Kweku Reginald “KR” Wade serves as the Executive Director and Futurist of the Blackwell Institute for Applied AI. He leads the organization’s mission to expand access to artificial intelligence education within underserved communities—empowering individuals to acquire the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

With over two decades of professional experience, KR brings deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software & data architecture. His technical acumen is complemented by extensive experience in energy trading, commodity management, and hedge funds. A licensed professional in the financial markets, he is well-versed in CFTC and NFA regulations and holds both the Series 3 (National Commodities Futures Examination) and Series 30 licenses.

KR earned three Bachelor of Science degrees—in Computer Science, Applied Statistics, and Economics—from the University of Houston (Central and Downtown campuses). He also holds a Master’s in Finance from Harvard University.

Beyond his leadership at Blackwell AI, KR serves as a technology advisor and mentor to emerging entrepreneurs throughout the Greater Houston area. He is married with two children and remains active in his church community, where he contributes his time, leadership, and expertise to various faith-based initiatives.