Kweli Zukeri

Biography

Dr. Kweli Zukeri is Assistant Vice President of Web Innovation & Strategy at Howard University, where he has served for over 15 years. He led the development of a centralized web system supporting more than 90 University sites and now advances Howard’s adoption of AI-powered technologies. A founding member of Howard’s Presidential AI Council, he helps shape responsible AI strategy and governance. His research explores technology, identity, psychological development, and social justice, with a current focus on protecting youth engagement with generative AI while strengthening critical thinking and critical AI literacy.

Sessions

1. Writing the Next Chapter of Black Prosperity

   Thu, Nov 5, 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM CT

   Track Wealth

   Every generation inherits a different set of opportunities and obstacles. Ours has inherited one of the greatest technological transformations in modern history. The question is not simply how Black communities participate in this moment, but what we must build to ensure innovation becomes a catalyst for lasting prosperity. In this thought-provoking conversation, Frank Tramble, Vice President for Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs at Duke University, and Brandon William Jones, Founder and CEO of Gravy Wealth, explore the future of Black prosperity from two connected perspectives: the institutions with the reach and influence to shape opportunity, and the individuals and communities working to turn that opportunity into ownership and generational wealth. Moderated by Kweli Zukeri, Associate Vice President of Web Innovation & Strategy at Howard University, the discussion will examine how institutional influence, education, capital, and entrepreneurship intersect to shape economic opportunity for Black communities. From expanding access and building trust to developing financial confidence and creating pathways to ownership, the conversation will explore what it takes to move beyond participation in the innovation economy toward building lasting economic power. Rather than focusing on technology itself, this session challenges attendees to consider the broader ecosystem required to convert today's breakthroughs into tomorrow's generational impact. What responsibility do institutions have to create the conditions for prosperity? How can Black talent and innovation translate into greater ownership? And what decisions must we make today to ensure future generations inherit more than opportunity? Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the relationship between institutional influence and individual economic mobility, practical perspectives on strengthening pathways to ownership, and a renewed sense of their own role in shaping the next chapter of Black prosperity.