Quick Navigation

Executive Summary

The Opportunity

Texas Southern University is uniquely positioned at the convergence of three massive federal policy initiatives:

  1. CHIPS Act ($280B AI infrastructure investment)
  2. Biden Energy Transition ($900B+ clean energy investment)
  3. Biden AI Executive Order (emphasis on HBCU participation in federal research)

Why This Matters for TSU:

  • TSU sits in Houston—nation's premier energy hub
  • HBCU status unlocks $50-100M+ in federal research opportunities
  • $60M Third Ward redevelopment provides physical + community integration lever
  • Energy + AI convergence is where federal funding is flowing RIGHT NOW

The Vision:

By 2030, TSU becomes the national model for HBCU-led research, workforce development, and community transformation—with Third Ward redevelopment as the visible proof that this works.

The Outcome:

  • $12-15M annual research funding (sustainable)
  • 8-12 startup companies formed
  • 300-400 Third Ward residents trained + employed annually
  • National recognition as "the HBCU model for community-centered innovation"

Section 1: Why This Moment is Critical

The Federal Funding Convergence

Three federal initiatives are creating a $1.19 trillion opportunity specifically designed for universities like TSU:

Initiative Amount Relevance to TSU Timeline
CHIPS Act $280B AI infrastructure, semiconductor research 2024-2034
Energy Transition (IRA) $900B Clean energy, energy transition, grid modernization 2023-2032
AI Research Initiative $10B+ MSI/HBCU participation mandate 2024-2029
Critical Insight: These three initiatives are NOT competing for the same dollars. They're STACKED. A single institution can access all three if positioned correctly.

Why TSU is Positioned Better Than Rice/UH/Texas A&M

Traditional competitors (Rice, UH, Texas A&M) have advantages in research scale, but TSU has advantages they cannot replicate:

Factor Rice/UH/A&M TSU (Unique Advantage)
Energy hub location No YES (Houston)
HBCU status No YES (federal mandate)
Community integration No YES (Third Ward location)
Federal HBCU funding priority No YES ($50-100M programs)
Workforce development role Secondary PRIMARY (community mission)
TSU isn't competing on "general research excellence." TSU is competing on a category Rice/UH can't enter: "HBCU-led research + community transformation in nation's energy capital."

Houston Infrastructure Advantage

TSU has 8 specific infrastructure assets it can leverage immediately:

  1. HETI (Houston Energy Transitions Initiative) - 18+ energy companies as research partners
  2. NASA Johnson Space Center - 3,000+ employees, research partnerships
  3. Texas Medical Center - Healthcare + energy + tech innovation
  4. Port of Houston - Supply chain + logistics + energy
  5. Defense/Manufacturing Cluster - Boeing, Lockheed, TDAMC membership
  6. Economic Development Office - City + County support for innovation
  7. Rice/UH Partnerships - Complementary research, shared infrastructure
  8. Mayor's Innovation Office - City-level advocacy + funding
No other HBCU has access to this constellation of assets.

Section 2: The Three Ecosystems Integration

Ecosystem 1: Energy AI Research Hub (What TSU Does)

Purpose: Generate IP, create startups, establish research credibility

Year 1-3 Execution:

  • Hire Chief Research & Innovation Officer (CRIO) with federal + energy background
  • Establish Energy AI Research Advisory Board (energy companies, federal agencies, investors)
  • Launch 3-5 initial research projects ($500K-$1M Year 1 funding)
  • Scale to 6-8 projects by Year 2-3 ($3-5M active funding)
  • Form first startups from research IP (1-2 Year 1-2, 3-5 by Year 3)

Output by Year 3:

  • $8-10M annual research funding pipeline
  • 10-15 patents filed/licensed
  • 3-5 startup companies in portfolio
  • Research published in peer-reviewed venues
  • Federal agency relationships established

Ecosystem 2: Third Ward Redevelopment ($60M Project)

Purpose: Physical infrastructure + community opportunity + economic integration

Current Status:

  • $610.7M Choice Neighborhoods investment (Houston Housing Authority partnership)
  • 10-year transformation underway (2025-2035)
  • TSU is geographically embedded in Third Ward—unique advantage

TSU's Role:

  • Anchor institution for community + research integration
  • Research projects serve Third Ward context (sustainability, resilience, health)
  • Workforce training feeds local job creation
  • Startups hire from local workforce pipeline
  • Third Ward becomes "living laboratory" for research

Ecosystem 3: Workforce Development Pipeline

Purpose: Entry-level to advanced skills training, placement into jobs

Multi-Tier Structure:

Tier 1: Entry-Level (Community College)

  • 30-50 students per cohort
  • Energy + AI fundamentals
  • Placement into $35-45K jobs
  • WIOA funding supports training

Tier 2: Advanced (TSU Bachelor's Program)

  • 30-50 students per cohort
  • Energy AI specialization
  • Direct placement into $50-65K jobs
  • Research integration

Tier 3: Professional (Master's Program)

  • 15-25 students per cohort
  • Advanced AI + research
  • Career advancement to $65-85K+
  • Research participation

Outcomes by Year 3:

  • 400-500 students trained cumulatively
  • 90%+ job placement rate
  • Average starting salary: $50K+
  • 150-200 Third Ward residents employed
  • Multiple employer partnerships formalized

How They Reinforce Each Other

Research Hub generates IP ↓ IP converted to startup companies ↓ Startups need AI-trained workforce ↓ Workforce pipeline provides employees ↓ Employees are Third Ward residents ↓ Local employment → Community transformation ↓ Community success → Research credibility ↓ Research attracts federal funding ↓ Cycle reinforces itself
This isn't three separate initiatives. It's one integrated ecosystem where each tier strengthens the others.

Section 3: 5-Year Outcomes Target

Year-by-Year Milestones

Metric Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Research
Annual Funding $1-2M $3-5M $8-10M $10-12M $12-15M
Patents Filed 3-5 5-8 10-15 15-20 15-20
Startups Formed 0-1 1-2 3-5 5-8 8-12
Workforce
Students Trained 50-80 150-200 300-400 350-450 400-500
Placement Rate 70% 80% 90%+ 95%+ 95%+
Avg. Salary $40K $45K $50K+ $55K+ $55K+
Community
Third Ward Employed 10-20 50-80 150-200 250-300 300-400
Annual Earnings Impact — +$2-3M +$8-12M +$15-20M +$20-25M
National
Media Coverage 1-2 3-5 5-10 10-15 20+
HBCU Replication 0 0 1-2 2-3 5+

The Outcome Story (By Year 5)

"When Gail Bassette retires, TSU will be recognized nationally as the model for HBCU-led research and community transformation. The Energy AI Research Hub will be sustaining itself on $12-15M annual federal funding. A portfolio of 8-12 startup companies will be creating jobs for Third Ward residents. And Third Ward employment, education, and health outcomes will have measurably improved—not from charity, but from research and entrepreneurship creating real economic opportunity.

Congressional representatives, energy company executives, and HBCU presidents will point to TSU as proof that diversity in federal research investment isn't equity—it's smart policy that produces measurable outcomes."

Section 4: Gail's Strategic Role

What Gail Does (Orchestrator, Not Operator)

Gail's job is NOT to run the research hub day-to-day. Her job is to orchestrate the ecosystem:

Area Gail's Responsibility Execution (CRIO/Team)
Vision Define direction Execute strategy
Funding Secure federal/state/local support Manage research grants
Politics Build federal/state advocacy Maintain relationships
Relationships Connect stakeholders Manage partnerships
Quality Oversee outcomes Deliver research/training
Succession Develop next leader Execute operations

Critical First Hire: The CRIO

Why This Hire Determines Everything:

The Chief Research & Innovation Officer (CRIO) is the person who either makes this vision work or derails it. Gail's primary job Year 1 is recruiting the right CRIO.

Required Profile:

  • 15-20 years federal R&D experience (NSF, DOE, DARPA, etc.)
  • Energy OR AI background (ideally both)
  • Track record building research programs from zero
  • Federal funding expertise (proposal writing, relationship building)
  • Leadership + team-building capability
  • Community engagement mindset

What You're NOT Looking For:

  • Traditional research administrator (too narrow)
  • Academia-only background (needs federal credibility)
  • Venture capital exec (needs federal sector knowledge)
  • Consultant without execution experience (needs to build things)
Compensation Target: $250-350K (above typical university salary)
Why: You're paying for federal relationship capital, not just academic credentials.

Gail's Political Role

Beyond hiring, Gail's other critical role is political activation:

Federal Level:

  • Quarterly meetings with NSF, DOE, HUD program officers
  • Build relationships with congressional staff
  • Activate HBCU community as advocates

State Level:

  • Texas Legislature advocacy
  • State economic development coordination
  • State energy transition alignment

Local Level:

  • Houston City Council advocacy
  • Harris County Commissioners
  • Business community engagement

Energy Sector:

  • HETI leadership engagement
  • Individual energy company exec relationships
  • Industry advisory board formation

🚨 CRITICAL: 3/12/2026 NSF PROPOSAL DEADLINE

Your NSF proposal due March 12, 2026 is the FIRST EXECUTION MILESTONE of this strategy.

This 90-Day plan (Feb 1 - Apr 25) is designed with this deadline as the centerpiece. The NSF proposal becomes your first test case for the Energy AI Research Hub positioning, and its success or failure will directly inform Year 1 playbook execution.

Critical path: Feb 1-Mar 12 is proposal-intensive. The 90-day action plan below prioritizes NSF submission, with full playbook execution ramping up Mar 13 onward.

Section 5: First 100 Days Action Plan (Feb 1 - Apr 25)

Timeline Context: Starts with NSF proposal due 3/12, transitions to full Year 1 playbook execution 3/13 onward.

Week 1-2 (Feb 1-14): NSF Proposal Onboarding & Strategy

Actions:

  • Review NSF proposal details + current draft status (if exists)
  • Strategic briefing: How NSF proposal aligns with Energy AI Research Hub narrative
  • Schedule strategy call with current proposal lead + grant writer
  • Identify CRIO candidates (parallel track to proposal)
  • Brief TSU President on NSF deadline + engagement strategy
Outcome: NSF strategy aligned; proposal trajectory clear; leadership briefed; CRIO search initiated

Week 3-4 (Feb 15-28): NSF Proposal Writing Sprint 1

Actions:

  • NSF proposal intensive writing (target: 80% draft complete)
  • Finalize research narrative + align with Energy AI Research Hub strategy
  • Budget narrative + institutional commitment letters finalized
  • Internal TSU approvals process initiated (Provost, Grants Office)
  • Continue CRIO recruitment (interviews ongoing)
Outcome: NSF proposal 80% complete; internal approvals underway; CRIO interviews scheduled

Week 5-6 (Mar 1-12): NSF SUBMISSION SPRINT + Internal Board Prep

Actions:

  • Mar 1-10: Final NSF proposal edits + compliance review
  • Mar 11: Internal approvals finalized; proposal queued for submission
  • Mar 12: NSF proposal submitted
  • TSU Board briefing: Strategic direction + NSF submission + Year 1 planning
  • CRIO final interviews + offer preparation
Outcome: ✅ NSF proposal submitted 3/12; Board aligned; CRIO offer ready

Week 7-8 (Mar 13-27): Post-NSF + Political Activation Launch

Actions:

  • CRIO offer extended (target start date Apr 1, 2026)
  • Federal agency calls (NSF, DOE, HUD) - follow-up on NSF submission + discuss other programs
  • Congressional outreach begins (Congresswoman Jackson Lee's office, House Education Committee)
  • Third Ward community listening tour scheduled (residents, HUA, community leaders)
  • Year 1 budget + staffing plan finalized
Outcome: CRIO onboarding begins; federal relationships activated; political advocacy launched; community engagement started

Week 9-12 (Mar 28 - Apr 25): Year 1 Playbook Execution Launch

Actions:

  • CRIO in place (Apr 1 start); strategic onboarding completed by Apr 25
  • Research Hub Advisory Board first meeting (energy companies, federal agencies, investors)
  • Internal research project RFPs distributed (faculty participation, partnership opportunities)
  • Workforce development program partnerships formalized (community college, WIOA boards)
  • Year 1 funding applications in pipeline (NSF, DOE, HUD - targeting awards by Q3 2026)
  • Media/communications strategy launched (national positioning begins)
Outcome: Full Year 1 playbook execution underway; CRIO leading research hub; federal funding cycle active; workforce pipeline launched

Section 6: Federal Funding Opportunities

Tier 1 Funding: High Priority (Next 12 Months)

Program Agency Amount Focus Deadline
NSF ExpandAI NSF $5-20M AI research + education Rolling (submit ASAP)
DOE HBCU Research Program DOE $1-5M Energy transition research 2-3x per year
HUD Community Development Research HUD $500K-$2M Community development research Varies
Commerce/NIST HBCU Partnerships Commerce $500K-$1M Manufacturing + supply chain Rolling
NASA JSC University Partnerships NASA $500K-$3M Space/energy research Rolling

Tier 2 Funding: Medium Priority (12-24 Months)

Program Agency Amount Focus Strategy
DARPA AI Research DARPA $2-10M+ Autonomous systems + energy Build relationships first
NSF AI Research Institute NSF $20M Sustained AI research centers Consortium application
DOE Clean Energy Innovation DOE $1-5M Renewable energy research Multi-year partnerships
NSF HBCU Research Centers NSF $5-15M Sustained research infrastructure Proposal in 18 months

Tier 3 Funding: Long-Term (24+ Months)

Program Agency Amount Focus Strategy
NSF Engineering Research Centers NSF $20-30M Large-scale research infrastructure Build track record first
DOE Energy Earthshots DOE $10-50M Transformative energy research Demonstrate capability
ARPA-E Program ARPA-E $2-10M Advanced energy projects Proven execution first

Year 1 Funding Strategy: Target $1-2M

Conservative Approach:

  • 2-3 federal awards: $300K-500K each
  • 1-2 industry partnerships: $100-300K
  • TSU operational support: $300-500K

Total: $1-1.5M

Optimistic Approach:

  • NSF ExpandAI: $500K-$1M
  • DOE HBCU Program: $300-500K
  • HUD Community Development: $200-400K
  • Industry partnerships: $200-300K

Total: $1.5-2.5M

Application Timeline (Next 6 Months)

Month 1-2: Intelligence & Relationship Building

  • Research each program website + contact program officers
  • Identify 3-5 NSF program officers (set up calls)
  • Preliminary conversations to understand priorities

Month 2-3: Proposal Drafting

  • Develop NSF ExpandAI pre-proposal (rolling deadline)
  • Draft DOE HBCU research concept
  • Connect with industry partners for co-funding discussions

Month 3-4: Submission

  • Submit NSF ExpandAI proposal (early birds have advantages)
  • Submit DOE HBCU pre-proposal
  • Initiate HUD community development research preliminary proposal

Month 4-6: Pipeline Management

  • Follow up with program officers
  • Prepare for possible NSF site visits
  • Draft DOE full proposal (if pre-proposal successful)
  • Continue industry partnership negotiations

Section 7: Political Strategy & Advocacy

Who Needs TSU's Success

Federal Agencies:

  • NSF needs proof HBCU can lead AI research
  • DOE needs HBCU energy transition success stories
  • HUD needs research-driven community transformation model
  • Congress needs results to justify HBCU funding

Energy Companies:

  • Need AI-trained workforce (TSU pipeline delivers)
  • Need research partners (TSU hub provides)
  • Need community relationships (TSU builds them)

Houston Leadership:

  • Mayor: Energy transition + community development + innovation
  • City Council: Job creation + economic development
  • Business community: Talent pipeline + research partnerships

National HBCU Movement:

  • Gail becomes exemplar of HBCU leadership
  • Other presidents look to replicate model
  • NAFEO/HBCU coalitions amplify strategy

Federal Advocacy Roadmap (Year 1)

Month 1-2: Relationship Building

  • Schedule calls with NSF, DOE, HUD program officers (informational, not ask-for-money)
  • Introduce Gail and CRIO to program officer teams
  • Learn their priorities + funding mechanisms

Month 2-3: Congressional Engagement

  • Meet with Congresswoman Jackson Lee's staff (House Education Committee)
  • House Appropriations Committee staff briefing
  • Build relationships with Texas delegation

Month 3-4: Advocacy Messaging

  • Develop "Energy AI Research Hub" positioning statement (1-page)
  • Create "Why TSU Matters" talking points (federal + state + local)
  • Document "Third Ward Integration Story"

Month 4-6: Activation

  • Invite federal program officers to TSU for site visits
  • Congressional delegation visit to campus + Third Ward
  • State legislature briefing on research + workforce strategy
  • Energy company leadership engagement

Month 6-12: Momentum Building

  • Federal agencies incorporate TSU into their HBCU strategy
  • Congressional support translated into appropriations
  • State legislature recognizes TSU in energy transition strategy
  • Media coverage (national outlets feature Third Ward transformation)

Key Messages by Audience

For Federal Agencies:

"TSU brings research excellence + HBCU status + community mission. We're not competing for general research funding. We're demonstrating how HBCU research drives both innovation AND community transformation."

For Congress:

"TSU proves that diversity in federal research investment is smart policy. Energy transition + AI infrastructure + HBCU leadership in America's energy hub = measurable outcomes that justify continued investment."

For Energy Companies:

"TSU provides three things you need: research partnerships, AI-trained workforce, and community relationships. We're not separate departments. We're one integrated ecosystem."

For Third Ward Residents:

"TSU isn't just a research institution. We're training you for $50K+ jobs, creating startups that hire locally, and ensuring that energy transition benefits are shared in OUR community."

Section 8: Next Steps & Commitment

For This Pre-Engagement Meeting

Gail Should Walk Away Understanding:

  1. ✅ Why This Moment Matters: Federal policy convergence creates $1.19T opportunity specifically for institutions like TSU
  2. ✅ Why TSU is Uniquely Positioned: Energy hub + HBCU status + Third Ward location = category only TSU can enter
  3. ✅ How the Three Ecosystems Work Together: Research → Startups → Local Jobs → Community Impact → Political Success
  4. ✅ What Success Looks Like: $12-15M annual sustainable funding + 8-12 startups + 300-400 locally employed residents by Year 5
  5. ✅ What Gail's Role Is: Orchestrate the ecosystem (politics, relationships, quality oversight), not operate day-to-day
  6. ✅ What Needs to Happen Next: CRIO hire, federal relationship building, 90-day action plan activation
  7. ✅ Why This is Realistic: Benchmarked against successful HBCU tech transfer models (Jackson State, Morehouse, NC A&T, Howard, FAMU)

Full Diagnostic Engagement (If Moving Forward)

If TSU moves forward, Marvin/Compound Leverage will deliver:

Complete 15-Section Playbook:

  • Executive summary + diagnostic findings + market analysis + pipeline strategy
  • Competitive positioning + market opportunity sizing + scaling roadmap
  • Implementation roadmap (12-month detail) + success metrics + risk mitigation
  • Stakeholder engagement strategy + funding roadmap

Custom Tools & Resources:

  • 4 specialized Claude Code skills for TSU team (funding mandate finder, workforce pipeline manager, tech transfer ecoysystem builder, proposal response generator)
  • 30-50 researched leads database (federal agencies, energy companies, political contacts)
  • 12-month interactive roadmap with milestones + dependencies
  • Executive presentation deck (20-25 slides for board/congress/stakeholders)

Implementation Support:

  • Setup guide + documentation
  • Brand guidelines + validation checklist
  • Quarterly strategy review cycles (optional ongoing engagement)

Timeline: 2 weeks from engagement approval to complete deliverables

Closing: This is Gail's Moment

The Reality:

Federal funding in AI + energy transition is at historic highs. HBCUs are explicitly prioritized. Houston has unique infrastructure advantages. And Third Ward redevelopment provides the integration lever.

The Opportunity:

Gail has 5 years to orchestrate TSU's transformation from a strong regional research institution into a national leader in HBCU research + community impact. This isn't about incremental improvements. This is about positioning TSU as the model that other HBCUs replicate.

The Risk:

If TSU doesn't move now, the opportunity window won't stay open. Competing institutions (Rice, UH, other HBCUs) will recognize the convergence. Federal program officers will fund competitors. And TSU will be explaining "what if" instead of leading.

The Legacy:

By Year 5, when Gail retires, she won't just have built a research hub. She will have transformed TSU. She will have proven that HBCU-led innovation works. She will have created a replicable model. And she will have left a legacy that transcends her tenure—because other institutions will be copying TSU's playbook for years to come.

Meeting Preparation Checklist

Before Meeting with Gail:

  • Read all 3 strategic frameworks (Tech Transfer + Energy AI Convergence + Legacy Strategy)
  • Review this briefing document (understand key messages + talking points)
  • Prepare 1-slide visual: "Why TSU Wins" (Energy Hub + HBCU Status + Third Ward Location)
  • Prepare 1-slide visual: "The Three Ecosystems" (Research + Workforce + Community)
  • Prepare 1-slide visual: "5-Year Outcomes" (Timeline + Key Metrics)
  • Gather local context (Houston energy companies, Third Ward redevelopment status)
  • Identify 2-3 success story examples (Jackson State, Morehouse, NC A&T tech transfer models)

Questions to Ask Gail During Meeting:

  1. What's your vision for how TSU contributes to Third Ward transformation?
  2. How much political capital do you have with TSU Board + President for this level of ambition?
  3. What's your relationship with Houston energy sector? Do you have existing contacts at Shell, Baker Hughes, etc.?
  4. What's your comfort level with federal relationship-building and advocacy?
  5. Who are your strongest potential allies internally (faculty, administrators, students)?
  6. What would success look like to you personally? What's your measure of legacy?

Items to Share with Gail After Meeting:

  • Strategic frameworks (Tech Transfer, Energy AI Convergence, Legacy Strategy)
  • 90-day action plan (week-by-week commitments)
  • Funding opportunity list (programs + deadlines)
  • CRIO profile + compensation expectations
  • 5-year success metrics dashboard