The 4th Annual Dream Makers Summit brought together the Morehouse community for a full day celebrating the scholarship, creativity, and innovation of our students. From lightning talks and poster presentations to an inspiring alumni panel discussion and dynamic Lunch & Learn sessions with corporate partners, April 21, 2026 was a powerful demonstration of what it means to be a Man of Morehouse.
Student presentations spanned every discipline of the College — STEM, Social Sciences, Business & Economics, Humanities, Entrepreneurship, and Media & Arts — with student-led ventures showcased in two Entrepreneurial Showcase sessions. There were 120+ student presenters from all four academic divisions, and a total of over 670 students in attendance.
2026 Dream Makers Summit Winners:
Lightning Talk I — STEM & Social Sciences
STEM: Landen Thompson
Biopolitics and the Medicalization of Community Health
Social Science: Jeremiah Lowther
Roots of Resistance: Black Civic Engagement in the Rural South
Lightning Talk II — Business, Humanities & Performances
Entrepreneurship: Amari Coleman, Isaiah Johnson, and Beloved "Joshua" Simons
Roblox, the Entry Point Everyone Ignores
Social Sciences: Elijah Qualls
Trade War Revisited: U.S. Tariffs and Global Trade Networks
STEM: Jeremy Warden
The Moderating Role of Physical Activity in the Relationship Between Beta-Amyloid and Memory Performance in Black Older Adults
Media & Arts: Milton Rogers
Sunni to Milton, Makeup to Morehouse
Poster Presentation I
STEM: Thaddeus Hendrickson
Fabrication and Evaluation of High-Density Wire Targets for Laser Driven Fusion
Social Science: Mario Wells
Springtime from My Window: Analyzing How Exposure to Nature Contributes to Student Mindfulness
Business & Econ: Robert Robinson
New Age Data - ELC Consulting Project
Entrepreneurship: Ranyé Holmes
ELC Consulting Project - Rapid strategy consulting
Poster Presentation II
Business & Econ: Jackson Bryant
Hustle Culture: The Impact of This Approach on Black Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship: Kevyn Moulton
Last of a Dying Breed (LODB)
Social Science: Nathaniel Cange
STEM: Ellington Hughes
Deep Learning for Detection of Dental Pathology in Radiographic Imaging
Humanities: Omar Culbreath Jr., William Midgett II, Marti Smith, and Clayton Thomas
Divine: Hoodoo, Conjure, and Gullah Communities of the Georgia Coast
Serving as an alternative Crown Forum, the alumni panel brought together a distinguished group of Morehouse graduates who offered candid insights on the intersection of artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The conversation was moderated by Joe Carlos III ’04, MBA, director of alumni engagement, programming and events at Morehouse College and the 2024 Alumnus of the Year. Panelists included Javarro “Jay” Edwards ’92, founder of The JME Group and president of the Morehouse College National Alumni Association; Thomas A. Searles, Ph.D. ’05, associate professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and director of the IBM-HBCU Quantum Center; Julien Turner, MFA ’20, co-founder of Dreadhead Films, art director at Abercrombie & Fitch, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree; and Shawn Wilkinson ’14, founder of Storj Labs and Prodia Labs, as well as an angel investor in Atlanta’s startup ecosystem.
The program also featured a series of Lunch & Learn sessions designed to equip students with practical skills and industry insight. Representatives from JPMorgan Chase led a session on transitioning from the classroom to the workplace, facilitated by Vincenzina Megna, Chelsey Willis, and Jourdan Webster. Southern Company hosted a workshop on networking and crafting an effective elevator pitch, led by Antonio Godfrey. AbbVie introduced students to careers in the pharmaceutical industry, with facilitation from Kelly James. The Center for Black Entrepreneurship presented a session on translating ideas from the classroom and lab to the marketplace through its SPARK Faculty Innovation Grant Program, led by Grant M. Warner, Ph.D., LaQuita Blockson, Ph.D., and Abdus Muwwakkil. Vanderlande focused on campus and DEI recruiting strategies, facilitated by Gabrya Brackins and Melanie Banks, while The Leadership Alliance team explored innovation and the future of work.
The success of the Dream Makers Summit would not be possible without the generous support of our community of faculty, staff, alumni, AUC colleagues, and friends from across Metro Atlanta. Thank you to the volunteers who assisted with logistics – your participation was key to elevating the student experience. A heartfelt thank you to the judges, who dedicated their time to evaluate student presentations during the Lightning Talks, Poster Sessions, and the Entrepreneurial Showcases. We are equally grateful to our external partners for engaging with our students during tabling and the Lunch & Learn Sessions.
To the more than 670 students who filled the halls of the Shirley A. Massey Executive Conference Center with energy and purpose, thank you for demonstrating and celebrating the excellence of the Men of Morehouse.
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