A City and Campus of Opportunities

Chicago is recognized as a global tech hub, meaning it’s the perfect place to thrive for someone such as Otioh Konan (AI 3rd Year). As someone who came to the United States from Côte D’Ivoire, Otioh says that it was a dream come true to study in a big city.

“Attending a university in Chicago has had a profound impact on me both personally and academically,” she says. “Chicago’s reputation as a major tech and innovation hub has opened opportunities for internships, mentorships, and collaborations with professionals in artificial intelligence, software development, and robotics. It has also allowed me to attend events, workshops, and meetups that expand my understanding of real-world applications of technology and ethical [artificial intelligence].”

Being in such a dynamic environment has motivated Otioh to think bigger, specifically about how her work can have an impact beyond the classroom. She has found those opportunities on campus, both through coursework and student organizations such as the Association for Computing Machinery, robotics club, and Upsilon Pi Epsilon.

“Robotics in particular has been a newfound interest for me, and through it I’ve been developing an AI robotics assistant, which integrates concepts such as natural language processing and real-time interaction,” she says. “This experience has allowed me to explore how software and hardware come together in practical applications.”

Through the Interprofessional (IPRO) Projects program, Otioh found herself immersed in an interdisciplinary problem-solving challenge. It allowed her to tackle complex issues alongside peers from other fields and to see firsthand how AI methods can be applied to specific problems, she says.

“Through these groups and experiences, I’ve participated in organizing events, outreach activities, and collaborative projects that bring students together around technology,” she says. “Being part of these communities has given me a strong sense of belonging and helped me connect with peers who share similar passions. It has also helped me grow personally by building my confidence, leadership skills, and ability to work effectively in team environments.”

These experiences also helped her gain hands-on experience with technical skills, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which sparked a strong interest in front-end development and user-focused design.

The knowledge that she has accrued through these endeavors has allowed Otioh to develop ProFeed, a student-professor feedback web application. She designed the app’s user interface, structuring dashboards, and is planning AI-driven feedback features. Her work on the app also provided her with hands-on experience with front-end development, as well as understanding how AI tools can be integrated into real applications.

“Being at Illinois Tech has given me the opportunity to explore both the technical and human sides of computing through hands-on projects, collaboration, and involvement in student organizations,” she says. “These experiences have helped me understand the importance of building technology that is not only innovative, but also fair, transparent, and accessible,” she says. “In the future, I hope to contribute to developing AI systems that prioritize people, support diverse communities, and are designed with ethical considerations at their core.”