The Clemson Career Innovation Lab, a pilot program with the mission of developing Artificial Intelligence-driven career guidance for students, officially opened its doors on March 5 in the Hendrix Student Center’s Tiger Den.
Maggie Erikson, the founder of the Career Innovation Lab, was first inspired in 2022 to create the on-campus lab in collaboration with the Center for Career and Professional Development to train students on effective AI usage.
“In today’s job market, we are seeing a decrease in entry-level positions in part due to AI. I think it is really important for students to start learning the skills to adapt with increasing AI in the job market and higher education,” Erikson said in an interview with The Tiger.
“Although we are uncertain how AI will adapt in the future, it is crucial that students are preparing for this shift in technology as much as possible,” she continued.
Erikson began developing the lab in the fall of 2024 with the help of the Center for Career and Professional Development and several student interns supported by Clemson’s University Professional Internship and Co-Op Program. The interns work hands-on with students during events and drop-in hours to teach AI skills and career readiness.
“I’m passionate about the intersection of technology and business. Seeing AI reshape how we work, make decisions, and interact across industries inspired me to contribute to this evolution,” McKinley Eads, a senior financial management major and current lab intern, said in a recent LinkedIn post from the Career Innovation Lab.
“This led me to my internship with the Career Innovation Lab, which empowers students through AI to support their professional and personal growth, aligning with my goal of creating impactful, future-focused solutions,” Eads continued.
Students now have opportunities in the lab to explore new AI platforms, practice prompt engineering, receive resume guidance and refinement and explore various careers and majors.
In addition to conducting drop-in sessions for students, the program will also expand in the fall 2025 semester to be utilized two days during the week: one day for all students and one day every week in a specific Clemson college.
“I want the Career Innovation Lab to be a fun, safe space where students can make mistakes the right way and learn to utilize AI to work with technology, not against it. Higher education is going to need to adapt to the increase in AI technology to prepare students for the future,” Erikson told The Tiger.
Erikson also mentioned that there is an issue with AI and integrity and that many professors are “anti-AI” in the classroom due to its reputation.
The lab is currently “exploding,” with over 150 students participating in activities during its first month open. The lab is also featured on Instagram and LinkedIn, with more updates coming soon.
