Student Internship - RIO and Marketing Strategy

ITS is developing RIO (Roadrunner Intelligent Operator), an AI-powered campus phone and SMS system that will make its public debut at the 2nd Annual NextTech Kern Conference on October 28, 2026. The RIO Innovation Fellows program places one Student Assistant from each of CSUB's four colleges in a substantive role tied directly to the project.

The ROI and Marketing Strategy Student Assistant works under the direct oversight of the ITS Lead (AVP/CIO) and assists with building the business case for RIO and supporting the strategic marketing framework for its rollout. All analysis and deliverables are reviewed and approved by the ITS Lead before use. Using AI tools for data analysis, business writing, and strategic synthesis, this student will assist with cost-per-interaction analysis, stakeholder communications, sponsorship outreach, and post-event survey analysis. This student will also present at the NextTech Kern panel on how AI was applied in their discipline. 

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with interpreting operator call volume data and developing a cost-per-interaction tracking framework using AI-assisted analysis tools
• Assist with building and maintaining the business case narrative for RIO
• Assist with producing a summary of how the RIO vendor selection process worked from a business and procurement standpoint
• Assist with developing a marketing strategy for RIO as a campus product
• Help to lead sponsorship outreach for NextTech Kern, including drafting and sending a pitch to Suno and other potential sponsors
• Assist with drafting one external-facing piece such as a case study or press-ready summary of the RIO project
• Assist with preparing the business case and ROI framing language for the AVP/CIO's stage announcement on October 28
• Assist with designing and administering a post-demo survey at the October 28 conference
• Assist with analyzing survey results and producing a findings report for ITS leadership
• Participate in the NextTech Kern panel on October 28, 2026
• Participate in 30-day and 60-day progress check-ins with ITS leadership
• Maintain an AI tools log submitted as a final deliverable

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or experience in marketing, business strategy, finance, or public administration
• Comfort working with data and building simple financial or operational models
• Strong written communication and presentation skills
• Willingness to use and critically evaluate AI tools in professional workflows
• Ability to translate technical and quantitative findings into accessible business language

AWS Mentor Support

This position may include mentorship support from Amazon Web Services professionals through an open office hours arrangement.

Faculty Reference Requirement

Applicants must submit one faculty reference from a faculty member in the College of Business and Public Administration. The faculty member should email their completed reference form directly to avpciooffice@csub.edu with the subject line: RIO Fellows Reference -- [Your Full Name]. Reference forms are available from the ITS office or via CECE. Applications without a submitted faculty reference will not be considered.

Program Benefits

• Real project ownership on a live AI and cloud technology initiative
• AWS industry mentor support through open office hours
• 30-day and 60-day progress check-ins with ITS leadership
• Public presentation at the 2nd Annual NextTech Kern Conference on October 28, 2026
• AI tools log and portfolio-ready deliverables
• Potential continuation opportunity into future project phases

How to Apply

Apply through Handshake. In addition to your Handshake application, ask a faculty member from the College of Business and Public Administration to email a completed faculty reference form to avpciooffice@csub.edu with the subject line: RIO Fellows Reference -- [Your Full Name]. Applications without a submitted faculty reference will not be considered. Reference forms are available from the ITS office or via CECE.

Note: This position requires U.S. Work Authorization or F-1 Visa status