When Kogod alumna Christina Eid (BSBA '26) began researching how business students were using artificial intelligence (AI) in 2024, she didn't know the project would eventually lead to a presentation for Google executives.
What started as an effort to understand students' experiences with emerging technology became a three-year research project examining AI adoption, classroom expectations, and the skills employers increasingly expect from college graduates.
At American University, that kind of student-led research reflects a broader commitment to connecting academic discovery with real-world challenges.
In 2025, AU earned the prestigious Research 1 (R1) designation, the highest research classification awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. R1 recognizes universities with very high research activity, placing AU among 187 institutions nationwide to receive the designation that year.
For students like Eid, an R1 research environment offers opportunities to work alongside faculty, investigate emerging challenges, and contribute findings beyond the classroom.
"I really liked being able to be the student voice," Eid said.
Eid's research began at Kogod's Center for Professionalism and Communication (ProComm), where she worked as a peer consultant helping fellow students strengthen their communication skills.
As generative AI tools became more widely available, students were coming to the center with questions about using them for coursework. Eid and her fellow peer consultants were asked to gather information about how students were approaching the technology.
What began as a group effort soon became a project Eid would help lead throughout the remainder of her undergraduate education.
Between 2024 and 2026, she worked with Kogod faculty and staff to survey students about their AI use, attitudes toward the technology, and preparation for an increasingly AI-driven workforce.
The resulting three-year student research report examined how student behavior and expectations evolved as AI became more integrated into education and business.
Eid prioritized keeping the surveys anonymous, allowing students to share their experiences and concerns without having their responses linked to them. That approach required support from faculty across Kogod, who helped distribute the surveys and encourage participation.
"I could not do it without the support of the faculty and professors," Eid said.
For Eid, the project demonstrated how undergraduate students could contribute to conversations about their own education while developing valuable research and leadership skills.
One of the most significant findings in Eid’s research was how quickly AI skills entered the hiring conversation.
In 2024, 11.6 percent of surveyed students reported that potential employers had asked about their ability to use AI in the workplace. By 2026, that figure had climbed to 42.6 percent.
Eid's research also found that the share of students using AI at least four times per week increased from 36.3 percent to 69.1 percent over the same period.
But increased adoption didn't eliminate students' questions about new technology.
Eid found that students wanted clearer guidance on using AI ethically and effectively, particularly when applying it to their chosen fields. Students pursuing careers in finance and marketing, for example, reported encountering questions about AI skills specific to their industries.
The findings reinforced the importance of preparing students not only to use AI tools but also to understand how those tools apply to real business challenges.
At Kogod, AI is increasingly integrated into business education, including through programs such as the BS in Business Analytics and AI, which prepares students to apply data analytics and emerging technologies to business decision-making.
Eid's research offered another perspective on that work: what students themselves believe they need to succeed.
For a closer look at the findings, read New Kogod Student Research Shows AI Skills Have Become a Workplace Expectation, Not a Differentiator.
As the project entered its third year, Eid had an opportunity she hadn't anticipated.
During a conversation with David Marchick, then dean of the Kogod School of Business and now interim president of American University, Eid discussed the research and the trends emerging from three years of student responses.
The findings were particularly relevant to ongoing conversations about AI, education, and workforce preparation.
Marchick invited Eid to participate in a presentation for visiting Google executives, including Ben Gomes, one of Google's earliest engineers.
The opportunity prompted Eid and her faculty collaborators to expand portions of the research ahead of the visit.
For a project that began with a small group of peer consultants, presenting findings to leaders at one of the world's most influential technology companies marked a significant milestone.
Eid credits much of that opportunity to the relationships she built throughout her time at Kogod.
Faculty members contributed to survey development, data analysis, and response collection, helping the project grow beyond its original scope.
That collaborative environment also shaped Eid's advice for students interested in pursuing their own research.
"Go to your professors, they're not scary," Eid said. "A lot of them are passionate about the same things you are."
She also encourages students to pursue subjects that genuinely interest them rather than approaching research simply as another academic requirement.
"Don't just do research to do research. Have a passion for it," she said.
For Eid, that passion helped sustain three years of work and opened doors she hadn't imagined when the project began.
Now working in New York City, Eid has experienced firsthand the changing employer expectations her research documented.
During her own job search, she encountered the same questions about AI skills that an increasing number of students had reported in the surveys.
"In every single interview I had, I got asked about my ability to use AI in the workplace," Eid said. "I think my prior experience actually really helped me secure the job that I have right now."
Beyond her knowledge of AI, Eid credits her research project with helping her build skills in organization, project management, collaboration, and leadership.
Over three years, she learned how to coordinate a growing research effort, work with faculty across disciplines, and communicate findings to audiences beyond the classroom.
Those experiences have continued to influence her professional life, demonstrating how undergraduate research can prepare students for challenges and opportunities beyond graduation.
The research also left her with a perspective on AI that goes beyond technical proficiency.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into education and business, Eid believes students must learn to use it thoughtfully without losing sight of the human judgment behind the technology.
"At the end of the day, you can use AI for a lot of things, but keeping the human in the loop, that is my advice," Eid said. "Don't take the human out of the loop."
For Eid, that people-first approach is both a lesson from her research and a principle she carries into her career.