Planning Committee
Program Planning Committee Members
Dr. Kelly Carter
Morgan State University
Department of Accounting and Finance
Dr. Kelly Carter is a Professor of Finance at Morgan State. His research includes finance, economics, and accounting. Prior to academia, he worked for several years at a major consulting firm and at major corporations. He received a PhD in Finance from the University of South Florida.
Dr. Akash Dania
Delaware State University
Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance
Akash Dania, Ph.D., is Professor of Finance at Delaware State University with prior leadership roles at DSU and Alcorn State. His expertise spans fintech, risk, emerging markets, and real estate finance. He has extensive teaching experience, numerous peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and applied work in analytics, program development, and evaluation.
Stella Egbelana
Morgan State University
Department of Accounting and Finance
Stella Egbelana is an MBA candidate specializing in finance, with a background in social work and a passion for economic justice. She serves as President of the Black Venture Capital Consortium and is an NCRC Fellow (2025–2026), with interests in venture capital and private equity, focused on AI in finance and building inclusive pathways to wealth creation.
Dr. Harvey Hou
Alabama State University
Department of Physical and Forensic Sciences
Dr. Harvey Hou is a Professor of Forensic Sciences at Alabama State University. He completed his Ph.D. from Peking University and postdoctoral training at the Rockefeller University. He published 5 books, 137 publications, and organized 27 conferences. He is passionate about photosynthesis, forensic chemistry, education, using machine learning and AI.
Dr. Ann-Marie Hyatt
Hampton University
Department of Business Administration
Dr. Ann-Marie Hyatt serves as an Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Business Administration Department in the School of Business at Hampton University. Dr. Hyatt’s academic credentials reflect a strong foundation in business and finance. She earned her undergraduate degree from Iona College, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Averett University. She later completed her PhD at Capella University, where she specialized in Business Management with a concentration in Finance. Her research interests often intersect with financial strategy, fintech, financial institutions, organizational performance, and applied business practices.
Dr. Tejal Mulay
Florida A&M University
School of Architecture and Engineering Technology
Dr. Tejal Mulay is an Assistant Professor of Electronic Engineering Technology at Florida A&M University. Her work focuses on AI in education, robotics, and workforce development in semiconductor and emerging technologies. She actively leads interdisciplinary initiatives integrating AI, engineering education, and industry collaboration.
Dr. Oluwagbemiga Ojumu
Prairie View A&M University
College of Business
Strategic academic leader and applied economist with over 15 years of experience in higher education, research administration, and international business. Secured over $7M in external funding, published extensively in high-quality outlets, and advanced institutional priorities through program leadership, global engagement, and faculty and student development.
Dr. Collins Okafor
North Carolina A&T State University
College of Business and Economics
Dr. Collins E. Okafor is an Associate Professor of Finance at North Carolina A&T State University. His research and teaching focus on corporate finance, FinTech, artificial intelligence, data analytics, Investment Analysis, and emerging financial technologies, with an emphasis on preparing students for the future of finance.
Dr. Mohammad Arafatur Rahman
Tuskegee University
College of Business and Information Science
Dr. Mohammad Rahman is an Assistant Professor at Tuskegee University. His research focuses on machine learning, reinforcement learning, quantum computing, and blockchain for cloud-based cyber-physical systems, healthcare, and agriculture. His work is supported by NSF and industry partners including Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, IBM, NASA, and TMCF.
Dr. Mohammad Abdus Salam
Chicago State University
Department of Computing, Information and Mathematical Sciences, and Technology
Dr. Mohammad Abdus Salam serves as the Chairperson of the Department of Computing, Information and Mathematical Sciences, and Technology (CIMST) at Chicago State University (CSU). His research expertise spans wireless sensor networks, wireless communication, information and coding theory, data visualization, machine learning, and cybersecurity. He has taught a wide array of computer science and engineering courses and has contributed significantly to scholarly literature, authoring numerous journal articles and conference proceedings. He is a member of ACM and a senior member of IEEE.