Bennett College will host the AI Music & Creators Conference, a 2½-day experience bringing together artists, technologists, educators, and industry leaders to explore how artificial intelligence and technology are reshaping creative work.
Held on campus, the conference will feature live demonstrations, panel discussions, performances, and cross-disciplinary conversations at the intersection of music, fashion, media, and innovation. Suno, a generative AI music creation platform and digital audio workstation, joins as a conference partner.
Giveaways and So Much More!
Join us for a 2 1/2 -day exploration of music, creativity, and technology. Registration is free, but space is limited. Includes the conference luncheon.
Students who register will receive FREE General Admission.
Upgrade your experience with VIP access, including a private reception, conference luncheon priority seating, and enhanced networking opportunities with speakers and industry professionals.
“Only 20 slots. First come, first selected.”
Submit your original or AI-assisted track for live review by a panel of industry judges. Participants will receive feedback, recognition, and potential promotional opportunities. $45 per track, a maximum of 2 tracks, 3 mins or less per track.
Showcase participants receive priority seating.
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Rotunda
Stop by the GLC Rotunda to check in for the AI Music & Creators Conference 2026, pickup your name badge, and receive your tickets for events.
Time: 10:00 am – 10:15 am
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Convener: Phanalphie Rhue, songwriter, creator, and Chief Global Communications & Experience Officer for Bennett College
Join us for the start of the innovative AI Music & Creators Conference as Conference Organizer and Chief Global Communications & Experience Officer, Phanalphie Rhue, kicks off the day.
Open to the public, the conference will feature live demonstrations, panel discussions, and performances exploring the intersection of music, media, and innovation. Programming will move from the foundational of AI to insights to real-world applications, in music and creative production to examining fashion, culture, sustainability, and technology. Sessions will explore how AI is reshaping music production, ownership, and creative control, along with conversations led by entertainment executives and attorneys on the legal and business implications of AI in the creative industries.
The conference includes a very special academic programming announcement, so don’t miss this!
Time: 10:15 am – 11:00 am
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenter: Scott A. McGregor, Latimer AI
This session is an engaging, practical session designed for students, alumnae, academics, professionals, and innovators who want to understand AI technology and its practical applications. Through real-world examples and live demonstrations, you will learn how AI can enhance productivity, creativity, and decision-making across industries and experiences. This session empowers participants at every level to confidently use AI as a tool to elevate their work and everyday life.
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenters: Kameron Buckner, Lawyer / Founder, Social Docket @kameronmonet and Chenae Erkerd, Tech Recruiter, Palo Alto Networks / @RecruiterCousin
Designed by Freshwoman Imani Cook ’29, this dynamic panel features insight from industry professionals from Lenovo, Microsoft, and Cisco on how they integrate AI into their workflows while navigating entrepreneurship, pivots, and growth. The session is designed to help students and professionals see themselves as creators and founders, empowered to start where they are.
Time: 1:15 pm – 1:45 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenters: Malcolm Jackson, Principal Specialist, Global Talent Acquisition Operations – Micron Technology and Montecia Roulhac, MBA, AI & Emerging Technology Talent Leader — Index Exchange
Speakers from Micron Technology and Index Exchange join us for a candid conversation unpacking the real-world impact of AI on careers and industries — exploring not the fear of being replaced by machines, but the practical urgency of building AI fluency before those who have it leave you behind.
Time: 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenter: Lafouji Alexander, Suno VIP Beta Tester and Music Educator
Lafouji Alexander, VIP Beta Tester from leading AI music software Suno, hosts an introduction to AI music— demystifying the tools, workflows, and creative possibilities that are reshaping how music is made, and showing you how to start using them today. He will be joined by Suno representatives to explain the platform and commercialization of created tracks.
Time: 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenters: Griot & Grits and their Industry Volunteers
Griot & Grits joins us with representatives from Red Hat to walk us through one of the most culturally significant open source projects in development today — a platform using AI to archive, enrich, and share the lived experiences of African Americans. Discover how innovation, community, and heritage are coming together one story at a time.
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Moderator: Linda Jones, Celebrity Publicist
Celebrity Publicist Linda Jones moderates a conversation between celebrities on creativity and the role AI plays in shaping, amplifying, and protecting their personal brand in an ever-evolving entertainment landscape.
Time: 4:30 – 5:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenter: Yemi Adegbonmire, entertainment and technology attorney and Vice President of Legal and Associate General Counsel at Cineverse
You’ve created something — now how do you protect it? This essential session breaks down the legal landscape every artist needs to understand in the age of AI, from copyright basics and licensing to the emerging questions around AI-generated music and ownership. Whether you’re an independent artist or an industry veteran, walk away with the knowledge and tools to safeguard your sound, own your story, and ensure that what you’ve built is protected for the long haul.
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Steele Hall Art Gallery
The VIP Reception brings together speakers, special guests, and VIP ticket holders for an intimate gathering of conversation, connection, and celebration. This is your opportunity to network with the brightest minds of the event, forge meaningful relationships, and continue the conversations that matter most in a relaxed, upscale setting.
Ticket required for entry.
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: The Coote Family Lecture Hall
Presenters: Kevan Hall (former designer for Halston) and TJ Walker (Cross Colours co-founder), two of the co-founders of the Black Design Collective
“PULL BACK THE CURTAIN” with Black Design Collective co-founders Kevan Hall and TJ Walker as they explore the impact of Black fashion designers and cultural icons—through the lens of Wear Daily (WWD) and as captured in Black in Fashion: 100 Years of Style, Influence & Culture by Tonya Blazio-Licorish and Tara Donaldson—while discussing how that legacy continues to shape opportunity, culture, and the next generation of creatives. The conversation will be followed by an exclusive book signing with both co-founders, who are featured in the book.
Founded in 2018, the Black Design Collective is comprised of accomplished fashion industry professionals-of-color who seek to amplify the influence of and create opportunities for the community of Black apparel and accessory designers and costume designers within the US and abroad. The BDC mission is rooted in the promotion of Scholarship, Mentorship, and Entrepreneurship within emerging generations of Black fashion design talent. Through this work, the BDC aims at ultimately fostering an independent and self-sustaining Black fashion community.
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Rotunda
Stop by the GLC Rotunda to check in for the AI Music & Creators Conference 2026, pickup your name badge, and receive your tickets for events.
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenter: Lafouji Alexander, Suno VIP Beta Tester and Music Educator
Join a live, hands-on songwriting experience where creativity meets collaboration — participants will work together in real time to craft an original song from concept to completion, guided through every step of the creative process. Whether you’re a seasoned songwriter or picking up a pen for the first time, this workshop proves that music has no barriers and every voice has something worth saying.
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenters: Kevan Hall (former designer for Halston) and TJ Walker (Cross Colours co-founder)
Kevan Hall and TJ Walker, co-founders of The Black Design Collective, bring together the worlds of technology, culture, and conscious creation in a thought-provoking conversation on how AI is revolutionizing sustainable fashion. From ethical sourcing and smart design tools to reducing waste and amplifying underrepresented voices in the industry, this session explores what it means to build a fashion future that is not only innovative — but intentional, inclusive, and built to last.
Time: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Speaker: Jeannie Jones-Ledford, President & CEO of J3 Consulting, LLC
Join us for a delicious luncheon sponsored by J3 Consulting, LLC, featuring an intimate fireside chat with Jeannie Jones-Ledford, President & CEO of J3. Jeannie will take us inside her remarkable journey of building a company rooted in innovation, integrity, and execution — sharing the vision, challenges, and defining moments that shaped J3 into a trusted leader in data-driven solutions.
As President and CEO of J3 Consulting, Jeannie Jones-Ledford founded and grew the company from the ground up and brings extensive experience designing successful solutions for federal agencies and commercial clients. Under her leadership, J3 provides highly regarded services in project management, information technology, and Cloud & AI solutions.
Mrs. Jones- Ledford attended Bennett College. Throughout her career she has obtained various certificates of knowledge showing her zest for pursuing continuous education and staying abreast of current disciplines in her field of work. She has certifications in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from UiPath attended American University Industry Focus Groups on Change Management and Program Management.
Time: 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenter: Lafouji Alexander, Suno VIP Beta Tester and Music Educator
From the first prompt to the final track, AI is changing everything about how music gets made. In this hands-on and eye-opening session, Lafouji Alexander, VIP Beta Tester from leading AI music platform Suno, breaks down how artists and creators are using AI tools to ideate, experiment, and produce in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Whether you’re a musician, producer, or curious creative, walk away with a new understanding of what’s possible when human imagination meets machine intelligence.
Time: 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenters: Lafouji Alexander and legendary music director Dr. William “Worm” Blount Jr.
What happens when decades of hard-earned music industry wisdom meets the frontier of artificial intelligence? Lafouji Alexander and legendary music director Dr. William “Worm” Blount Jr. sit down for a raw and revelatory conversation on what it truly means to have a producer’s ear — and how that instinct, taste, and experience become your greatest advantage in an AI-powered studio. From analog roots to digital futures, this session explores how the timeless craft of music production isn’t being replaced by AI, but reimagined by those wise enough to know the difference.
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Make your next great connection. This dedicated networking session is your chance to step away from the sessions, put down the notes, and have the real conversations that conferences are made for. Mix and mingle with fellow artists, technologists, educators, and industry leaders who are all navigating the same creative frontier — because sometimes the most valuable thing you leave a conference with isn’t what you learned in the room, but who you met in the hallway.
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Take the stage — or let your music speak for itself. The AI Music & Creators Conference Music Showcase invites artists to submit up to two original tracks for a chance to be heard, judged, and celebrated by a panel of seasoned music industry professionals. This is more than a performance — it’s an opportunity to get real feedback, earn industry recognition, and walk away with something to show for your craft.
A total of two (2) submissions are permitted per guest. Each submissions is $45 per track.
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
In a world moving faster than ever, it’s easy to lose yourself in the noise of innovation and disruption. This honest and healing conversation puts the human experience at the center — exploring the very real toll that creative burnout, technological overwhelm, and the pressure to “keep up” with AI can take on our mental health. Join us for a space that is as restorative as it is empowering, where we slow down, speak openly, and rediscover what it means to thrive — not just survive — in the age of artificial intelligence.
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Global Learning Center- Multipurpose Room
Presenter: Rickey Thomas, Storyteller, Creative Producer, Filmmaker, Founder of “Under the Sun Studios” and former associate producer for Inspiration Networks
Explore the intersection of faith, technology, and the future in a compelling conversation on how AI and emerging tech are transforming the way communities worship, connect, and spread their message. From digital ministry and AI-powered outreach to the ethical questions that arise when innovation meets belief, this session takes an honest look at how faith communities can embrace the tools of tomorrow while staying rooted in the values that matter most.
Redefining glamour for a new generation is an interpretive art especially as Hall took the hallowed house of Halston into the next millennium. In 1998, Hall stepped into New York’s prestigious position of Design and Creative Director and revived the dormant brand to its former glory. His sleek eveningwear was worn by a distinguished coterie of celebrated artists – including Celine Dion, Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, Diana Ross, and Salma Hayek.
In 2002, he returned to Los Angeles to launch his own signature Kevan Hall Collection with a fashion philosophy that emphasizes purity of style, incomparable tailoring and sensuously draped streamlined silhouettes. His designs have been embraced by fashion retailers, the press, and he has won numerous awards to include Gold Coast Fashion Award in Chicago as “Designer of the Year”, “Stylemaker of the Year” by Life & Style Magazine, and “Designer of the Year” by NAACP. His clothes have been worn by First Lady Michelle Obama, Vanessa Williams, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Tina Fey just to name a few.
For more than two decades, the clothing designs of Thomas “TJ” Walker have been featured among the pages of such prominent publications as: Forbes, Details, Code, Black Enterprise, Elle, Source, Sportswear International, Vibe and Women’s Wear Daily. Known primarily for his design prowess in the menswear apparel industry, Walker is at heart a true fine artist. Throughout his career, while simultaneously occupying the position as Educator, Creative Director, Design Consultant or Chief Creative Officer for several notable clothing companies such as Cross Colours, Groove Company, Mence, DKNY, DADA, and Converse, he has continued to indulge in his first love, fine art.
Walker, a successful designer is currently developing design programs for inner-city children to inspire and nurture the development of raw creative talent.
LaFouji Alexander is a music educator, creative technologist, and AI music innovator with over 20 years of experience across professional production, performance, and academic leadership. He currently serves as a Director of Bands and is recognized as a pioneer of the Digital Orchestra—leading one of the first ensembles of its kind to perform on the mainstage at Disney, redefining how technology and live performance intersect.
A storyteller, creative producer, film maker and experienced media producer. He is the founder of the creative banner “Under the Sun Studios” and former associate producer for Inspiration Networks. At Griot and Grits, he brings his production expertise to guide volunteers, capture oral histories, and ensure every story is recorded with care, creativity, and cultural respect.
Jeannie Jones-Ledford is the President and CEO of J3 Consulting, a company she founded and grew into a trusted partner delivering project management, IT, and Cloud & AI solutions to federal and commercial clients. A strategic leader, she drives innovation, growth, and client success while mentoring teams and upholding values of integrity, diligence, and accountability.
Under her leadership, J3 expanded from zero revenue to a multi-million-dollar enterprise. A proud Bennett College alumna, she holds certifications in AI and program management. Jeannie is also a recipient of the 2016 USDA Small Business of the Year award and remains committed to community impact and continuous learning.
Management Consulting: Founder of A Bigger Table Advisory Services.
Fiscal Stewardship & Risk Mitigation: Spearheaded a national IT Modernization Program that guided HBCUs through NIST cybersecurity assessments, successfully preserving $1.7 billion in Title IV federal student aid for historically underinvested institutions. Systems Incubation & Capital Allocation: Restructured the Social Justice office into the Community Enablement & Incubation (CE&I) framework, pivoting the organization from reactive philanthropy to a proactive investment model focused on incubation, continuity, and long-term ecosystem resilience. Strategic Philanthropy: Oversees the Black Equity and Community Enablement Grant Programs, directing trust-based capital to minority-led nonprofits to address root-cause systemic inequities in healthcare, education, and justice. Digital Equity & Infrastructure Leadership: Directed the installation of $138 million in retail-value technology across 70 institutions, impacting over 265,000 students and staff through enhanced digital access and collaborative learning environments. Cyber-Workforce Strategy: Pioneered a $5 million multi-stakeholder cybersecurity workforce initiative in Mississippi and South Carolina, aligning state agencies, academic institutions, and corporate resources to address a 32% projected growth in the field.
Kameron is a lawyer, 10+ year content creator with an audience of 180,000+, and tech founder building Social Docket, an AI-powered platform providing modern legal infrastructure for the creator economy. Over the past 5+ years, she has advised hundreds of creators on negotiating higher-paying brand deals, protecting their intellectual property, and truly understanding the contracts they sign. As a creator herself, Kameron has partnered with brands including Olay, HoneyBook, and LinkedIn, giving her a first-hand understanding of how brand partnerships, contracts, and negotiations actually work in practice. Through Social Docket, the focus is making contract intelligence and legal protection fast, accessible, and creator-first for an industry historically overlooked by traditional legal services. To collaborate, book speaking engagements, or connect at the intersection of law, tech, and the creator economy, contact hello@kameronmonet.com
A diverse and creative mid-career recruiter with an expertise in healthcare and technical recruiting. I utilize my communication skills, customer relations experience, compliance, and legal background to find the best and most qualified talent for positions. I am an expert in event planning, a skill that I utilize to cultivate recruitment efforts for virtual and onsite events. Additionally, I authored three books of poetry entitled “Vent: The Different Faces of Me”, “I Almost Held On”, and “Woman”. They are books of poetry outlining who I am, my interest, my life experiences and what I plan to accomplish.
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AI Music & Creators Conference – Bennett College
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