TAMPA – Nearly 600 students from 17 Tampa Bay high schools will gather on the University of South Florida campus on Nov. 12 for the first-ever Muma AI Day.
Sponsored by Muma College of Business and in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools, the event promises to introduce students to the world of artificial intelligence and its growing role in the jobs of the future.
Formerly known as Big Data Day, the event has evolved to reflect the rapid advances in AI and its growing influence across industries. Since its inception in 2016, the program has aimed to connect high school students with emerging technologies and encourage them to pursue technology-focused degrees.
“Muma AI Day was established to help prepare the next generation for AI-driven careers,” said Munir Mandviwala, dean of the School of Information Systems. “This event provides high school students with hands-on exposure to artificial intelligence and the technologies that will shape the future of work. At USF, we’re not just teaching them about AI, we’re building pathways to help them imagine themselves as future innovators in an AI-powered world.”
Throughout the event, students will participate in hands-on exercises and demonstrations that explore topics such as AI bias, predictive analytics, and automation. Industry experts, including representatives from Kforce, and USF faculty experts will share insights on how AI will continue to transform business and society.
“USF’s Muma AI Day takes students from curiosity to capability. When students test real-world AI tools, talk with faculty and industry partners, and learn how data, ethics, and human judgment come together in business, the future becomes a path, not an abstraction,” said Gary Brady, chief academic officer for Hillsborough County Public Schools.
“We are grateful for USF’s partnership to develop Tampa Bay’s next generation of innovators and ensure that every student from every zip code can confidently step into in-demand AI-powered careers,” he said.
According to Anna Bahvala, academic services administrator in the USF Muma College of Business School of Information Systems, Muma AI Day aims to make the learning experience exciting and impactful.
“We want students to have fun and not think of college as a boring place,” Barbara said. “We want students to have the opportunity to interact with faculty and current students and feel like this is a place where they can explore themselves.”
The program will also award educators the Teacher of the Year award for Hillsborough County’s AP Computer Science program and conclude with a campus tour and pizza social, giving students a glimpse into college life.
Bahabara noted that this year’s renewed focus on artificial intelligence reflects the continued shift toward emerging technologies that are redefining the future of work and education.
“AI is a disruptive force, and just like the industrial revolution, we can either lose our jobs to machines or learn how to make our jobs easier and have more free time,” she says.
Muma AI Day aims to combine innovation, interaction, and inspiration to help students envision themselves as the next generation of AI leaders in Tampa Bay and beyond.
