Derrick Warren

Growing up in a small town, Bastrop, La., taught Derrick the importance of relationships, results and resilience.

From a young age, his parents, Calvin and Idell Warren (both HBCU graduates), instilled in him the reality that a quality education is extremely important for success. “Education is a great equalizer in a world that is not always fair”, states Dr. Warren. Now, this self-described “Global Life Learner” drives positive transformation for the Southern University System (SUS) through multiple roles including Associate Dean and MBA Director for the Southern University Baton Rouge College of Business, Director of Alumni Affairs, Executive Director of the Southern University Alumni Federation and International Business Machines (IBM) – SUS Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for IBM Global University Programs. In his role as IBM – SUS SPOC, Dr. Warren leads the implementation of the IBM Academic Initiative, IBM Academic Awards and IBM Skills Academy programs for the university system. This powerful partnership provides technology, research opportunities, and grants and supports the advancement and acceleration of in demand skills such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Design Thinking, Internet of Things and Quantum Computing for students, faculty and key stakeholders of the university. He performs these critical tasks by utilizing social/digital engagement, technology transformation, strong communication strategies and innovation.

Prior to his roles with Southern, Dr. Warren spent over 32 years with IBM and was responsible for the overall client satisfaction, financials, and delivery execution of large accounts ranging in size from several hundred million to over a billion dollars in total contract value. He developed compelling value propositions, created innovative tactical/strategic plans, executed roadmaps for effective execution, resolved complex escalated issues/disputes as well as guided the participation of all IBM Lines of Business. He also served as a member of the IBM Technical Leadership Team, IBM Global Services Diversity Council and was featured in the company’s’ “On Demand” Thinker Ad Campaign. This campaign appeared globally in business publications that included Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Business Week, The Economist, Money Magazine, Barron’s, CIO, CFO as well as other international publications.

In his latter years at IBM, Warren achieved success living abroad leading teams that provided complex technology solutions for corporations in Asia Pacific and Africa. The countries included Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, South Africa, Nigeria and other countries across Africa and The Middle East. While overseas, he established IBM’s Project Executive Competency, which improved certifications by more than 300%, rapidly drove positive C-Suite references in the double-digit range and engineered a marked enhancement to client satisfaction year to year. He has also published articles in industry magazines and is an accomplished speaker at business symposiums, conferences, and universities around the world.

Warren is a cum laude honor graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. While on campus, he served as Student Government Association President, Junior Class President and a member of the University’s Famous “Human Jukebox” Marching Band. He is a life member of the Southern University Alumni Federation, life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., life member of the Human Jukebox Association, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity and a Charter member of the John G. Lewis Masonic Lodge.

The recipient of numerous professional and community awards, Dr. Warren was named the National Alumni Director of the Year by the National Black College Hall of Fame in 2018, Jaguar Foundation Man of the Year and honored to deliver Southern’ s fall 2011 Commencement Address. He earned an MBA from the University of South Florida in Tampa, and his Doctorate in Business Administration from Georgia State University – Robinson College of Business in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Warren is certified in Online Teaching from Quality Matters, has his Master Teaching Certificate from Georgia State, Blockchain Technologies certification from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certificate from the University of South Florida.

He and his wife (college sweetheart), Anita, currently reside in Baton Rouge, La. They are the proud parents of two sons, the late Derrick II and Dillon; daughter, Dhalyn; and granddaughter Emersyn.

Areas of Expertise

• Artificial Intelligence
• Blockchain
• Cybersecurity
• Data Science
• Cloud Computing
• Digital Credentialing