With over 60 published journal articles and more than 9,500 citations to her credit, Dr. Suhong Li is advancing the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, and information systems. As professor and chair of the Information Systems and Analytics Department at Bryant University, Li has helped build innovative undergraduate- and graduate-level programs, including a new online degree program: the groundbreaking Master of Science (MS) in Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI).
While she sees many opportunities for AI to aid in academic research, business, and other areas, Li maintains that large language models and other advanced AI functions are tools that require continuous monitoring and reviewing by humans.
“I always tell students, no matter how advanced AI becomes, it is just a tool,” she says. “Students need to not only learn the fundamentals of AI but also develop strong business domain knowledge. The true power of AI lies in applying it to solve real business challenges. They need to understand both business and technology, and most importantly, learn how to ask the right questions.”
Applying Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Innovation
Artificial intelligence has become integrated into daily life, performing tasks that range from aiding Google searches to powering chatbots and even replacing some customer service providers. For Li, the key to making the most of AI lies in understanding how to apply it. Courses at Bryant University engage students in the many applications of AI, including teaching them how to write effective prompts, develop AI-powered solutions, and understand the limitations of the technology.
“Applied AI focuses on how people can use existing AI tools and platforms to solve real business problems,” she explains. “In our AI program, students can choose one of two tracks: business analytics or healthcare. Once students learn the AI foundation, they can apply AI to a domain they are interested in. They still need to understand fundamentals like data management, data visualization, basic coding, marketing, and business strategy, but we focus on applying AI to business.”
This philosophy shaped the innovative MS in Applied AI program, which Li has been instrumental in developing. The program blends technical training with teaching the foundations of business analytics and healthcare informatics applications. It is designed to prepare students for emerging roles such as AI consultant, business analyst, and prompt engineer.
Staying current in the fast-moving field of technology requires constant attention and adaptation across all of the department’s programs. “The technology changes so rapidly, AI changes so rapidly, we always need to look ahead,” Li says. “We want to give students the latest curricula.”
AI’s Applications in Research and Industry
Li views artificial intelligence as both a powerful research tool and a potential driver of innovation across industries. In her own academic work, she uses AI to narrow down broad research topics, recommend references, and generate ideas for data analysis. When used correctly, the tools can boost productivity, but Li maintains that the process still requires extensive human oversight.
Beyond academia, Li sees AI’s potential to transform industries. The new MS in Applied AI program, for example, is ideal for business leaders seeking to unleash the power of AI in their own companies.
Rather than requiring students to master skills in areas such as software engineering, the courses in the program focus on exploring the potential uses of AI in various industries. From health informatics systems that can be used to improve patient care in a healthcare facility to predictive analytics tools that can be applied to optimize business strategy in a multinational corporation, the vast potential for AI provides graduates with numerous opportunities to step into roles where AI applications directly improve organizational outcomes.
Supply Chain Management Expertise
With an extensive background in both information systems and business management, Li has contributed to research papers and projects in areas that range from blockchain technology and social media analytics to climate change and organizational performance.
Li’s most cited articles emerged from her dissertation research on supply chain management, including an article published in the Journal of Operations Management. At the time, the field was evolving, moving beyond logistics toward a broader understanding of interconnected systems. Her survey-based study explored best practices and examined how information technology, organizational support, and trust between partners could improve supply chain performance and drive financial results.
When COVID-19 disrupted global supply chains, her work gained renewed attention, with researchers and businesses turning to her findings for insights on resilience and strategies to address shortages. Her paper was one of the pioneering works to develop an instrument to measure supply chain practice and supply chain performance and argue that supply chains should be understood as networks, not just logistics operations, with information technology playing a central role in making them efficient.
“Information sharing is a very important factor for supply chain performance,” she says. “My research in supply chain management had a lot of citations, especially during COVID-19. There is a lot of research on how to fix a broken supply chain. My current area is AI and data science, but I also have a background in business. So I try to apply my data science knowledge in a specific business domain, like supply chain.”
How Bryant University Stands Apart
For Li, one of Bryant University’s many strengths is its ability to give students cutting-edge resources while keeping classes small and personal. She highlights the university’s new labs for data science as one example of how her university is preparing students for a rapidly evolving field.
“I’m very proud of the state-of-the-art facility we have,” she says. “I have visited a lot of big schools. I think our facility is much better. In our new building, we have a data science lab specifically designed for collaborative learning, where we have flexible seating and large screens for group work. We provide virtual machines and a high-performing computing [HPC] server for students to work on coursework. And we have a data visualization lab that hosts advanced workstations with GPU [graphics processing unit] and VR headsets.
“We also have the AI lab, which will house a few robots. The AI lab provides a place for students to collaborate, experiment, and work on AI projects beyond the classroom.”
Bryant’s graduates are sought-after by area businesses because of their broad technology and business skills, according to Li, including their knowledge of the latest industry tools. She also highlights how accessible the faculty members are to students.
“Our classes have 25 to 30 students, so students and faculty have a very close relationship,” she says. “The professors know the students’ names, and if students get stuck, they can ask for help. They also have opportunities to work closely with professors on research projects.”
Explore AI’s Potential for Innovation With an Online Master’s Program From Bryant University
After a career exploring the intersection of technology, business, and education, Dr. Suhong Li is bringing her vision of practical AI education with real-world applications to life. Through Bryant University’s Online MS in Applied AI program, Li and other experienced faculty members are providing students with both foundational technical knowledge of AI and the ability to apply tools such as business analytics and health informatics programs in real-world contexts.
Offered fully online and structured into 10 courses (30 credits) over 12 to 24 months, the innovative degree program teaches students how to harness the power of AI to drive innovation in their own organizations. Courses start five times throughout the year.
In addition to developing new AI-focused programs for Bryant, Li is also guiding her department’s efforts to incorporate AI into its other degree programs, including the on-campus MS in Data Science and MS in Business Analytics programs.
Learn more about Bryant’s innovative graduate programs, and apply online today.