Temple University Secures NCAA Grant for AI-Powered Mentorship App

Temple University has been awarded a prestigious NCAA Innovations in Research and Practice Grant to develop a groundbreaking AI-powered mentorship app for student-athletes. The project, named JournAI, was selected from over 100 proposals nationwide, securing Temple one of three grants to enhance the mental health, career readiness, and overall well-being of college athletes.

The app, developed by a research team at Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, is designed to give student-athletes a convenient and private way to access support. Through text-based conversations with a virtual mentor named “Sam,” athletes can get guidance on topics like career planning, financial literacy, and mental health. The app is not meant to replace human support but to supplement it, giving students an easily accessible resource that fits into their demanding schedules.

According to lead researcher Elizabeth Taylor, the NCAA’s endorsement of the project is a major validation of Temple’s innovative approach. A pilot program with 40 students has already shown promising results, and the NCAA grant will allow the research team to expand the pilot to up to 100 participants. The ultimate goal is to refine JournAI and make it available to all NCAA member institutions, and eventually, to students on campuses nationwide, ensuring that all students have the resources they need to succeed in life beyond sports.