UM-Flint alumna Ghoseyni blended psychology and art into a career in AI

Sameya Ghoseyni didn't follow a straight line to her career in artificial intelligence and user experience design. Her journey was shaped by curiosity, creativity and a few unexpected turns. It's a path that proves the best careers are often built, not planned.

The 2023 University of Michigan-Flint graduate, with a bachelor's in psychology and a minor in interaction design, now works at American Inference, a Michigan-based AI startup where she combines graphic design, marketing and user interface/user experience design to help shape the future of technology. It's a role that perfectly captures what she's been searching for all along: a career that blends art, technology and an understanding of human behavior.

When Ghoseyni first enrolled at UM-Flint, she started as an art and design major. It seemed like the obvious choice for someone who loved creating. But as she explored her options, she realized something was missing.

"I decided it would be better to pursue psychology and minor in design," Ghoseyni said. "It opened up new opportunities. I loved art and understanding human behavior, and I wanted a career that brought those interests together with technology."

That decision to switch majors proved transformative. Today, both disciplines inform her daily work in ways she couldn't have anticipated. "Knowledge in psychology and graphic design has really helped in my role," she said. "The basic design concepts are a big part of it, but I also do research on users—understanding behavior through surveys, competitor research and other methods."

Two experiences at UM-Flint particularly shaped Ghoseyni's college journey and prepared her for her current career.

The first came through Qua, UM-Flint's arts and literary magazine, where she served as graphic designer for two semesters. Working with a team of editors, she gathered artwork, poems and short stories from around Flint and transformed them into polished publications.

"I was in charge of the full visual design of the magazine—from the layout to the color scheme," she said. "It really boosted my self-confidence. I realized I can do these things even though I haven't done them before."

For someone who admits she gets nervous before trying anything new, the experience was pivotal. The design fundamentals and rules she learned through Qua now appear in her portfolio and inform her professional work. 

"Doing both Qua and tutoring showed me that if I put my mind to something, it will work," she said.

That tutoring experience came from an equally unexpected place: a statistics course during her third year on campus. "I took basic stats and probability in psychology, and I was really nervous about it," Ghoseyni said. "I didn't like math."

But Karen Bedell, lecturer IV in psychology, who taught the course, saw potential in her student. "She suggested I become an SI—a supplemental instruction leader," Ghoseyni said. "Then, before I knew it, I started tutoring for several different psychology courses."

The role, which she continues today as a research and statistical support specialist at UM-Flint, did more than reinforce her understanding of statistics; it also strengthened her understanding of the role of statistics in society. "It pushed me to grow in ways I didn't expect," she said. "I got to know professors and students better. It helped with my public speaking skills."

At American Inference, Ghoseyni works at the intersection of design and cutting-edge technology. The startup takes a consulting approach, helping other companies incorporate AI into their operations while developing their own platforms. One project, Engaged Scholar, helps students summarize research and save time—a tool that would have been useful during Ghoseyni's own college days.

"AI is fun and challenging, and it's constantly changing," Ghoseyni said. "There's always something new, always something to learn. It's taking over so many things—having that knowledge in AI is essential to stay ahead in the workforce."

Her current focus is on graphic design, marketing and UI/UX, particularly website and app design. But she has bigger ambitions.

"I hope to become more of a professional in UI/UX, working at a large company—maybe at a big tech company like Apple or Google," she said. "Somewhere that's constantly growing, but also balanced and comfortable."

When asked for advice to current and prospective UM-Flint students, Ghoseyni's message is clear: Embrace the uncertainty.

"Use this time to step out of your comfort zone and try new things," she said. "Just know that whatever you're doing now will help you in the future. Take advantage of this time while you're in college. Don't take it for granted."

She's particularly emphatic about the value of classes that might not seem immediately relevant—a perspective she gained only after graduation.

"The assignments, the classes—even if they don't seem like they'll help you, they will," she said. "Those general education classes you dread? You will learn skills that you use in the future, however indirectly."

It's a lesson she learned firsthand, from a statistics class that initially intimidated her, to design projects that pushed her out of her comfort zone. Each experience, especially the uncomfortable ones, built the foundation for her current success.

For Ghoseyni, the journey from art student to psychology major to AI designer wasn't about following a predetermined path. It was about being open to possibilities, trying new things despite her nerves, and trusting that the pieces would come together.