Matadors are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to strengthen connection and build a more inclusive campus community. This spring, CSUN hosted AI Jam 2025, an annual innovation competition where 25 student teams developed AI-powered solutions to real-world challenges.

Cosponsored by the Division of Information Technology, Associated Students, the University Library and the Career Center, the event challenged students to explore how AI could strengthen connection and community at CSUN. Participants gained hands-on experience through workshops led by CSUN faculty and industry professionals on topics such as user experience design, AI in the workplace and effective idea pitching. Submitted proposals were reviewed by a panel of CSUN faculty, staff and student judges, who selected three winning teams for their innovative projects.

The competition winners were announced during CSUN’s Digital Equity Day on April 25. Each team reflected on what inspired their project and shared when it began to feel like something that could truly make a difference in the lives of students.

First place was awarded to MataMind, created by Alberto Sandoval (Computer Science) and Dylan Oseida (Computer Science), who proposed an AI-powered career hub supporting first-generation students with mentor matching, help developing resumes, job interview prep and additional career-related resources.

Our goal was to use AI as a way to bring people together, not drive them apart. – Dylan Oseida, MataMind

Nabbing second place was MatAssist, developed by Sofiia Unkovskaia (Computer Science) and Leena Shah (Computer Science), which is an AI chatbot for class planning, career readiness tools and to strengthen campus engagement for students.

“I often think about how much easier my mom’s CSUN journey might have been if she had something like MatAssist. She was a full-time worker, a mom, and a student—and an AI chatbot could have helped her stay connected to resources and support when her time and energy were stretched thin. That’s when the project started to feel real. – Leena Shah, MatAssist

Once Leena and I started asking what real problems our classmates face, it stopped feeling like a school project—and started feeling like something that could actually help people. – Sofiia Unkovskaia, MatAssist

Olé, an AI-driven event recommendation system integrated with the CSUN app used to boost campus involvement, earned third place for teammates Denver Cude (Computer Science) and Rene Montelongo (Computer Enginering).

I was inspired to take on this challenge because I had just applied to a Netflix internship… The project started to feel real once I began understanding the math behind recommendation systems [used by streaming platforms] … That’s when I really realized this stuff isn’t just interesting, it’s incredibly powerful and practical. – Denver Cude, Olé

“What I find most compelling about this competition is that it is driven by student interest and real-world opportunities and challenges,” said Mathew Williams, director of Instructional Technology at CSUN, who oversaw this year’s competition. “Students were supported throughout the competition by multiple resources, including workshops provided by CSUN faculty and staff as well as external community partners.” For winning teams, the experience can go even further: “They have an opportunity to take that next step as a student employee with the IT Division,” Williams said.

Williams told Newsroom he was struck by the depth of this year’s student projects, noting the winning projects all shared the goal of enhancing the CSUN experience for their fellow Matadors.

“They proposed several innovative ideas for helping students locate and access campus resources, connect with their peers in meaningful ways and prepare for future careers,” he said. “They identified both the benefits and limitations of AI … offering nuanced perspectives about the role of AI in educational and professional settings,” he explained, adding, “This competition has showcased the thoughtfulness, creativity and enthusiasm they will carry forward as they shape how technology is developed and used to serve society in the years ahead.”

Looking beyond the competition, the winning teams are already thinking about how they will apply AI to future challenges while also balancing a growing sense of responsibility of the tool’s potential impact.

For Oseida of MataMind, the vastness of what lies ahead is the most thrilling part. “I think the unknown future of AI is actually what excites me most,” he said. “It’s such a vast and evolving field, with the ability to impact every discipline in ways we haven’t even imagined yet.” Shah of MatAssist emphasized the importance of using AI in service of human needs. “The true strength of AI is in empowering humans, not replacing them,” she said. “I’m especially excited to see how we can use AI to build tools that help people feel more secure, more connected and more free to focus on the things that matter most.”

Unkovskaia, also of MatAssist, echoed this forward-thinking mindset, imagining tools that could guide students early in their post-college lives. “I’d love to build AI tools that help students explore career paths earlier and more deeply. Things like on-demand mentorship or virtual career simulations, so no one has to feel lost when thinking about their future,” she said.

While many of the winners are energized by AI’s promise, some urged a more grounded view of its future. “I’m excited for the hype around AI to settle down,” said Cude of Olé, who pointed to growing concerns around the environmental costs of large-scale AI systems. “I’m excited to keep learning, but I’m also trying to stay levelheaded about both the real potential and the real costs.”

Montelongo, also of Olé, spoke to the human impact of technological shifts. “To improve society, we must prioritize the well-being of our working class,” he said. “These tools should be used to fund job-training programs, strengthen social safety nets and ensure financial security for those most affected.”

CSUN’s AI Jam 2025 proved that when innovation is rooted in purpose, Matadors lead with vision, build with heart and create impact that lasts.

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