23rd Annual Conference and Student Summit brings together HBCU business leaders, faculty, students, and industry partners in Westlake, Texas
WESTLAKE, Texas — August 3, 2026 — The HBCU Business Deans Roundtable hosted its 23rd Annual Conference and Student Summit in Westlake, Texas, June 3–6, 2026, convening business school deans, faculty, students, alumni, and industry leaders from across the country.
This year’s theme, “AI-Ready Faculty & Future-Ready Students: Reimagining Business Education for an AI-Driven Business World,” reflected the urgent need to prepare HBCU business students and faculty for a rapidly evolving workforce shaped by artificial intelligence, innovation, and emerging technologies.
The annual conference provides a forum for deans of business schools at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to address opportunities and challenges associated with strengthening business programs, expanding strategic partnerships, and advancing student success. This year’s event also featured a Student Summit, which allowed student participants to engage in professional development, connect with potential employers, receive guidance on career and character building, and explore the future of work.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming every sector of business, and HBCUs must be at the forefront of preparing students to lead in this new era,” said Ziette Hayes, DBA, 2026 Program Chair of the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable Summit, and Dean of the James T. George School of Business at Hampton University. “This year’s conference was designed to move beyond conversation and toward action by equipping faculty, empowering students, and strengthening the pipeline of diverse AI-ready business leaders.”
Key conference sessions included:
- Preparing Students for the Age of AI
- From AI Literacy to AI Leadership: Building the Pipeline of AI Innovators
- From Resistance to Readiness: Cultivating an AI-Inclusive Culture Through Faculty–Student Collaboration in HBCU Business Schools
- Nothing About Students Without Students: Co-Designing AI Curriculum, Policy, and Research for the Next Generation of Business Leaders
- The Faculty AI Playbook: Winning Before, During, and After the Semester
- Unlocking Student Success: Insights from the Soaring Business Eagles Project
- AI and Ethics
The conference emphasized the importance of aligning business education with the technological, ethical, and leadership demands of the modern workforce. Through faculty-focused sessions, student-centered discussions, and collaborative programming, attendees examined how HBCU business schools can integrate AI literacy, responsible innovation, and practical career readiness into the student experience.
“Our students are not simply preparing to enter the workforce; they are preparing to shape it,” Hayes said. “By bringing faculty and students into the same conversations about curriculum, policy, ethics, and innovation, we are creating a model for business education that is inclusive, future-focused, and deeply connected to the needs of industry.”
The three-day event culminated with an awards banquet recognizing outstanding leadership, service, mentorship, and commitment to HBCU business education.
The Milton Wilson Award, the highest honor bestowed by the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable, is presented to HBCU business school deans in recognition of leadership, service, and commitment to the academic profession. The award is named in honor of Dr. Milton Wilson, founder of the business schools at Howard University and Southern University. Dr. Wilson was also the first dean to attain AACSB accreditation for two HBCU schools of business.
This year’s Milton Wilson Award recipient was Dr. Patrick Liverpool, retired business professor, dean, provost, vice provost, and executive vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Liverpool has served at several institutions, including Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, North Carolina Central University, Florida A&M University, Fisk University, North Carolina A&T State University, Central State University, Delaware State University, the University of Toledo, and Howard University.
Other award recipients included:
- Derrick Tinsley, Manager, Deloitte — recipient of the Bernie Milano Service Award
- Dr. Van Sapp, Retired Dean, School of Business, Saint Augustine’s University — recipient of the Sybil C. Mobley Trailblazer Award
- Dr. Donald Andrews, Dean and G. Leon Netterville/Kellogg Endowed Professor in the College of Business at Southern University and A&M College — recipient of the Percy J. Vaughn, Jr. Mentorship Award
- Dr. Igwe Udeh, Alvin James Lawson Endowed Professor of Business and Dean of the College of Business at Southern University at New Orleans — recipient of the Quiester Craig Leadership Award
- Dr. Kevin James, Retired Dean, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University — recipient of the Quiester Craig Leadership Award
- Grambling State University, Moorehead College of Business and Entrepreneurship — recipient of the Creative & Innovative Programming for Entrepreneurship Award
Hayes noted that the honorees reflect the Roundtable’s long-standing commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and institutional impact.
“These awards celebrate leaders whose work has strengthened HBCU business education and opened doors for generations of students,” Hayes said. “Their commitment reminds us that innovation must always be grounded in service, excellence, and the enduring mission of our institutions.”
About the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable
The HBCU Business Deans Roundtable provides a forum for deans of HBCU business schools to address opportunities and challenges associated with enhancing business programs and initiatives. The organization seeks to strengthen and develop strategic partnerships and alliances with corporations, government agencies, and national organizations to provide essential tools and resources for student success.
The Roundtable’s vision is to become the premier forum for exchanging information and ideas related to maximizing the value of management education at HBCUs.
For more information, visit
https://www.hbcubusinessdeans.org
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About Hampton University
Founded in 1868, Hampton University is one of the nation’s strongest Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a prestigious Carnegie R2-designated research institution. For more than 150 years, Hampton has prepared world-ready leaders of character and consequence through a distinctive educational experience grounded in academic excellence, leadership, innovation, and service.
Home to students from 44 states and 32 countries and territories, the University is nationally recognized for groundbreaking research in atmospheric science, cancer research, cybersecurity, marine and environmental science, and other disciplines that address society’s most pressing challenges. With an annual economic impact of $530 million across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Hampton continues to advance discovery, strengthen communities, and prepare graduates to lead with purpose in an increasingly interconnected world. Learn more at www.hamptonu.edu.
