The University of Mississippi

Tech Summit

Agenda

Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Inn at Ole Miss, Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom

8:30 a.m. – Registration

9:00 a.m. – Welcome
Chancellor Jeff Vitter

9:10 a.m. – Guest of Honor
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker

9:30 a.m. – Keynote Speaker: “Seeking the Edge – How to Sustain a Culture of Innovation”
Rob Carter, Chief Information Officer, FedEx

10:00 a.m. – Panel: Future Opportunities & Challenges in Tech

Rapid advances in technology are reshaping our society in ways that were unimaginable even a decade ago. What will the future hold? This discussion will cover current trends and generate predictions about the unprecedented opportunities — and potential challenges — technological advancements create.

10:45 a.m. – University of Mississippi Student 3-minute talks

  • Elena Bauer, McLean Institute’s Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) Initiative
  • John Chappell, International Studies and Arabic Language Flagship Program
  • A.J. Davidson, Center for Manufacturing Excellence
  • Sam Harres & Will Tribble, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Brendan Ryan, Mathematics and Chinese Language Flagship Program
  • Tristin Young, Public Policy Leadership

11:15 a.m. – Panel: Role of Education in Preparing the Workforce

Education is crucial to developing and maintaining a skilled workforce. How can we best prepare today’s youth to be driven and successful contributors for jobs in tomorrow’s workforce?  How can industry, government, and educational institutions partner to ensure the current workforce is equipped with necessary skills to meet the needs of the evolving job market? This discussion will address society’s most pressing educational needs and the strategies to meet them.

12:00 p.m. – Break

12:30 p.m. – Lunch and Guest Speaker
Michael Kratsios, Deputy Assistant to the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy

1:30 p.m. – Panel: Technology Applications in Government and Industry

Great ideas are transforming our technological abilities and resources. What new inventions and innovations are making the biggest impact right now? How can we keep the pipeline of new ideas flowing? This panel will explore recent technology applications and the process of effectively moving discoveries into action.

 2:15 p.m. – Adjourn