Panel Discussion: The Next AI Builders Are Already Here

Overview
Organizations frequently discuss the skills they want from entry level AI talent. Far less often do we ask students what they are already building.

This panel shifts the focus from employer expectations to student reality. Moderated by Jena Zangs, Chief Data and AI Officer at the University of St. Thomas, the session features graduate and undergraduate students actively working with AI across disciplines.

Panelists will share how they are using AI in coursework, research, internships, entrepreneurship, and personal projects. They will discuss what tools they rely on, how they are learning beyond the classroom, and how they view the evolving expectations of entry level roles.

This conversation offers Applied AI leaders a rare opportunity to hear directly from emerging AI builders and to better understand how student capabilities are developing in real time.

Agenda
6:00pm - 6:30pm: Networking - food & drinks
6:30pm - 8:00pm: Presentation & discussion
8:00pm: Networking at Lake Monster Brewing

Meet Our Featured Speakers
Esse Komlanvi: Graduate Student
Esse Komlanvi is an AI and business analytics professional building technology that expands opportunity in underserved communities. As a Graduate student at the University of St. Thomas she founded Nuse, a voice-first AI platform designed to help women entrepreneurs in emerging economies manage their businesses, access financial education, and unlock funding. With a background in IT consulting, data analytics, and digital transformation, Esse focuses on making artificial intelligence practical, inclusive, and human-centered. Her work sits at the intersection of AI, financial inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment. She is passionate about ensuring that AI is not only innovative, but also equitable and accessible to those who are often left out of traditional tech systems.

Arthur Kennedy: Graduate Student
Arthur A. Kennedy is a Master’s candidate in Artificial Intelligence at the University of St. Thomas, where he builds applied AI solutions and collaborates on real-world projects across data analytics and machine learning. After completing his undergraduate degree in computer science, Arthur chose the AI program to deepen his technical expertise and move beyond using tools to understand and develop intelligent systems. He has worked with proprietary datasets, trained and fine-tuned models in specialized domains, and contributed to campus hackathons and AI community events that connect industry challenges with student builders. Arthur is passionate about expanding what it means to be an AI practitioner and empowering his peers to translate academic learning into practical impact.

Jena (moderator): Chief Data& AI Officer
Jena Zangs is the first Chief Data & AI Officer at any higher ed institution in Minnesota, she specializes in moving organizations beyond AI hype into production-ready, governed, and scalable systems. She leads enterprise AI strategy, modern data platforms, and applied innovation spanning infrastructure, AI, and machine learning, with a focus on trust. Her work has been recognized with an AWS Education Champion Award and a Top 50 Data & Analytics Team honor. A Lovable Global Buildathon Winner, Jena brings a builder’s mindset to every engagement, bridging executive strategy with hands-on implementation.

Sponsors
This event is sponsored by Lab651 & Recursive Awesome