By Aron Smith
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Long before he knew the campus, the classrooms or the people at Jackson State University, senior Joel Murchinson knew one thing for sure: he belonged in the Sonic Boom of the South.
“I didn’t even take a tour,” said Murchinson. “I just knew I loved that band. No matter what, I was coming to Jackson State.”
In fall 2020, Murchinson did just that. He joined the iconic marching band, playing the baritone until spring 2023. That initial drive led the Atlanta native into a college experience that he says challenged him, helped him grow and showed him he could become a leader, creator and innovator.
“Jackson State saved my life, for sure. I wasn’t on the path I’m on now. However, JSU gave me a purpose,” said Murchinson, a senior music education major with a minor in marketing.
Finding his rhythm: a bond shaped by brotherhood
Everything changed for Murchinson when his freshman roommate, the late Jalen “JB” Burns, stepped into their dorm room. Burns’ encouragement inspired him to create a YouTube channel illustrating what life at JSU is like.
That motivation helped Murchinson find his voice and improve his storytelling skills. In that instant, a brotherhood formed. At the time, he could not imagine the opportunities that would grow from that moment.
“JB helped me break out of my shyness,” he said. “He pushed me in all the right ways. It changed everything, and I realized I could connect with people in ways I never knew possible.”
As his academic journey progressed, Murchinson gained experiences that helped him better understand how people learn, communicate and respond. Through his music education coursework, he taught students at Blackburn Middle School, requiring him to manage a class, simplify ideas and keep students engaged.
Outside the classroom, Murchinson gained a deeper understanding of marketing through his retail job at TJ Maxx. There, he learned customer service, consumer behavior and the importance of building rapport with people from varying backgrounds.
“Teaching and marketing are similar. You’re connecting, communicating and keeping people engaged,” said Murchinson. “That’s when I realized my degree wasn’t limiting me. It was preparing me.”
A semester of breakthrough growth
During fall 2022, Murchinson increased his on-campus activity by joining new organizations, expanding his skills and creating connections he had been too shy to pursue. He said the experience marked a turning point.
“I knew I couldn’t keep holding back,” he said. “That was the semester I started pushing myself to grow.”
That momentum set the stage for one of his most significant efforts: a project he later called Rapid AI Relief, a disaster-response platform focused on identifying problems, assessing damage and supporting emergency responsiveness.
Rapid AI Relief: innovation born on a college campus
Murchinson created Rapid AI Relief in 2024 after participating in a workshop through the HBCU Founders Initiative, where students were asked to develop ideas to strengthen climate change awareness and community resilience.
The app focused on a crucial but straightforward problem: locating survivors and assessing damage during natural disasters within the first 72 hours. Murchinson wanted to explore how AI and low-cost tools could increase emergency response times.
“The goal is to make the response process faster and more efficient,” he said. “If responders can see where damage is or where survivors are located, that could help them act sooner.”
The platform focuses on detection and assessment. Drones equipped with thermal and human-sensing technology help locate areas in need of immediate support by detecting potential survivors.
Simultaneously, AI tools compare images from before and after disasters, creating reports and damage assessments to help first responders and insurance companies respond more efficiently.
Murchinson developed the prototype using AI tools and supplemental learning from computer science classes at JSU.
“I didn’t come from a technical background,” he said. “I had to learn everything step by step. I was learning while building.”
Jackson State student volunteers are helping him improve the technology by adding smart-motion detection to the drone system. The platform also includes learning materials on disaster preparedness and resources for affected communities.
“We’re still improving it,” he said. “There’s a lot we want to test in real-world settings, especially with emergency response groups.”
Spotlights beyond the campus
As Rapid AI Relief gained traction, Murchinson’s work drew national attention. The app, less than a year old, created new opportunities for the young innovator.
According to Murchinson, interviews by AfroTech Insider and EBONY led to conversations with “Shark Tank” executives about the idea’s potential. The national coverage expanded awareness of his work far beyond campus.
“Seeing those features made me realize the work was reaching people outside of JSU,” he said. “It showed me that the ideas we build here can go further than we expect.”
He also continued to serve his “dear ole college home.” Murchinson created “Up The Price”, a professional symposium designed to help students transition into post-grad life, and launched the Adobe Student Ambassadors program, which grew to more than 25 members in its first semester.
“I want to help build pathways that students can use long after I graduate,” he said. “Success is when your work uplifts someone else.”
Murchinson plans to represent “Thee I Love” by returning as a creator of companies, pipelines and opportunities.