Center Staff
Ali Emdad, PhD
Interim Dean, Graves Business School
The National FinTech Center Director
Biography
Dr. Ali Emdad is the Interim Dean of the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University. He is also the visionary Founder and Director of the National FinTech Center, where he spearheads pioneering research and educational initiatives while championing diversity and financial inclusion within FinTech. Before this, Dr. Emdad was Associate Dean and founding Chair of the Information Science and Systems Department at the Graves Business School. As a distinguished full Professor, he brings knowledge and experience to his academic and leadership roles. Additionally, Professor Emdad’s impressive career includes being recognized as a Fulbright Scholar.
Sanjay Bapna, PhD
Interim Associate Dean, Graves Business School
The National FinTech Center Associate Director
Biography
Professor Sanjay Bapna is Professor and Chair of the Department of Information Science and Systems. Prof. Bapna received a BTech. in Chemical Engineering in 1981 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, an MBA. in 1987, and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems in 1992 from The University of Iowa. He has received many honors including the prestigious 2011 Best Paper award, the 2009 Best paper award from the internationally recognized National Decision Sciences Institute, the 1994 best paper award from the International Association of Computer Information Systems. Prof. Bapna has also secured several grants from the Department of Transportation and is an authority on analytics and modeling, as well as Commercial Vehicle operations.
Tyneissa Brown, CSM
The National FinTech Center
Program Communications Coordinator
Biography
Tyneissa Walters is the Program Coordinator of the Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology. She is a Certified Agile Scrum Master (CSM). Her background is in the field of agile project management. She specializes in project facilitation, graphic design, social media development, and telemarketing.
Research Associates
Jason Nunley Jr
Doctoral Student
Biography
Jason Nunley Jr. is a Finance Ph.D. student at the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University. He serves as the Doctoral Student in the Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology (The FinTech Center). He received his BS in Accounting from Delaware State University, where he served as a fellow for the University Center of Economic Development and International Trade (UCEDIT). Jason has gained experience in the research industry, promoting, and supporting social venturing initiatives focused on education, health, and sustainability. His current research interests involve FinTech, Investments, and Public Finance.