Man and Machine: Digital Transformation in the 150 Years of JHU

Man and Machine: Digital Transformation in the 150 Years of JHU  Header Image

Sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations Lifelong Learning and Alumni in Technology

 Celebrate JHU’s 150 years of innovation by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win an autographed copy of Leading Change in the Era of AI by JHU alum Bill Kirst, where legacy meets digital transformation.

Join us for a dynamic and thought-provoking panel event celebrating Johns Hopkins University’s Sesquicentennial Anniversary and its legacy of innovation and leadership at the intersection of humanity and technology. 

Man and Machine: Digital Transformation in the 150 Years of JHU moderated by Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, Engr '89 brings together a distinguished group of digital transformation experts, engineers, change agents, and communications leaders including Alex Sharpe, Engr '95, CAPT. Bill Kirst, A&S '00, Kate Sperber, A&S '95, and Efrem Epstein, A&S '90 as they explore the evolution of the digital age and how JHU has shaped and been shaped by it.

Reflecting on the university’s pioneering contributions, the panel will trace the arc of digital transformation from its early foundations to today’s rapidly shifting landscape. The panelists will examine the milestones and leaders that have defined JHU’s role in artificial intelligence, digital advances, computational research, data driven discovery, and the integration of emerging technologies across disciplines. They will also illuminate the current state of digital transformation, highlighting how AI, automation, and digital infrastructure are reshaping world.

The panel will offer forward thinking perspectives on the next era of human and machine partnership. What will digital transformation look like in the coming decades? How will institutions like Johns Hopkins continue to influence innovation, ethics, and societal impact? Attendees will gain insights into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and how JHU’s enduring spirit of discovery will continue to propel progress.

Whether you are a technologist, strategist, communicator, or simply curious about the evolving relationship between people and technology, this event is an inspiring conversation that honors the past, elevates the present, and envisions a bold digital future.

Are you on OneHop yet? Join the JHU Technology Community on OneHop to connect with alumni and students in tech, share insights, explore mentorship opportunities, and stay plugged into the latest from Hopkins innovators and industry leaders!

Disclaimer: The perspectives and opinions expressed by the speaker(s) during this program are those of the speaker(s) and not, necessarily, those of Johns Hopkins University and the scheduling of any speaker at an alumni event or program does not constitute the University’s endorsement of the speaker’s perspectives and opinions.

JHAA Event Cancellation and Refund Policy

ABOUT Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, Engr '89
Senior Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton

Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey is a Senior Vice President for Booz Allen Hamilton. His responsibilities are to develop and execute innovative technology strategies that position Booz Allen Hamilton as a leader in the development of next-generation solutions that are recognizable and branded in the market. He has over 25 years of engineering experience in developing emerging technologies in the areas of the Electromagnetic Spectrum, Information Warfare, Cyber Resilience, Digital Signal Processing, Prototyping, and Hardware. He is a graduate of the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, the engineering high school in Baltimore, MD. He received a BS degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and received both a MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware.

ABOUT Alex Sharpe, Engr '95
Board Member | Speaker | Interim Executive | Management Consultant

Mr. Sharpe is a long-time Governance, Digital Transformation, and Privacy expert with real-world operational experience. He has run business units and has influenced national policy. He has served on Boards and has advised them. This provides him a pragmatic understanding of the delicate balance between Business realities, Cybersecurity, and Operational Effectiveness. He began his career at NSA moving into the Management Consulting ranks building practices at Booz Allen and KPMG. He subsequently co-founded two firms. He participated in over 20 M&A transactions. He has delivered to clients in over 20 countries on 6 continents. 

Mr. Sharpe regularly writes, teaches, and speaks. Appearances have included the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), ISACA, OneTrust, ASIS, Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), RIMS, and the University of Economics and Business.

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ABOUT Kate Sperber, A&S '95
Digital Strategy Consultant

Kate helps organizations transform interesting ideas into viable businesses. She drives sustainable revenue and customer growth by creating digital products that make a difference in daily life — from protecting personal data with enterprise cybersecurity to saving money with personal finance decision tools to connecting employees with evidence-based behavioral health resources. As both a strategist and operator, Kate is known for uniting disparate ideas and people to bring the right solutions to market.

Kate has worked with organizations such as The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, RetailMeNot, and Bankrate. She holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.

ABOUT CAPT William 'Bill' Kirst, A&S '00
Veteran, Change & Enablement Leader, Storyteller, Podcast Host "Coffee & Change"

As a change management expert, Bill Kirst leads organizations through change with compassion and care. He has worked across a breadth of industries and has helped dozens of clients achieve transformational goals.

Bill’s passion for creativity and innovation runs over into his podcast, Coffee & Change, where his guests share insights on managing change in their daily lives. He’s a creative writer, a storyteller, and a polyglot, having studied six languages during his international travels. He currently resides in Seattle and alongside his work focuses on wellness and mindfulness in his daily life. Bill currently works at Adobe. 

He is a U.S. Army veteran having served 10 years as a reserve officer in the United States Army. Bill is actively involved in numerous veterans’ programs working with minority veterans and those dealing with PTS. He has a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree from Georgetown.

Bill values giving back and to investing in the next generation of leaders and diverse voices. He sits on the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Council & Board and is also a member of the Association of Change Management Professionals.

ABOUT Efrem Epstein, A&S '90
VP of Communications at Thruways

Currently, Efrem is currently the VP of Communication at Thruways, a SaaS company that enables eCommerce businesses to increase revenue with smart data and AI-driven recommendations. Efrem has spent three decades as marketing/communications professional, including serving as CMO for a company in the digital transformation space.  He’s also believed to have been the only CMO in NYC who had also passed four Society of Actuaries Exams. In his spare time, Efrem enjoys singing Tenor in his local Pop/Rock Choir and rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies and Hopkins Blue Jays from afar.

 Event Date
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Start Time: 6:30pm EST
End Time: 8:00pm EST

 Location

Virtual Livestream
Hopkins at Home
Virtual Livestream

 Contact
Office of Alumni Relations
Brian Davis
Lifelong Learning
800-JHU-JHU1 (548-5481)
bdavi125@jhu.edu

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Event and raffle ticket pricing combined. Revenues support the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association.
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