Global Reunion Conference

Internationally recognized as an accomplished researcher and transformative higher education leader, Tripathi was appointed the 15th president of the University at Buffalo in 2011. He was one of the principal creators of the UB 2020 long-range academic plan, and has led the university to achieve significant growth in research and scholarly activity, enhanced student quality and diversity, and an expanded international presence. Building on this strong foundation, Tripathi’s vision for UB’s future focuses on moving the university into the highest ranks of the nation’s leading research universities through expanding its reach and impact locally as well as globally. Tripathi serves on the College Football Playoff Board of Managers and has served as chair of the Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents as well as on the boards of the NCAA Division I and NCAA Board of Governors. In addition, he has served on the boards of the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and as a member of the Reimagine NY Commission. Among his numerous community leadership roles, Tripathi was appointed the inaugural co-chair of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in 2011, a position he held until 2017. The first international-born president in UB’s history, Tripathi received his doctorate in computer science from the University of Toronto.

Sara Dhewanto is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience spanning management consulting, corporate roles, international development, and tech startups. She is the founder of Duithape, a fintech company recognized for its innovative solutions in financial inclusion. Under her leadership, Duithape gained international acclaim, notably winning the Global Sankalp Award in 2020 for its impactful work in digital financial services. Sara's commitment to leveraging technology for social good has been highlighted in various media outlets, including an interview with The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times.

In recent years, she has been exploring new avenues to apply her extensive knowledge and experience, expressing a keen interest in consulting and advisory roles within tech startups, entrepreneurship, innovation, fintech, financial inclusion, social entrepreneurship, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Sara's deep understanding of the Indonesian market, coupled with her global perspective, positions her as a valuable asset in these domains.

Halim Kalla is a prominent Indonesian business leader and executive leader of Kalla Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning energy, infrastructure, automotive, property, and manufacturing. Halim serves as the Owner, Chairman, and CEO of Haka Group. Under his leadership, Haka Group encompasses a diverse portfolio of companies, including PT Haka Motors, PT Intim Wira Energy, and PT Haka Buton Energy, operating across sectors such as automotive, energy, construction, and telecommunications. With extensive experience in corporate leadership and economic development, he has been instrumental in driving innovation and sustainability across the group’s various sectors.

Beyond his role at Kalla and Haka Group, Halim is actively engaged in Indonesia’s business community, having served in leadership positions within organizations such as the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN). His expertise in strategic business expansion and public-private collaboration has contributed to strengthening Indonesia’s industrial and economic growth.

Halim is a strong advocate for sustainable business practices and economic empowerment, particularly in advancing local industries and fostering entrepreneurship. His insights on business transformation, investment, and regional development make him a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences.

Ridzki is a distinguished executive with over two decades of experience in multinational corporations across the telecommunications and transportation sectors. He currently serves as a Commissioner for Grab Indonesia, a position he commenced on July 1, 2023.

Prior to this role, Ridzki was instrumental in expanding Grab Indonesia's operations to 100 cities, showcasing his strategic vision and leadership. He has held pivotal positions within the company, including Managing Director from January 2016 to December 2018, and President starting in January 2019, where he managed government relations and spearheaded initiatives in security and social impact.

Before joining Grab, Ridzki amassed significant experience in the telecommunications industry, notably serving as Executive Vice President of Marketing, Product, and CRM at Bakrie Telecom. He also held key roles at AirAsia Indonesia, including Chief Operating Officer and Regional Director for the AirAsia Group, further demonstrating his expertise in the transportation sector. ​

Ridzki holds a bachelor's degree in Management from Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia, and an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His leadership and contributions have been recognized with accolades such as The Best Chief Marketing Officer 2010 by SWA Magazine.

Kwak’s research centers on the role of communication media – social media, mobile telephony, and other digital platforms—in civic and political engagement. His work has appeared in leading publications in the field, including Communication Research, Journal of Communication, Human Communication Research, Political Communication, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, New Media and Society, Political Research Quarterly, and Asian Journal of Communication and received numerous top paper awards at major conferences. His recent studies analyze the patterns of social media use and their influence on community involvement, deliberative openness, political persuasion, and political participation. Previously, Dr. Kwak served as professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Media and director of the Nam center for Korean studies at the University of Michigan.

Lewis is a global leader in engineering design, system analytics and optimization, and advanced manufacturing. Prior to being named dean, Lewis served as chair of UB's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he was also the Moog Professor of Innovation. He is also the director of UB’s Community of Excellence in Sustainable Manufacturing and Advanced Robotic Technologies (SMART), an initiative that harnesses the strengths of faculty across the university to develop advanced manufacturing and design processes including autonomy, intelligence and materials technologies.
 
He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and has served on the National Academies Panel on Benchmarking the Research Competitiveness of the United States in Mechanical Engineering. He has published over 200 refereed journal articles and conference proceedings and has been principal or co-principal investigator on grants totaling more than $33 million. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his research and teaching excellence from several professional societies, including ASME, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.   

Charles (Chuck) Lindsey is Associate Professor of Marketing and served for many years as Faculty Director of Professional and Executive MBA Programs in the School of Management at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. He is currently the PhD Program Coordinator for the Marketing Department. He has also served as a Visiting Associate Professor of Marketing at the Johnson School of Management, Cornell University. Professor Lindsey started his career in Accounting with Harrisons and Crosfield (formerly Division of Pfizer). He subsequently transitioned to Marketing and Management related roles within industry, working for Fortune 500 and other large firms. He has been quoted in national news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Washington Post, USA Today, CNN, Associated Press, Forbes, Bloomberg, NPR Marketplace, ESPN, and E-Commerce Times and has contributed articles to Fortune Magazine and numerous academic business periodicals. He regularly consults for and engages in corporate training with firms of all sizes.

Dr. Rebecca Schwartz-Mette is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University at Buffalo. Her research examines the social context of adolescent internalizing distress, self-injury, and suicide, with a focus on how peer relationships influence these outcomes. Using a multimethod approach—including observational, physiological, and ecological momentary assessment techniques—her work explores how distressed adolescents experience changes in social support and how their struggles may impact their friends through socialization effects.

In addition to her work on adolescent mental health, Dr. Schwartz-Mette studies ethics and professional training in psychology. Her research, grounded in a communitarian and social justice framework, examines how psychologists develop ethical awareness and how training programs can best support struggling trainees. She is also engaged in community-based initiatives, implementing and evaluating social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula in schools and mindfulness-based programs to enhance resilience in healthcare professionals.

Dr. Schwartz-Mette earned her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri and leads the BIRCH Laboratory at UB.

Dr. Mian Li Ong is a distinguished clinical psychologist and the founder of Lightfull Psychology, with extensive expertise in mental health and well-being. He holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical child psychology at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Ong is a licensed clinical psychologist trained in various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy. Known for his compassionate, personalized approach, he helps clients address a wide range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship concerns.

As a tribute to his dedication to making psychology accessible to all, Dr. Ong became the first doctoral candidate in history to receive the American Psychological Association's prestigious Citizen Psychologist Presidential Citation for blending teaching, research, and service.

He is a passionate advocate for mental health, regularly conducting workshops, public talks, and providing expert advice to raise awareness and foster positive change. With a strong foundation in both clinical practice and research, he integrates scientific insights with empathetic care, supporting individuals in their journey toward emotional well-being and growth.

Dr. Ram Ramesh is a Professor in the Department of Management Science and Systems at the University at Buffalo School of Management. His research focuses on labor economics in digital platforms, energy-efficient supercomputing, and predictive analytics in health information exchanges. His earlier work has contributed to cloud computing, high-performance computing systems, and healthcare analytics. Dr. Ramesh’s research is rooted in predictive modeling, mathematical programming, and stochastic optimization and has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Google, Samsung, Raytheon, and various U.S. military research programs.

He serves as an area editor for INFORMS Journal on Computing and is a founding co-editor-in-chief of Information Systems Frontiers. He has also edited several research volumes and special issues on topics such as ontologies in information systems and national security research. Dr. Ramesh’s work has been widely published in leading academic journals, including Management Science, IEEE Transactions on Computers, ACM Transactions on MIS, and Communications of the ACM.

In addition to his research, Dr. Ramesh has played a key role in academic leadership and industry engagement. He has served as Associate Dean for Research at the School of Management, Associate Director of the Center for Excellence on Global Enterprise Management, and a board member of Infotech Niagara. He also developed and directs the dual-degree MS/MBA program in collaboration with Amrita University and Hewlett-Packard in Bangalore, India. Dr. Ramesh holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University at Buffalo and a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras.

Reisman is a human-environment geographer, science studies scholar, agroecologist, and Assistant Professor of Environment & Sustainability in the College of Arts and Sciences at UB. Her research investigates the complex ecosocial dynamics of agriculture, including the politics of agricultural knowledge, rural precarity, and the more-than-human geographies of landscape care. Her current book project contrasts almond production paradigms in California and Spain, while her collaborative work with the Agri-Food Technology Research (AFTeR) project explores the promises and limitations of digital agricultural technologies. Additionally, her newest research, Ecologies of Farm Automation, examines the socio-ecological implications of AI-enabled agricultural machines. Dr. Reisman’s work, supported by the Fulbright Program and Wenner-Gren Foundation, has received awards from the Society for Agriculture, Food & Human Values and the Anthropology & Environment Society.   

Eri Reksoprodjo is a seasoned finance professional with three decades of experience in investment banking and private equity, having worked across the US, Singapore, and Indonesia. He launched his career at Citibank, West LB, and CIBC (Singapore), before taking on the role of Country Manager and Executive Director at NATIXIS Corporate & Investment Bank in Indonesia.

Eri later became a Partner at Saratoga Capital, a prominent Indonesia-based private equity firm with $600 million in assets, where he focused on investments in infrastructure, consumer, and natural resources sectors until 2015. He also served as Senior Advisor to a $300 million Southeast Asia-focused private equity fund at DymonAsia, specializing in SME investments in Indonesia.

Currently, Eri is an Investment Committee member and Managing Partner at Kejora Capital, a Southeast Asia VC fund based in Jakarta, where he actively drives investments in digital enterprises and serves on the boards of portfolio companies. Eri is also the President of the University at Buffalo’s Indonesia Alumni Network. He holds a degree from the University of Indonesia (FEUI) and an MBA in Finance from the University at Buffalo. Additionally, Eri was recently appointed to the Investment & Risk Management Committee of Pertamina Power Indonesia.

Lunarso is an entrepreneur and executive with over 20 years of experience in the financial services and automotive industry businesses. He co-founded several successful companies, including Smart Multi Finance and Gadai Mas. Currently, he is the CEO of Serba Mulia Group, which oversees multiple subsidiaries in various sectors. He is known for his expertise in raising funds and helping companies grow profitably. Lunarso also focuses on financial inclusion, particularly for women and underserved communities in Indonesia.

Raymond Thomas is the Director and Co-founder of Enible, a consultancy that specializes in leadership, business, and technology assessments, training, coaching, and consulting. With over eight years of experience in this capacity, he has established himself as a trusted advisor dedicated to fostering innovation and driving success in the evolving global economy.

Drawing on more than 38 years of experience across local, national, and international markets, Raymond is a seasoned entrepreneur, engineer, and business leader. His expertise encompasses revenue development, sales and marketing strategies, business process reengineering, and supply chain management, with a strong track record of delivering impactful results in both the Asia Pacific region and the United States.  

In addition to his corporate endeavors, Raymond serves as an adjunct faculty member at Nanyang Technological University and the National Institute of Education in Singapore, where he lectures on materials science engineering and sports technology innovation. Guided by the principles of integrity, respect, empathy, creativity, excellence, and passion, Raymond is committed to developing future leaders and advancing knowledge across industries.

Charles Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Operations Management and Strategy at the University at Buffalo’s School of Management. His expertise spans supply chain management, business analytics, and operations strategy, with a research focus on optimizing global supply chains, risk management, and data-driven decision-making. Dr. Wang has published in leading academic journals and collaborates with industry partners to bridge research and practice. He is a dedicated educator, teaching courses in operations management and analytics, and has been recognized for his contributions to both academia and industry. Dr. Wang has taught core MBA and MS courses in Operations and Service Management, Spreadsheet Programming for Business, and Ph.D. seminars in Operations Management. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tongji University, an M.S. in Computer Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Operations Management from Syracuse University.

Jinjun Xiong is a leading expert in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing. He serves as the Director of UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (IAD), Scientific Director of the U.S. National AI Institute for Exceptional Education (AI4ExceptionalEd), and the AI Lead for the U.S. National Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI (CELaRAI). His research focuses on AI-driven solutions for real-world challenges, including education, healthcare, and smart energy and sustainability.
Before joining UB, Dr. Xiong was the Program Director for AI and Hybrid Cloud Systems at IBM Research, where he led groundbreaking innovations in AI, cloud computing, and high-performance circuits and systems. His contributions have significantly influenced the development of AI-driven platforms and intelligent systems across multiple industries.
A prolific researcher with numerous awards, publications, patents, and industry collaborations, Dr. Xiong is passionate about advancing AI for public good. He frequently speaks at global conferences on AI, education, scalable AI systems, and the future of intelligent computing.