Dr. Robbie Melton, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Technology Innovations at the SMART Global Technology Innovation Center, has been named a 2025 Leading Woman in AI. In addition to her leadership roles, she is a tenured professor at Tennessee State University and an esteemed global researcher and international consultant specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education and Emerging Internet of Everything (IoE) technologies. Her expertise encompasses mobile devices, smartphones, tablets, wearables, smart gadgets, and immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). Dr. Melton also serves on the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) AI Commission, where she contributes to shaping the future of AI in education.

​

Dr. Melton has provided global presentations in over 30 countries, showcasing the emerging educational benefits of AI in higher education. She has also trained administrators on developing comprehensive frameworks for AI policies, ensuring institutions are equipped for the integration of AI technologies. Previously, she served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Emerging Technologies at the Tennessee Board of Regents, where she was the primary developer and chief administrator for the system-wide Regents Online Degree Programs.

​

Her numerous accolades reflect her impact on education and technology, including being named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Education (2023), induction into the USDLA Hall of Fame (2019), and recognition as a Distinguished Woman of Legend (2018). Other honors include the OLC Leadership Award (2017), WCET Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), and recognition as one of the Top 30 Technologists (2014). She was also named an Apple Distinguished Educator (2013) and a Top Fifty Technology Innovator (2012).

​

Dr. Melton is widely known as an “Appologist” for her extensive research on best practices with mobile devices and her creation of the Mobile App Resource Center to support educational innovation. She continues to advocate for Open Educational Resources (OER) to increase global access to education and serves as an education technology trainer in Malawi and several South African countries. Her initiatives, such as “Everyone Can Code and Create” and “Academic eSports – Mixed Reality Gamification,” are advancing SMART immersive teaching and learning worldwide.

Driven by a passion for equity and inclusion, Dr. Melton is a tireless advocate for empowering underserved populations, particularly Black women, to become innovators and entrepreneurs in the digital age. Her work continues to push the boundaries of education technology while fostering opportunities for all learners to thrive in the rapidly evolving digital world.

As the President of Motlow State Community College, Dr. Torrence leads a dynamic and diverse institution that serves over 7,000 students across five campuses and online. His vision is to provide access, equity, and excellence in higher education and workforce development, leveraging technology, research, and innovation to enhance student success, academic affairs, and staff development.

Dr. Torrence holds a PhD in Exceptional Learning (Literacy) from Tennessee Technological University, where he conducted field study and data collection on multiliteracies in Poland. He has a strong background in adult education, distance learning, and curriculum development, with a focus on applied learning within Open Education Resources (OER), Virtual Reality, AI, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, Automation, Robotics, Mechatronics, and Gamification. Dr. Torrence is also a veteran, a team builder, and a human. Learner-centric way-finder.

Tiffany K. Harrison works with the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program. She previously worked with SREB’s Educational Technology Cooperative on research and policy efforts, after joining the organization’s benchmarking college- and career-readiness standards team in 2017. Prior to joining SREB, she was a program evaluation and data specialist with the North Carolina Partnership for Children and a research associate for the SERVE Center at UNC-Greensboro.

Tiffany holds a bachelor of arts in English from North Carolina Central University and a master’s in education research from The Ohio State University and is pursuing a doctoral degree in education management at Hampton University. She lives in the Atlanta area.

Dr. Denise Malloy is an innovative leader in digital literacy, dedicated to empowering educators and communities within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As the Director of the Center for Academic Innovation & Transformation at Huston-Tillotson University, she focuses on equipping HBCU educators with the tools and skills necessary to become active content creators. With a commitment to enhancing the academic landscape, Dr. Malloy strives to foster an environment where diverse populations can thrive through technology and creative expression, making a significant impact on educational practices and community engagement.