Distinguished Guest Speaker Series
Distinguished guest speakers with the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis will focus on diverse areas of research including the energy, defense, and AgTech industries, as well as other emerging innovation topics.
Past Speakers
See who has visited the FedEx Institute of Technology, a collection of scholars and innovators from across the United States and abroad. These guest speakers offer profound insights and expertise in their respective fields. Explore their impactful contributions and delve into the wealth of knowledge they've shared with our campus community.
Dr. Roman Beck
Professor of Business IT, Head of European Blockchain Center
IT University of Copenhagen
"Das nicht-physische Kapital (The Non-Physical Capital)"
Professor of Business IT, Head of European Blockchain Center
IT University of Copenhagen
"Das nicht-physische Kapital (The Non-Physical Capital)"
Dr. Bill Hardgrave
President
University of Memphis
"The State of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in Retail and Beyond: Past, Present, Future"
President
University of Memphis
"The State of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in Retail and Beyond: Past, Present, Future"
Bill Schmarzo
Customer Data Innovation, Office of the CTO
Dell Technologies
"Big Data MBA: Thinking Like a Data Scientist"
Customer Data Innovation, Office of the CTO
Dell Technologies
"Big Data MBA: Thinking Like a Data Scientist"
Aaron Prather
Director, Robotics & Autonomous Systems Program
ASTM International
"Global Robotics Standards: More Than Just Asimov's Three Laws"
Director, Robotics & Autonomous Systems Program
ASTM International
"Global Robotics Standards: More Than Just Asimov's Three Laws"
Dr. Rakesh Verma
Computer Science Professor
University of Houston
"Persuasion & Deception Detection in Text Data"
Computer Science Professor
University of Houston
"Persuasion & Deception Detection in Text Data"
Ben Carmichael
Business Development Manager
Southern Company
"Clean Energy for Today and Tomorrow: Where the Nuclear Power Industry is Headed"
Business Development Manager
Southern Company
"Clean Energy for Today and Tomorrow: Where the Nuclear Power Industry is Headed"
Dr. Kevin Berisso
Associate Professor in College of Engineering and AutoID Lab Director
University of Memphis
"2D in Retail Efforts and Potential Impacts"
Associate Professor in College of Engineering and AutoID Lab Director
University of Memphis
"2D in Retail Efforts and Potential Impacts"
Dr. M. Ramesh
Professor and UNESCO Chair on Social Policy Design in Asia Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
National University of Singapore
"Blockchain Ecosystem Overview"
Professor and UNESCO Chair on Social Policy Design in Asia Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
National University of Singapore
"Blockchain Ecosystem Overview"
Dr. Josh Yates
Research Director, Thriving Cities Lab
University of Virginia
"The Promise Of America’s Underdog Cities"
Research Director, Thriving Cities Lab
University of Virginia
"The Promise Of America’s Underdog Cities"
Dr. Reinhard Heckel
Associate Professor for Machine Learning
Technical University of Munich
"DNA Data Storage Techniques"
Associate Professor for Machine Learning
Technical University of Munich
"DNA Data Storage Techniques"
Dr. Louis Taborda
Associate Professor
University of Sydney
"Agile Release Management"
Associate Professor
University of Sydney
"Agile Release Management"
Dr. Osama Khan
PostDoc for the Sensor & Actuator Center
University of California Berkeley
"Smart Dust"
PostDoc for the Sensor & Actuator Center
University of California Berkeley
"Smart Dust"
Leon Sandler
Executive Director of the Deshpande Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Commercializing University Research"
Executive Director of the Deshpande Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Commercializing University Research"
Barclay Rogers
Founder & CEO
Graphyte
"Carbon Capture and Removal: Current Status and Key Challenges"
Founder & CEO
Graphyte
"Carbon Capture and Removal: Current Status and Key Challenges"
Jeffrey Parsons
Research Professor
Memorial University in Newfoundland
"Validity in Design Science Research"
Research Professor
Memorial University in Newfoundland
"Validity in Design Science Research"
Dr. Munir Mandviwalla
Professor of MIS, Milton F. Stauffer Senior Research Fellow; Executive Director, Institute for Business and Information Technology
Temple University
"The Evolution of Enterprise Systems: The Importance of Transplantability and Tailoring"
Professor of MIS, Milton F. Stauffer Senior Research Fellow; Executive Director, Institute for Business and Information Technology
Temple University
"The Evolution of Enterprise Systems: The Importance of Transplantability and Tailoring"
Dr. Thomas Wallin
Assistant Professor | Advanced Manufacturing, Wearable Technologies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Soft Robotic Systems and the Future"
Assistant Professor | Advanced Manufacturing, Wearable Technologies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Soft Robotic Systems and the Future"
Dr. Nathan Johnson
Associate Professor, The Polytechnic School, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Arizona State University
"Energy Innovation"
Associate Professor, The Polytechnic School, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Arizona State University
"Energy Innovation"
Nik Puri
Senior VP of IT
FedEx Express
"Digital Transformation"
Senior VP of IT
FedEx Express
"Digital Transformation"
Dr. Robinson Pino
Computer Scientist and Program Manager for the Advanced Scientific Computing Research
Department of Energy (DOE)
“Advanced Scientific Computing Research”
Computer Scientist and Program Manager for the Advanced Scientific Computing Research
Department of Energy (DOE)
“Advanced Scientific Computing Research”
Dr. John Tooker
Professor of Entomology
Penn State University
“Toxic Slugs Chart a Path Back to Integrated Pest Management”
Professor of Entomology
Penn State University
“Toxic Slugs Chart a Path Back to Integrated Pest Management”
Yorke Rhodes
Co-founder of Blockchain
Microsoft Corporation
"Radical Decentralization: The Key to Realizing the Vision of the Internet’s Founders"
Co-founder of Blockchain
Microsoft Corporation
"Radical Decentralization: The Key to Realizing the Vision of the Internet’s Founders"
Kyle Veazey
Deputy Chief Operating Officer
City of Memphis
"Economic Impact & Recovery for Memphis" (Panelist)
Deputy Chief Operating Officer
City of Memphis
"Economic Impact & Recovery for Memphis" (Panelist)
Ernest Strickland
Senior VP of Workforce Development
Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce
"Economic Impact & Recovery for Memphis" (Panelist)
Senior VP of Workforce Development
Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce
"Economic Impact & Recovery for Memphis" (Panelist)
Naveen Kumar
Faculty - Information Systems
University of Washington
"Analytics from a Higher Education Perspective"
Faculty - Information Systems
University of Washington
"Analytics from a Higher Education Perspective"
Michelle Epps
Senior VP of IT and CIO
FedEx Freight
Athena{techne} Keynote Speaker
Senior VP of IT and CIO
FedEx Freight
Athena{techne} Keynote Speaker