hosted by the
hosted by the
in partnership with the
Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence
Alabama is on the cusp of a groundbreaking moment as we prepare to host the first-ever Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Summit. This monumental event will be hosted by the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs, in partnership with the Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AAICE). It represents a significant step forward in addressing the unique challenges faced by minority communities in our state. Central to this initiative is our profound recognition of Digital Equity and Broadband Connectivity as essential pillars for empowering MSIs. Our aim is to enable them to become catalysts of change and progress across diverse societal sectors.
The MSI Summit is set to bring together a diverse and influential group of leaders, experts, and advocates who are deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and innovation in higher education and beyond. Our esteemed attendees include Presidents and Administrators from Minority Serving Institutions, Government Officials, Corporate Partners, Philanthropic Organizations, Technology Experts, Community Leaders, and many more. Together, we collaborate, share best practices, and drive positive change for minority-serving institutions and the communities they serve.
It's a bold undertaking, and we invite you to be a part of this remarkable journey.
Our diverse audience represents a wide range of professionals and leaders who play essential roles in shaping the future of minority-serving institutions, workforce development, and digital equity in Alabama and beyond. This comprehensive audience encompasses a wide range of stakeholders committed to advancing education, workforce development, digital equity, and community progress in Alabama and beyond.
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Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa St,
Montgomery, Alabama
Google, Amazon, AHCE, Hectagon, ADPH, Aubix, NVIDIA, Disney, and more!
over 30+ Professional Speakers:
Subject Matter Experts, Government Officials, and More!
Thursday, January 25
2PM -7PM
Friday, January 26, 2024
8AM -4PM
At the Convention Center this hotel is home to the Montgomery Performing Arts Center and is within walking distance of Riverwalk Stadium. In the heart of downtown, across the street from the river and Union Station.
Our MSI Summit rate of $129 per night, ends on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.
Book Your StayJoin leading minds at the MSI Summit addressing key areas: Digital Equity, Broadband Connectivity, Workforce Opportunities, Business Growth, Research Grants, and Telehealth-Telemedicine. Discover innovative solutions and transformative ideas from our diverse panel of experts.
As ADECA Director, Boswell serves in the Governor’s Cabinet, oversees a staff of 150 and manages an annual budget of hundreds of millions of dollars. The agency has the broad responsibility of guiding dozens of grant programs with the purpose of creating jobs, strengthening the state’s economy, and improving the lives and welfare of its residents. Under Boswell’s direction, ADECA has taken on multiple roles including broadband expansion, electric vehicle infrastructure, and a successful 2020 Census count for Alabama.
Boswell was serving his fourth full term as mayor of Enterprise, Alabama when he was selected to lead ADECA.
Before joining NTIA, Michelle worked at the Small Business Investor Alliance as the Member Services and Engagement Manager, coordinating outreach with SBIA stakeholders (private equity investors) and small businesses in need of financing. Prior to SBIA, worked at the National League of Cities, serving as their Conference Coordinator and Legislative Assistant covering a range of issues including Community and Economic Development, Transportation, Energy, IT and Communications. Michelle began her career working for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a dozen years.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
She currently serves on the board of Alabama Power Company; in addition to roles on the Business Council of Alabama, Alabama STEM Advisory Council, Computer Science Task Force, and the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International, AUM College of Business, Trenholm State Community College Computer Information Systems and Saint James School Boards. As the past Director of the Education Foundation for the Montgomery AFCEA Chapter which provided STEM initiatives to the local community, she founded EduWerx, a nonprofit organization exposing minorities and young women to STEM.
Her greatest joy is spending time with her son, Dylan.
Under Nick’s leadership, the GOEWT is working to establish a learning and employment record, a skills-based job description generator, and a human-centered public workforce system designed to assist Alabamians with overcoming benefits cliffs and other barriers to entering the workforce.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University Extension School and a Master of Public Policy from Cornell University.
Moore is a native of Enterprise, Alabama. He served as a Teach for America corps member in Lowndes County, Alabama where he had the privilege of teaching secondary social studies, government, and economics at Central High School. After completing his tenure in Lowndes County, Nick received a Teach for America Capitol Hill Fellowship. During and after his fellowship, he covered education, health care, and workforce development in the Office of Representative Martha Roby (AL-02). Nick later served as Senator Luther Strange’s Legislative Assistant for healthcare, education, and labor. Nick and his wife, Emily, live in Montgomery, Alabama.
The MSI Summit aims to foster collaboration, advance diversity and equity, drive innovation, bridge the digital divide, support economic growth, enhance student opportunities, strengthen philanthropic support, inform public policy, and build lasting partnerships, making it a catalyst for transformative change in education, workforce development, and digital equity.
The MSI Summit is filled with opportunities for attendees to engage in immersive experiences that highlight global innovation and minority community initiatives.
Dive into the MSI Summit's rich agenda of Plenaries, Breakout Sessions, and Tracks covering digital equity, workforce development, business growth, research, and telehealth-telemedicine. Engage in transformative dialogues and collaborative workshops.
Student Development11:30AM - 1:30PM | HBCU Innovation Experience: Innovation Power Hours! by The Alabama Collective |
Google’s AI Lounge02: 00 PM | The AI Nexus: Connect + Collaborate = Initiate by Google AI Experts |
Google’s AI Lounge03:00PM | AI Unveiled: Empowering Minority Communities by Google AI Experts |
Google’s AI Lounge4:00PM | Unpacking AI: Exploring the Future of Innovation by Google AI Experts |
Kickoff Mixer5: 30PM | Hospitality & Sponsored Receptions by Alabama State University |
Opening Breakfast Plenary08: 00 AM | “Igniting the Spark of Change: How Did We Get Here?” by Dr. Damian Clarke and More! |
Premiere Track9:15AM–10:15AM | Unpacking the CMC Grants $14million Investment into Alabama by NTIA & More! |
Breakout Session09:15 AM | Why Access to Both Matters: Telehealth vs. Telemedicine by Alabama Dept. of Public Health |
Breakout Session09:15 AM | The Unified Approach: a Strengthening of Statewide Resources by Boyd Stephens |
Breakout Session09:15 AM | Strategies for Success in an Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem by AAICE |
Workshop10:30AM–11:30AM | Best and Brightest by Alabama HBCU Consortium |
Governor’s Luncheon Plenary12: 00 PM | “Envisioning a Connected, Empowered Future” by Governor Kay Ivey |
President’s Forum Plenary2: 00 PM | Roundtable for MSI Presidents and Senior Leaders by Rodney Strong & Dr. Jim Purcell |
Closing Plenary3: 30 PM | “Technology’s Impact on a Modern Minority Community” by AOMA |
Our MSI Summit is proudly supported by a diverse array of sponsors and partners, each contributing their unique expertise and resources. Their invaluable support and collaboration are essential in driving our mission to empower minority communities through education, innovation, and connectivity.