Alabama State University News January 4, 2012 Annual ASU HBCU Conference to be Held March 4-6 Organizers are hard at work on the third annual ASU HBCU Conference slated for March 4-6. More than 300 higher education professionals, alumni, entrepreneurs and government officials are expected to visit the ASU campus to attend this year's conference, which seeks to build economic partnerships with the nation's HBCUs and their surrounding communities. The theme of this year's conference is "Entrepreneurship: Fostering Creativity, Innovation, and Opportunities." "The goals of the conference are to enable attendees the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, business development, grants, contracts, fellowships, and internships with a special focus in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines," said Deborah Scott Thomas, ASU alumna and president of Data Solutions & Technology Incorporated (DST). This year's conference also will feature several keynote speakers and panelists who possess a wealth of experience in leadership, private enterprise, economic development and education innovation. The 2012 conference sessions offered information about three convergent areas: entrepreneurship and business development, grant writing and fund procurement, and STEM education and career preparation. The conference attracted more than 1,000 participants including entrepreneurs, scholars, national, state and city leaders, business owners, representatives from major corporations and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities. College and high schools throughout the central Alabama region participated in the STEM education and career preparation panel discussions. For sponsorship opportunities or to register, visit www.asu-hbcu.org<http://www.asu-hbcu.org>. For general inquiries, contact Tammi L. Thomas at 240-487-1479 or email tthomas@dstincorporated.com<mailto:tthomas@dstincorporated.com>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.