Two faculty members in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS) have received funding from Clemson University to develop experiential learning programs with industry partners nationwide.
“Industry-embedded experiential learning programs are an exceptional way for students to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in class to real-world scenarios, develop career-ready skills and build professional connections,” said Leslie Hossfeld, dean of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. “I am delighted this funding will support two CBSHS faculty members’ initiatives, enrich the Clemson Experience for our students and contribute to workforce development across disciplines.”
The funded projects include:
Industry-Embedded Health–Finance Analytics Initiative
MinJae Woo, assistant professor of data science in the Department of Public Health Sciences, was awarded $105,000 from the University to develop a University-wide datathon and three-credit capstone course to engage undergraduate students in industry-embedded experiential learning.
The initiative is designed to teach students skills in predictive modeling, responsible AI and executive communication in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The datathon will be held November 13-16, 2026, while the capstone course will be offered in Spring 2027.
In partnership with Equifax, the Clemson-Equifax Datathon will include a four-day immersive experience where students will receive a live dataset briefing from Equifax senior data scientists and faculty facilitators and engage in continuous model development, interpretation and reporting.
This unique learning experience leverages a rare, governance-compliant finance and health datasets to provide students with exposure to real-world analytical environments operating at a national scale. It also establishes a sustainable experiential learning pipeline by connecting Clemson students with national industry leadership and strengthening workforce readiness in healthcare analytics, financial technology and responsible AI.
The project will engage 80 undergraduate students, organized into ten interdisciplinary teams with eight members. At the end of the event, students will present formal project presentations judged by Equifax leadership and earn industry-recognized certificates and sponsored awards.
In Spring 2027, datathon participants will be invited to enroll in a three-credit capstone course extending the experience into a semester-long applied analytics project. Students will develop predictive models, evaluate cross-domain interactions between health-related financial stressors and consumer financial stability and conduct responsible AI and governance assessments. By the end of the semester, students will have portfolio-ready analytical deliverables, a track record of operating in governance-constrained environments and direct mentorship from senior industry leaders. The course will conclude with formal presentations hosted at Equifax headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Clemson National Security Scholars
Amira Jadoon, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, received $150,000 from the University to build a sustainable defense and intelligence workforce pipeline for Clemson students. The program, Clemson National Security Scholars, will connect students with organizations and practitioners across the United States’ national security enterprise.
This fall – and in Spring 2027 – students will complete a series of seminars with faculty members and other national security practitioners and scholars to explore core topics in terrorism studies, countering violent extremism frameworks and national security strategy, while learning about relevant career pathways in the field. Additionally, students will connect academic knowledge with workforce skills through three applied components: practitioner-led skills workshops, micro-internships with industry partners and immersion trips.
In the workshops, students will apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios under the guidance of national security professionals – and complete micro-internships with South Carolina partners, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd and Motley Rice, to gain experience in the local defense and security ecosystem.
Students will also travel to New York and Washington, D.C., for immersive learning experiences. They will visit the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 9/11 Memorial, the United Nations and its Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN CTED). At West Point, students will visit the Combating Terrorism Center– where Jadoon previously led the South and Central Asia portfolio – and attend class with cadets. Through both immersion trips, to New York and Washington, D.C., students will engage with national security policy organizations, think tanks, government agencies and private security organizations.
Clemson National Security Scholars is designed to strengthen relationships with government and industry partners and elevate experiential learning opportunities and career pathways for Clemson students. The program will provide applied research opportunities, hands-on learning experiences and networking with national security leaders nationwide.
The Departments of Public Health Sciences and Political Science are a part of the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. Established in July 2016, CBSHS is a 21st-century, land-grant college that combines work in seven disciplines – communication; nursing; parks, recreation and tourism management; political science; psychology; public health sciences; sociology, anthropology and criminal justice – to further its mission of “building people and communities” in South Carolina and beyond.
