Ali Emdad
Dr. Ali Emdad is the Associate Dean of the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. He oversees all daily operations in the Graves School and assists the Dean in setting the vision and strategic priorities for the School. He is the Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Blockchain and Financial Technology (The FinTech Center) where he manages a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant received from Ripple in February 2019. Previously, he served as the Founding Chair of the Department of Information Science and Systems in the Graves School where he holds rank of Full Professor with tenure. Dr. Emdad provided leadership for the department’s growth and addition of new programs including the B.S. in Supply Chain Management; the M.S. in Project Management; the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Project Management (both online and on campus); and the Information Systems Track in the Ph.D. Program in Business Administration.
Sanjay Bapna
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.
President David Wilson
David Wilson, Ed.D., the 10th president of Morgan State University, has a long record of accomplishments and more than 30 years of experience in higher education administration. Dr. Wilson holds four academic degrees: a B.S. in political science and an M.S. in education from Tuskegee University; an Ed.M. in educational planning and administration from Harvard University; and an Ed.D. in administration, planning and social policy, also from Harvard. He came to Morgan from the University of Wisconsin, where he was chancellor of both the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin–Extension. Before that, he held numerous other administrative posts in academia, including vice president for University Outreach and associate provost at Auburn University, and associate provost of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Dr. Wilson’s tenure as Morgan’s president, which began on July 1, 2010, has been characterized by great gains and an era of unprecedented transformation for the University.
Ken Weber
Ken is currently Head of Social Impact & Sustainability for Ripple, a leading fintech company working to transform the global financial system. Ken leads Ripple’s efforts to expand and accelerate financial inclusion and fairness globally and to apply blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies to help the world meet its climate goals. Ken currently serves on the Budget and Finance Committee of the Annenberg Trust at Sunnylands. Ken has also served on the boards of Period.org, the San Francisco Parks Alliance (SFPA), San Francisco Unified School District’s Spark* SF Public Schools and The Lexicon of Sustainability. From 2013-2016, he was a member of the board of Games for Change, serving as chair from 2014-2016.
Michael Hunte
An advocate for all things community, Michael currently supports a diverse ecosystem of developers, providers and blockchain enthusiasts at the DFINITY Foundation, creators of the Internet Computer. He got his start in community building with the Los Angeles Times, supporting the greater food & wine industry. Among entrepreneurial endeavors of his own, he’s spent the last few years supporting the global startup community through organization such as Facebook and StartupGrind.
Lauren Weymouth
Lauren Weymouth is a Director at Ripple, where she leads its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), a partnerships program that funds financial technology curriculum development, research, technical projects, entrepreneurship and student activities. Since the program’s inception, she has activated more than 42 global university partnerships such that 400+ research projects have been engaged to tackle real-world issues in blockchain, cryptocurrency, cryptography and digital assets. Before joining Ripple, Lauren held leadership roles in education, private equity and at technology startups, pioneering ventures that grew record-setting profits.
Abena Primo
Dr. Abena Primo is the holder of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science (University of Guyana), a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science (Louisiana Tech University), a Master of Science Degree in Mathematics (Louisiana Tech University), and a Doctoral degree in Computational Analysis and Modeling (Louisiana Tech University). She is currently an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Huston-Tillotson University. At Huston-Tillotson University, she teaches courses in Java programming, software engineering, and data structures. She conducts research in computer security (e.g. blockchain and biometrics) and computer science education.
Ashley Thomas
Dr. Ashley C. Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Alabama State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication from George Mason University (2017), her M.S. in International and Multicultural Education from Florida State University (2012), and her B.A. in Communication from Alabama State University (2011). Dr. Thomas is a proud third-generation ASU Hornet. She has four years of experience with investing and trading, including cryptocurrency, foreign currency, binary options, and stock options. Her goal is to continue learning more about blockchain and financial technology to help increase awareness and to support continued leadership in innovation at her beloved alma mater.
Judith Schnidman
Judith R. Schnidman is the Program Coordinator of the FinTech Center. She received her MBA in Marketing from George Washington University and her MA in Education from Towson University. Ms. Schnidman has taught Macro and Micro Economics at the Community College of Baltimore County. She has experience in project analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation.
Isabelle Kemajou Brown
Isabelle Kemajou-Brown is an Associate Professor of Actuarial Science in the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Science at Morgan State University in Baltimore MD.
Dr. Brown joined Morgan in 2015 from a postdoc position at the University of Minnesota. She completed her Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and masters’ studies at both the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in South Africa and the University of Yaoundé 1 (UY1), her undergraduate at the UY1.
Her research interests lie in the areas of stochastic analysis, statistical modeling, ranging from theory to applications using real data.
Jack Crumbly
Jack Crumbly (Ph.D. Jackson State University) is an Associate Professor in the Andrew F. Brimmer College of Business and Information Science at Tuskegee University. Jack received his BS in Marketing from Grambling State University and his MBA specializing in Management Information Systems from Wright State University. His interests include measuring supply chain value through reverse logistics, information technology, pricing, and new service offerings. Prior to pursing his Ph.D., Crumbly was an information technology consultant for the United States Air Force Research Laboratory specializing in the database administration and IT application design.
Justin Cooper
Justin Cooper is an African American technologist with specialized expertise in the blockchain, Fintec, and crypto currency technology arenas. Justin is a certified blockchain consultant, solution architect, project manager and developer with over 30 years of experience developing and implementing innovative business solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Justin holds key industry positions such as Chief Technology Officer of Blockchain901, Blacks United in Leading Technology (BUiLT) International Memphis, TN Chapter Leader, Co-Director of Technology and Development of The Guapcoin Foundation (Guapcoin is the first black founded blockchain and crypto currency), and Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Omnionix, his own blockchain solutions consulting and development company.
Kamal Hingorani
Dr. Kamal Hingorani is Professor of Computer Information Systems and the Dean of the Percy J. Vaugh, Jr. College of Business Administration at Alabama State University. Dr. Hingorani teaching interests include database management, cloud computing, information security, and data analytics. He has published extensively and has been a PI of three grants from the US Department of Education under their BIE program, one from Apple Inc., and three from the UNCF. He is committed to working with the FinTech Center at Morgan State University and introduce Blockchain and FinTech at ASU.
Katayoon Beshkardana
Katayoon Beshkardana, holds a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D) degree from American University Washington College of Law. She is an expert in the law of the World Trade Organization, foreign investment law, and investor-state dispute settlements (ISDS). She is interested in the study of disruptive technologies and their impact on international business and trade.
Prior to joining Morgan State University Dr. Beshkardana worked as consultant with the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency. She has also worked as in-house legal counsel for the private sector carrying foreign investment negotiations and international business transactions for several years.
Miguel Zuniga
Dr. Miguel Ángel Zúñiga is an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Department of Business Administration in the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University. His research interests include online and traditional consumer behavior, consumer psychology, advertising, cultural persuasion, consumer wisdom, consumer vulnerability, social media marketing, and business ethics. Dr. Zúñiga has published in the Journal of Advertising, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, Journal of Brand Management, Journal of Consumer Marketing, Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, Journal of International Consumer Marketing, and Journal of Internet Commerce, among others.
Mohammad Gharagozloo
Mohammad Mahdi Moeini Gharagozloo, a Ph.D. in Strategic Management and International Business at Earl G. Graves School of Business at Morgan State University.
When it comes to research, I consider my focus to be in the areas of Digitalization of Economy, International Business and Cryptocurrencies, exploring topics related to propensity and performance in international business. In my recent papers, I examine factors of economies around the world and the effect they have on international M&As. I investigate how the characteristics of economies can influence international M&A capital flows and I often apply a longitudinal fixed effect analysis to analyze the effect of characteristics of different economies on international M&A performance. More specifically, I explore the stock market reactions to market announcements and the effect that different factors might have on these market reactions. I’m a big fan of utilizing “resource-based view” and “institutional theory”, as I explain market reactions and for measurement purposes I often use event analysis to calculate cumulative abnormal returns in financial markets.
Mohammad Salam
Dr. Mohammad Abdus Salam is a professor of Computer Science at Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His research interest includes wireless sensor networks, data visualization, and blockchain technology. He is a senior member of IEEE and president-elect of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences. He has been awarded numerous awards throughout his career, including the faculty outstanding achievement award from the President of the Southern University System, NASA faculty fellowship award, ONR Faculty fellowship award, NSF/QEM faculty fellowship award to conduct research at The University of California Berkeley, Gold medal award from the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, and Chancellor award from the President of Bangladesh.
Omar Khan
Dr. Omar J. Khan is Professor of Marketing and International Business at the Earl Graves School of Business at Morgan State University. He is a Fulbright Scholar (awarded 2018-19 for his research and teaching), and has published academic research in leading marketing and international business journals, and taught undergraduate and graduate courses previously at University of Maine and Saint Louis University. His specialized areas of published research are (i) regionalization of firms/countries and emerging markets, (ii) knowledge management and cultural polarization effects and (iii) global value chains & the blockchain. He has also published in online consumer behavior and nation branding. Dr. Khan was schooled in England, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United States, travelling extensively around the world and becoming multilingual. He earned his Ph.D.in International Business and Marketing from St. Louis University. He also has an M.B.A, and did his undergraduate work in Economics, Statistics and English Literature. His industry experience in multinationals is diverse – including banking, hotels & entertainment, and oil & gas energy. Away from academia, he enjoys writing poetry and short stories, and has an incurable addiction to cricket (the sport, not the insect!). He also serves as Faculty Advisor to the Morgan chapter of the American Marketing Association. He is also Chair of the “Out of (and Into) Africa” Conference series in international business.
Patrice Glenn Jones
Patrice W. Glenn Jones, Ph.D. began her career as a middle school English teacher and radio air personality. She presently serves as the Executive Director of Online Education and Programs at Alabama State University and is a visiting scholar at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. With over 20 years of general education experience and more than 15 years in online learning, Patrice emphasizes meaningful teaching and learning experiences. Her reputation as a passionate, hard-working educator has been substantiated by the body of work she continues to develop. This fun-loving educator has recent publications in Proctor Institute Research Brief series, The Journal of Negro Education, Negro Educational Review, Thought and Action, edited books, and several book chapters.
Alma S. Adams
Dr. Alma S. Adams was elected to her fourth full term representing the 12th Congressional District of North Carolina on November 3, 2020. After winning a special election in November 2014, Congresswoman Adams was sworn in immediately as the 100th woman elected to the 113th Congress.
Representative Adams serves on the Committee on Financial Services; Committee on Education & Labor and the Committee on Agriculture. She holds several leadership roles; as Assistant Whip for the Democratic Caucus, Chairwoman of the Committee on Education & Labor’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and Vice Chairwoman of the Committee on Agriculture.
Sean Francis
Having graduated with a Physics B.S. in 2013 from Columbia University, and an Applied Mathematics B.S. from the University of the Virgin Islands, Sean Francis trained at Sloan Kettering Medical Center as a Research Medical Engineer. While working as an asset management coordinator at the Virgin Islands Department of Education, he discovered a passion for blockchain technology and is currently collaborating Dr. Joanne Luciano, head of the Data Science Program at University of the Virgin Islands on exploring and introducing blockchain’s most important innovation, smart contracts, to the Virgin Islands.
Shael Wolfson
Dr. Shael Wolfson is an economics professor at Xavier University of Louisiana and a life long resident of New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2018 Dr. Wolfson began teaching the course Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Society as an elective in the university core curriculum. The goal of the course is survey underlying blockchain technology, explore digital currencies in the context of traditional economic theory and investigate the potential applications and societal impacts of this emerging technology. Published research in the cryptocurrency area includes (2015) Bitcoin: The Early Market Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER), 13(4), 201–214.
Shonda Bernadin
Shonda Bernadin received her PhD in Electrical Engineering from Florida State University (2003), her MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida (1999) and her BS in Electrical Engineering from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (1997). She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Her research interests include speech and image signal processing, data analysis, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and, more recently, AI in additive manufacturing. She is also very active in engineering education and outreach programs that seek to increase diversity in the STEM workforce.
Tom Cooksey
Tommy Cooksey is a United States Marine Veteran with nearly 30 years of experience in the IT field. Tommy is an AWS Cloud professional AAI Champion Trainer holding several AWS cloud Certifications (SAA, SAP, SOA, SCS) along with being a certified blockchain architect and developer on HyperLedger and Ethereum; he has been working in the blockchain field since 2017. Currently, Tommy is the ‘Master trainer’ at SIMBA Chain, a blockchain software and consulting company. SIMBA Chain is a fast growing company that originated from the Idea Center at the University of Notre Dame and recently completed a Series A round of funding for $25 million.
Valinda Kennedy
As IBM’s Global University Specialty Programs Manager, Valinda’s team works with higher education leadership worldwide in Medical, Legal and with Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs). Her team works with institutions using IBM’s academic programs for no-charge (or approximate price of a textbook for non-HBCUs) access to resources including faculty training to build critical skills in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, internet-of-things, data science, design thinking, cyber security, blockchain and other hot technology areas. Three new micro-credential healthcare courses were created with physicians, nurses and pharmaceutical professionals that are already introduced to students and are available for other interdisciplinary area use.
Maxim Bushuev
Maxim A. Bushuev is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Science and Systems at Morgan State University. He holds a PhD in Operations Management from Kent State University and a PhD in Technical Sciences from Voronezh State Technological Academy, Russia. His research interests include supply chain delivery coordination, production planning, and the use of blockchain in supply chain management. His papers have been published in International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Management Research Review, and International Journal of Operational Research.
Millicent Springs-Campbell
Millicent Springs-Campbell is a Senior Lecturer and Director of management and Organization in the Economics Department at Spelman College. She earned a BS in Systems and Computer Science and MBA in Management from Howard University. Before arriving to Spelman College, she taught at several universities. Her career spans over two decades in the public and private sector to include Hewlett Packard, IBM, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Interior. Her research interest includes entrepreneurship, start-ups, blockchain and financial technology. Millicent is a serial entrepreneur with past ventures in Atlanta, North Carolina and Washington, DC. Millicent resides in Smyrna, GA with her husband, son and daughter.
Yujian Fu
Dr. Yujian Fu is Professor and Interim Coordinator of Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at Alabama A&M University. Yujian received her PhD in School of Computing & Information Science at Florida International University in 2007. Since then, she joined Alabama A&M University. Dr. Fu’s research has been sponsored by NSF, AFRL, and NSA. She has authored and co-authored many technical articles in prestigious journals and conferences. Her research interests include formal methods, cyber security analysis, cyber physical systems, and cyber enabled learning environment, and highly confident software intensive system design. Dr. Fu has served as a panelist for several NSF programs, also technical committee member for many professional conferences in the field.
Jifeng Mu
Jifeng Mu is Professor of Marketing at Alabama A&M University. He has expertise in technology innovation, marketing strategy, and marketing analytics. He publishes in Information Systems Research, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Decision Sciences, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, among others. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Washington.
Alfredo Romero
Dr. Alfredo A. Romero is an associate professor of economics at the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University, a member of the Panel of Economic Forecasters of the Wall Street Journal, and co-founder of Impact Analytics. His opinion on economic conditions has been sought out by Barron’s Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR. He received a Ph.D. and a master’s in economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a master’s in economics from Texas Tech University, and a baccalaureate in economics from Universidad de las Americas-Puebla, in Mexico.
Miesha Williams
Dr. Miesha Williams is Assistant Professor of Economics at Morehouse College and Visiting Scholar at USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. She researches interest rate policies, national expenditures, and economic disparities. Her sponsorship includes Koch Foundation, AEA Mentoring Program NSF Grant, and Morehouse College Faculty Development Carnegie Fellowship. She is guest co-editor for Agricultural and Resource Economics Review forthcoming special issue on Social Justice in Agriculture, sponsored by USDA-NIFA. Her Master of Arts and Philosophy Doctorate in Economics are from University of Alabama and her Bachelor of Science in Economics is from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.