Alabama State to Host a National Entrepreneurship HBCU Conference

January 24, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 21, 2011                                                                                               

WHAT

The first Annual Alabama State University HBCU Conferenceis March 7-10, 2011, in Montgomery, Alabama.  The conference theme is Entrepreneurship: Globalization of the New South.  Alabama State, one of 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), is the host institution.

The goals of the conference are to enable attendees the opportunity to learn about proposal development, fellowships, internships, and grants and contracts with a special focus in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.  

More than 300 attendees are anticipated, to include participants from the following areas:

·        federal, state and local agencies

·        corporations

·        small businesses

·        government officials

·        higher education community, including its faculty, students and alumni.

The conference is an ambitious plan with goals that can improve corporate/higher education partnerships, significantly affect the growth of HBCU’s and enhance regional economic development opportunities. For additional information about the conference, visit www.asu-hbcu.org.

WHO

Conference speakers include:

·        U.S. Congressman Hon. James E. Clyburn

·        Dr. William H. Harris, president, Alabama State University

·        Kay Coles James, president and founder, The Gloucester Institute

·        Deborah Scott Thomas, president & CEO, Data Solutions & Technology Incorporated

·        Gloria Parker, president and CEO, Parker Group Consulting Inc.; former CIO at the U.S. Department of Education and CIO of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

·        Ret. Brigadier General Velma “Von” Richardson, vice president of Department of Defense Information Technology (DoD IT) Programs at Lockheed Martin

·        Dr. Leonard L. Haynes III, senior advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education (OPE)

·        Dr. Reagan Flowers, founder and CEO of CSTEM

·        Dr. Winslow Sargeant, chief counsel for Advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration

·        Dr. Marcus Shute, vice president of Sponsored Research, Clark Atlanta University

·        Dr. Chad Womack, founder of National Association of Blacks in Bio (NABS); White House adviser on STEM Initiatives

·        Dr. Le-Quita Booth, dean, College of Business Administration, Alabama State University

·        Dr. Cajetan M. Akujuobi, dean, College of Science, Mathematics & Technology, Alabama State University

·        Dr. George Acquaah, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Bowie State University

·        Ret. Lt. Col. Michael Walker, co-founder and vice chairman of PCT Companies

·        Melvin Greer, senior fellow and chief strategist, Cloud Computing Lockheed Martin

·        Mike Green, CEO of Vizitnow3D, Inc. and CIO of Black Innovation & Competitiveness Initiative

·        Joyce S. Pearson, general manager, MOCA Training & Business Development

·        David Garnett, founder and president, iAM Solutions, LLC

Data Solutions & Technology Inc. is a Diamond Level sponsor of the conference.

WHEN

March 7-10, 2011

WHERE

Alabama State University

915 South Jackson Street

Montgomery, AL 36104

ABOUT ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Alabama State University, founded in 1867, offers nearly 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, from its historic teacher education program to its new, high-demand programs in health sciences, new Ph.D. in microbiology  and minor in international business.  The more than 5,600 students who attend ASU are as diverse as its academic offerings, with students from more than 40 states and various countries seeking a top-notch education that extends far beyond the walls of a classroom.

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