About - Matthew Zuniga

My Story

Hello! I'm Matthew Zuniga

A Creative and Entreprenuer on the path of gathering experiences and expertise to help change the world

I am a visible and approachable campus leader at UNC who is deeply involved in student advocacy, collaboration, and community building. I actively serve in graduate and professional student governance and on multiple university committees, working to represent student voices and improve the campus experience. Through my involvement in leadership initiatives, research-driven projects, and cross-campus collaboration, I help bridge conversations between students, faculty, and administration. I am known for bringing creativity, energy, and thoughtfulness into every space I’m part of, making people feel welcomed and heard. I strive to lead with empathy and authenticity, creating connections that make campus feel more supportive, engaging, and human.

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My Approach

Design Philosophy

Systems-Level Leadership

I build organizations, not just projects. From leading the Black Student Association to founding collaborative initiatives across institutions, I focus on scaling impact, aligning stakeholders, and turning vision into measurable outcomes.

Innovation at the Intersection

My work lives at the intersection of creative technology, education, and social impact. With a background in Digital Media & Professional Communication, I design solutions that blend strategy, storytelling, and emerging tech to drive institutional change.

Data-Driven Advocacy

Whether challenging policy, increasing organizational funding, or improving student retention, I approach problems analytically. I gather insights, test ideas, and refine strategy, ensuring every initiative is grounded in evidence and results.

Expanding Access Through Design

My long-term mission is to develop transformative learning labs for public schools, especially for underserved communities. I believe access to innovation shouldn’t be exclusive; it should be engineered, funded, and scaled.

Expertise & Skills

Product & Strategy

Product Management
Go-to-Market Strategy
Business Model Development
User Research & Testing
Product Analytics
Growth Strategy

Educational Design

Instructional Design
Learning Experience Design
Curriculum Development
Assessment Design
Gamification & Motivation
Accessibility & UDL

Technology

Mobile App Development
Web Platforms
LMS Integration
EdTech Tools & Platforms
AI in Education
Learning Analytics

My Journey

Career Milestones

Apr. 2026

Independent AEI Replication

I published my independent replication and extension of the Anthropic Economic Index, analyzing AI adoption patterns across O*NET Job Zones using Python.

Aug. 2025

Graduate Studies Launch

I began my M.A. in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship at UNC Chapel Hill while stepping into a Graduate Research Assistant role at the UNC School of Education.

Jan. 2025

Research Assistant Role

I joined Dr. Austin Lee's AI & Communication Lab at Texas Tech, where I built foundational skills in coding, prompt engineering, and generative AI disinformation research.

Dec. 2024

Bachelor's Degree Completed

I earned my B.A. in Digital Media and Professional Communications from Texas Tech University in December 2024, with a certification in Sports Media.

Recognition & Press

TTU BSA VP

Elected as the Texas Tech University, Black Student Association Vice President for the 2023-2024 academic school year.

Featured In

The Daily Torreador, TTU student run newspaper

UNC GPSG VP

Elected as the UNC-CH Graduate & Professional Student Government Vice President for the 2025-2026 academic school year.

ASU+GSV

Scholarship recipient for the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit.

About Me