Student workers in Trulaske’s C4TT, CEI lead workshops for peers

Luke Elking will graduate from the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business this spring. But not without first making his mark.

This marketing major from St. Louis is helping fellow Trulaske students navigate the extraordinary changes shaping the business world as AI grows and evolves. As a student worker with Trulaske’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), Elking is presenting workshops that introduce peers to innovative uses for AI. 

One of the workshops that Elking is currently presenting, “AI Within Entrepreneurship,” shows students how LLM assistants can alleviate startup struggles for entrepreneurs. Elkin’s second workshop, "Google's Pretty Suite," explores the use of AI tools Gemini and NotebookLM for increasing productivity both in the workplace and in a business venture/entrepreneurial setting.

“The presentations help foster an entrepreneurial mindset by explaining how knowledge is becoming democratized and that students aren't held back by traditional roadblocks,” Elking said. “The barriers to entry for entrepreneurs are at an all-time low, which puts creative thinking at the forefront of innovation where it belongs.”

Students have the opportunity to learn coding basics, robotics, 3D printing and more from CEI student presenter Lillian Wendel, a Chesterfield senior who’s studying finance. Wendel’s presentations focus on introducing students to rapid prototyping through tools like 3D printing and Micro:bit coding. 

The workshops emphasize design thinking and rapid prototyping, which are key parts of the entrepreneurial process. Students learn how to identify a problem, brainstorm solutions, create prototypes and test their ideas. 

“The most rewarding part has been seeing students get excited when something they coded or designed actually works,” Wendel said. “Watching someone go from having no experience to successfully creating something during the workshop is really fulfilling.”

C4TT Workshops

The student-led workshops were established in 2023 as an opportunity for undergraduate students to research technology that promoted the entrepreneurial mindset. Trulaske’s Center for Transformative Technology (C4TT) has since implemented a similar program.

Lexington Jones, a marketing student from Overland Park, Kansas, leads a discussion on ethical AI use and academic integrity, then explains what Gemini is and how it compares to other tools, highlighting its integration with Google Workspace.

“From there, I walk through real academic, business, and creative applications, showing how it can help with outlining papers, summarizing research, drafting reports, generating marketing ideas, and analyzing data,” Jones said. “The overall goal of the presentation is to move beyond just explaining features and instead help students feel confident using AI strategically and responsibly in school and in their future careers.”

Jones is one of three student workers currently presenting workshops for the C4TT. Each student is on track to deliver roughly 20–24 workshops over the course of the spring semester.

“Thanks to the student presenters, these workshops allow us to roll out important, timely concepts to a large student audience,” said C4TT Director Drew Reeves, C4TT. “In just its first semester, the new program has already significantly scaled the number of students we’re able to reach.”

Reeves and Instructional Technologist Angela Knoerr determine and evaluate workshop content, which is thoroughly vetted and approved before delivery. “It’s important that students get hands-on experience with these tools as they rapidly reshape how work gets done,” Reeves said. “Our goal is to help them understand the power of AI and how to apply it in real-world contexts, while staying mindful of responsible use, security, and appropriate safeguards.”

Jackson Kinder, a marketing student from Plainfield, Illinois, leads a weekly C4TT workshop designed to help students become “Power Users” of AI for studying. Kinder covers three different “Power Uses” of studying with AI using three different LLMs (ChatGPT, Perplexity and NotebookLM). 

Students learn how to create interactive study games and leverage Perplexity’s “Teach Me Step by Step” mode and “Spaces” feature to study more efficiently. They also discover how to transform notes into podcasts, videos, flashcards and quizzes using NotebookLM.

“It’s really cool and exciting to be able to share my knowledge and experience with other students,” Kinder said. “I’m not some fancy, super successful businessman or upper level Trulaske faculty member telling them these things. I am just like them, and I am literally doing the same exact things they’re doing; I am just lucky enough to get automatic exposure to technology in my everyday life through my job.”

Skill building

The student-led workshops are presented through Trulaske Edge, an innovative, points-based program that ensures all Trulaske students graduate with the professional skills and competencies needed to succeed in the workforce. 

Students attending the workshops build critical skills and earn points toward graduating. Students leading the workshops build valuable skills, too.

“I have learned how important clarity and relatability are when talking about emerging technology,” Jones said. “Not everyone comes in with the same background knowledge, so I have had to simplify complex ideas without losing their depth. Presenting so often has also taught me how to read the room, adjust my pace, and respond confidently to questions about ethics and academic integrity.”

For Kinder, not only did the experience teach him presentation skills, but the months of planning, meetings and practice sessions also taught him the power of perseverance.

“This was a long process, and having the success we’ve had has given me confidence for the future that no matter how stressful or daunting a task may seem, I can handle it and excel,” Kinder said.

Elking’s time as a student worker provided him the opportunity to build a key relationship with a mentor and prepared him for his career post-graduation. It also gave him the satisfaction of knowing that he helped guide his peers through a time of change.

“As a senior in my last semester, it is rewarding to see that I can have some part in helping Mizzou navigate through this time of rapid AI integration and evolution.”

Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.