Muma AI Day introduces Tampa Bay high schoolers to AI-driven careers in business

TAMPA – Nearly 600 students from 17 Tampa Bay high schools will converge onto the
University of South Florida campus on November 12 for the first-ever Muma AI Day.

Hosted by the Muma College of Business and partnering with Hillsborough County Public
Schools, the event promises to introduce students to the world of artificial intelligence
and its growing role in the future of work.

Formerly known as Big Data Day the event has evolved to reflect the rapid advances
in AI and its increasing influence across industries. Since its inception in 2016,
the program has aimed to connect high school students with emerging technologies and
inspire them to pursue technology-focused degrees.

“Muma AI Day was created to prepare the next generation for AI-driven careers,” said
Munir Mandviwalla, director of the School of Information Systems. “This event gives high school students
hands-on exposure to artificial intelligence and the technologies shaping the future
of work. At USF, we’re not just teaching about AI — we’re building pathways that help
students imagine themselves as future innovators in an AI-powered world.”

Throughout the event, students will engage in hands-on exercises and demonstrations
exploring topics such as AI bias, predictive analytics, and automation. Industry professionals,
including representatives from event sponsor Kforce, and USF faculty experts will share insights on how AI continues to transform business
and society.

“We are grateful for the long-standing commitment and sponsorship of Kforce for this
event,” added Mandviwalla.

“USF’s Muma AI Day moves our students from curiosity to capability. When students
can test real AI tools, talk with faculty and industry partners, and see how data,
ethics, and human judgment come together in business, the future stops feeling abstract
— it becomes a pathway,” said Gary Brady, chief academic officer for Hillsborough
County Public Schools.

“We’re grateful for USF’s partnership in preparing Tampa Bay’s next generation of
innovators and ensuring every student, from every zip code, can step confidently into
high-demand, AI-powered careers,” he said.

According to Anna Bahvala, an academic services administrator at the School of Information Systems at the USF
Muma College of Business, Muma AI Day aims to make the learning experience both exciting
and impactful.

“We want students to have fun and not think of a university as some boring place,”
Bahvala said. “We want the students to have the opportunity to interact with faculty,
with current students, and to feel like this is the place where they could see themselves
at.”

The program will also recognize educators with the Teacher of the Year Award for Hillsborough
County’s AP Computer Science program and conclude with a campus tour and a pizza social,
giving students a glimpse into university life.

Bahvala noted that this year’s new focus on artificial intelligence reflects the ongoing
shift toward emerging technologies that are redefining the future of work and education.

“AI is that disruptive force, and just like the industrial revolution, you can lose
your job to the machine, or you can learn how to make your job easier and have more
free time,” she said.

By combining innovation, interaction, and inspiration, Muma AI Day aims to help students
envision themselves as the next generation of AI leaders –  in Tampa Bay and beyond.