Queens Students Dive into Real-World Tech Challenges at Truist Immersion Event

A team of Queens University of Charlotte students recently joined ambitious innovators from five other North Carolina universities for the Truist University Immersive Learning Experience. Held at Truist’s state-of-the-art Innovation & Technology Center, the two-day event served as a hands-on workshop where students collaborated with community and corporate partners to develop real-world design strategies. Their work focused on enhancing efficiency and accelerating the build of technology solutions for their corporate partners.

“When we founded Truist, we made a commitment to be a bank that inspires and builds better lives and communities,” said Sherry Graziano, head of Digital, Client Experience and Marketing. “Through the Truist University Immersive Learning Experience, we bring students and leading community partners together to foster an inclusive environment for innovation, focusing on reimagining solutions from a client point of view.”

Queens students worked alongside mentors from Duke Energy and were introduced to and encouraged to use a “Design Thinking” process to explore an exciting technology challenge: how might we leverage Generative AI (Gen AI) and voice functionality for billing inquiries to improve the customer experience? This kind of continuous improvement is vital for many large and significant organizations, ensuring they remain responsive to customer needs and emerging trends in technology.

“It’s really great for our students to see that even a company as significant and successful as Duke Energy is always thinking about what can be better,” noted Daniel Terry, associate provost for the undergraduate experience at Queens University.

The Queens cohort included students with varying majors and academic interests, moving beyond the typical assumption that such a technology-focused event would only involve business or finance majors. In fact, the team consisted of students from areas including humanities, multimedia storytelling, and Queens University’s McColl School of Business.

“The students from Queens University were great to work with and the facilitation from Truist was excellent!” said Gregory Bartos, senior design manager, Duke Energy. “Bringing together the fresh perspectives from students paired with the expertise from tech partners and Truist SME’s made for a successful experience overall! We are excited to share the potential of this prototype with our broader team at Duke Energy.”

Experiences like this offer students a unique opportunity to apply their skills in Charlotte’s thriving professional landscape. “This type of event is particularly valuable to our students given the city’s status as a booming financial and technology hub,” added Terry. “It’s crucial, in a city like Charlotte, that our students engage directly with industry leaders on actual issues, allowing them to participate in the kind of problem-solving process that drives innovation and continuous improvement in the corporate world.”

The Truist University Immersive Learning Experience provided a powerful framework for future talent development, ensuring Queens students enter the professional world with practical, high-demand skills and an understanding of how major corporations drive innovation.

“I was honored to be nominated for this experience, and immediately excited to apply strategic insight to solve real business challenges for Duke Energy. The experience demonstrated the difference a few hours can make when great minds are brought together to innovate with purpose. The Queens team successfully moved from raw ideas to a real prototype in a single day, showcasing that extraordinary results emerge when you trust your team.”
– Emily Saunders ’26, business major

“Working with the Duke Energy team was groundbreaking. They challenged us to create something functional, meaningful, and adaptable for real users. This experience reaffirmed that design isn’t just about solving problems, it’s also about understanding the people behind them and creating solutions that empower them. In just 48 hours, our team delivered a tangible product, proving that adaptability and creative problem-solving are key to success.”
– Andrea Arcia Jarquin ‘27, interior architecture design

“When I first got the email about representing Queens in the Truist University Learning Experience, I was ecstatic – it felt like I just won something! The Duke Energy team supported us throughout the process, and did their best to guide us, understanding we were all new to this event idea.”
– Devonte Thomas ’27, multimedia storytelling major

“The Truist University Immersive Learning Experience was a wonderful opportunity for networking, collaboration, and a glimpse into real-world problem-solving. Working with the Duke Team was especially insightful, demonstrating how collaboration across different departments can effectively solve problems that span multiple areas.”
– Riley Siekman ’27, graphic design major

“I was both curious and excited to join the team and working with Duke Energy was incredibly rewarding. Their energy and openness made the whole process feel engaging and collaborative. We quickly learned how to combine our diverse academic interests to create something meaningful, and the process taught me the importance of strategic planning and keeping both the client’s and the brand’s goals in mind. I was proud of how our team’s engagement showed as we pulled the whole presentation together.”
– Chris King ’28, sports communication major

By Anna Pomaro