated, hands-on learning environment for students to bridge the gap between theoretical coursework and real-world engineering practice. The project supports the integration of experiential learning, robotics, renewable energy and IoT technologies into engineering education, preparing students for future careers in modern engineering industries.

Ms. Baijayanti Sarkar, Integrated Reading & Writing: “See It. Write It. Become It: VR & AI Career Literacy with Personalized Pathways in INRW” This project introduces travel-focused virtual reality and writing courses designed to immerse students in career-connected learning experiences. Through landscape and place-based activities, students will connect foundational reading and writing skills with professional pathways while strengthening career exploration, cultural awareness and communication skills.

Dr. Kam Chu, Physics: “Enhancing Active Learning in College and University Physics Through AI-Integrated Instruction” Chu’s initiative introduces an AI-powered, active learning model in introductory physics that combines conceptual understanding, analytical problem-solving and collaborative learning. The project is designed to improve faculty guidance while increasing student engagement, critical thinking and success in physics coursework.

Dr. Staci Willis, Anthropology: “Reimagining Archaeological Field School” This project reimagines the archaeological field school experience for students by making it more accessible and career-relevant. Taking place on campus, it focuses on cultural resource management methods, the foundation of most archaeology careers in the United States, equipping students with hands-on survey, excavation, documentation and artifact analysis skills comparable to those performed by entry-level field technicians in the commercial archaeology workforce.

Together, these projects reflect HCC’s commitment to academic excellence and student-centered learning, with each initiative aligned to the institution’s strategic vision. Grant work begins this month and will extend through March 2027.