MAAM 2026 Annual Conference

James Howard is the Executive Director of the Black Inventors Hall of Fame (BIHOF), a national nonprofit dedicated to honoring three centuries of African American innovation. A lifelong design educator, inventor, and historian, he holds more than twenty patents and mentors aspiring inventors year‑round. Howard serves on the USPTO Pro Bono Advisory Council, is an Honorary Member of the National Academy of Inventors, and sits on the boards of the United States Intellectual Property Alliance and United Inventors. His leadership drives BIHOF’s bold mission to build the nation’s first museum dedicated to immortalizing Black ingenuity and inspiring future generations.