Higher Education Artificial Intelligence Summit 2026
Overview
The Higher Education Artificial Intelligence Summit is an invitation-only convening of senior academic and technology leaders. This year, the Summit is proudly co-hosted in strategic partnership with Tennessee State University (TSU), a nationally recognized public land-grant HBCU and a leading voice within the HBCU community. Through TSU’s leadership and deep relationships across Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide, the Summit has expanded its reach and impact, bringing together leading universities, HBCUs, and industry innovators to examine the rapidly accelerating role of AI across academic, research, and operational domains.
This expanded partnership reflects a shared commitment to inclusive innovation, equitable access, and cross-institutional collaboration. By working closely with Tennessee State University and HBCU leadership, this year’s Summit will foster robust dialogue around AI strategy, governance, workforce readiness, and institutional transformation to ensure that AI adoption is thoughtful, responsible, and responsive to the diverse missions and communities served by higher education institutions.
Speakers
Vince Kellen, PhD
Chief Information Officer, The Texas A and M University System
Vince Kellen, Ph.D. serves as Chief Information Officer for The Texas A&M University System. In this role, Dr. Kellen leads the Office of IT and oversees the A&M System’s information technology strategy, infrastructure, enterprise systems, and data operations. His priorities include advancing digital tools that strengthen research, enhancing student success, and improving efficiency across the A&M System’s 12 universities, health science center, and state agencies.
Dr. Kellen brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education and enterprise IT. He has a strong record of success in AI, supercomputing, and digital transformation. Most recently, he served as Chief Information Officer at the University of California San Diego, where he led major advances in high-performance computing, data analytics, and research support. He previously held senior IT leadership positions at the University of Kentucky and DePaul University.
Dr. Kellen holds a Ph.D. in computer science with a focus on human-computer interaction, as well as a master’s degree in e-commerce and a bachelor’s degree in communications, all from DePaul University. He is a Fellow of the Cutter Consortium, a member of Arthur D. Little’s AMP Network, and a CIO Hall of Fame inductee.
Keith McIntosh
Vice President and Chief Information Officer, University of Richmond
Dr. Keith W. McIntosh is Vice President and CIO at the University of Richmond, where he has served for the past 10 years, leading technology strategy and operations to support teaching, learning, research, and institutional operations. He also co-chairs the University’s Presidential Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence (PAG-AI), guiding the university’s strategic, ethical, and operational integration of AI across academic and administrative domains. With more than 40 years of leadership experience, including 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, including a combat tour in Iraq, and 16 years in senior higher education roles at Ithaca College and the Pima County Community College District, he is known for cultivating inclusive, mission-aligned IT organizations and fostering a sense of belonging across campus, including founding and facilitating Intersections, a weekly cross-cultural conversation open to all students, faculty, and staff since 2017.
Dr. McIntosh has contributed extensively to national higher education leadership through service on the EDUCAUSE Board of Directors (2017–2021) and the NACUBO Board of Directors (2016–2022), where he was the first CIO selected to serve. He currently serves on the NACUBO Student Success Advisory Group, the EDUCAUSE Policy Advisory Committee, and the Center for Digital Education’s Higher Education AI Council, the Leadership Board for CIO's (LBCIO), and he is a mentor for the Next Leaders Fellowship and the Leadership Lounge. His leadership has been recognized with the EDUCAUSE DEI Leadership Award, the Capital CIO of the Year® ORBIE® Award (Non-Profit Sector), the inaugural EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award, and induction into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society.
Scott Shaw
Associate Provost, Grace Christian University
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, Virginia, Florida (LMHC – Telehealth)
Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW, Clinical & Macro), State of Michigan
Dr. Scott Shaw serves in the role of Associate Provost. Previously, Dr. Shaw served as Dean and Professor in the School of Business Innovation and Public Services, and has taught across the curriculum in the social sciences. Scott continues to teach on campus, online, and in the graduate program.
Scott was clinical supervisor & therapist at Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan, from 2000 to 2010. Previously, he worked for seven years (1993-2000) at Hope Network Behavioral Health (Grand Rapids, MI), serving adults with chronic mental illness in various residential, clinical and administrative positions. Scott is a graduate of the 38th Police Academy at Grand Valley State University, and has worked in local and county law enforcement. He is nationally board certified in counseling (NCC), Professional member of the American Psychological Association and American Counseling Association, a Fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association, and a Certified Professional Empowerment Coach (CPEC) through the Grace Center for Empowerment Coaching. Dr. Shaw has maintained a part-time clinical practice since 2001 and worked in mental health since 1992.
Dr. Shaw has also been a frequent conference speaker around the country and internationally on topics from mental health and resilience, to higher education and leadership.
B.R.E., Cornerstone University
B.S., Grace Christian University
M.T.S., Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
M.A., Counseling, Cornerstone University
M.A., Emergency Mgt. & Homeland Security, Arizona State University
M.S.W., Grand Valley State University
Ed.S., University of Michigan
D.Min., Conflict Management, Trinity Theological Seminary
Ed.D., Educational Leadership, University of Michigan
Ph.D., Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine, Northcentral University
Dina Vyortkina, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Innovation and Instructional Technology Enhancement, Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Florida State University
Dr. Dina Vyortkina works as Assistant Dean for Innovation and Instructional Technology Enhancement at the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Florida State University (FSU). Her areas of expertise and interests include but are not limited to educational technologies, innovation in higher education, professional development for in-service and pre-service teachers, professional development for educational leaders, embedding instructional technologies into both K-12 and higher education settings, online and blended learning and teaching, active learning spaces, learning materials development, portfolio assessment, and artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education and K-12. Dina is a member of the Academic Innovation Committee and FSU Artificial Intelligence in Education Advisory Committee (AIEAC). She is actively involved in exploring AI benefits, limitations, and human-centered considerations in education, healthcare, and counseling.
Dr. Vyortkina taught in Kazakhstan and UK. She worked on grant projects related to teacher education and learning materials development in Uzbekistan and Egypt.
Kevin Yee, PH.D.
Special Assistant to the Provost for Artificial Intelligence and Director, Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, University of Central Florida
Kevin Yee is the Special Assistant to the Provost for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Central Florida. He also directs the UCF’s teaching center, and has worked in educational development since 2004. He leads a team on campus that is tasked with increasing student AI fluency, and has written numerous faculty-facing resources that help faculty infuse AI into the curriculum.
Lin Zhou
Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Executive Director of AI and Quantum Computing, Texas Tech University
Dr. Lin Zhou is Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of AI & Quantum Computing at Texas Tech University, where he leads technology strategy to enhance education, expand career pathways for students, accelerate innovation and strengthen the university’s global reputation.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 companies and higher education, Dr. Zhou played a pivotal role in growing IBM Watson Education from a startup into a global leader in artificial intelligence for education. A visionary executive and educator, he holds a Ph.D. in physics and is recognized as an expert in quantum computing, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. He holds numerous patents and has been honored as a Master Inventor by IBM.
During his tenure as Senior Vice President at The New School, Dr. Zhou established the university’s Innovation Center, founded its Quantum Initiative and launched the first Quantum Design Art Exhibition in Manhattan. He also led a transformation in customer experience, tripling the university’s Net Promoter Score and fostering a customer-centric culture.
Dr. Zhou’s work has been prominently featured on the Discovery Channel and has earned prestigious national and international recognition, including the CIO 100 Award, FutureEdge 50 Award and the QS Reimagine Education Gold Prize.
Passionate about talent development, Dr. Zhou has mentored high school students who became U.S. national winners in the world’s largest K–12 science competition. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and has shared his insights on global stages across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
Agenda
Tuesday, March 24 |
|
6:00 pm Central |
Registration and AI Art and Music ExhibitionAtrium |
6:30 pm Central |
Welcome Dinner and ShowcaseAtrium |
8:30 pm Central |
End of Reception |
Wednesday, March 25 |
|
8:00 am Central |
Registration and Continental BreakfastCapitol Dining Room |
8:30 am Central |
Welcome and Opening RemarksAuditoriumBrian Cohen, Vice President, Center for Digital Education |
8:45 am Central |
KeynoteAuditoriumDr. Kris Alexander, Educational Technology Specialist and “The Professor of Video Games” |
9:50 am Central |
Short BreakPlease proceed to the concurrent sessions |
10:00 am Central |
Concurrent SessionsGoverning AI in Higher Education: Leadership Models, Decisions Makers and Influencer, and What Actually WorksAuditoriumAs AI moves from experimentation to enterprise capability, higher education leaders are grappling with how to govern it responsibly without slowing innovation to a crawl. This session explores governance models that are working across institutions, including centralized, federated, and hybrid approaches. This session will examine how decision rights are defined, how risk, security, and compliance are managed, and how governance structures evolve as AI use expands across teaching, research, and operations. Attendees will leave with practical insights into aligning policy, leadership, and accountability, while avoiding governance that looks good on paper but fails in practice. Powering AI on Campus: Infrastructure Choices That Shape Research, Teaching, and OperationsRoom 353AI ambitions rise or fall on infrastructure decisions that often remain invisible until something breaks or becomes unaffordable. This session demystifies the infrastructure choices powering AI on campus, including GPUs, HPC, cloud, and hybrid models, and explains why these decisions matter far beyond IT. This session will connect infrastructure strategy to research competitiveness, instructional innovation, operational efficiency, cost control, security, and equitable access. Lin Zhou, PhD, PMP, Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Executive Director of AI and Quantum Computing, Texas Tech University AI Literacy for All: From Faculty and Staff Development to Student FluencyRoom 354AI literacy has become a foundational expectation, but defining and delivering it at scale remains a challenge. This session explores what “AI literacy” means for faculty, staff, and students, and how institutions are embedding it into professional development, coursework, and everyday practice. This session will discuss scalable models, faculty and staff readiness, ethical use, and how literacy efforts intersect with access, equity, and academic integrity. Keith McIntosh, Ed.D., Vice President and Chief Information Officer, University of Richmond |
10:50 am Central |
Networking BreakAtrium |
11:20 am Central |
Concurrent SessionsStrategic AI Investments: Funding for Impact, Not ExperimentsRoom 353With budgets under pressure, institutions must make sharper choices about where and how to invest in AI. This session examines how colleges and universities are prioritizing AI investments that align with mission, deliver measurable outcomes, and scale responsibly. This session will discuss budgeting models, cost transparency, vendor relationships, and the known and hidden operational costs of AI adoption, including infrastructure, workforce readiness, and ongoing subscriptions/maintenance, while also exploring how institutions can evaluate effectiveness and retire unsuccessful initiatives. Vince Kellen, PhD, Chief Information Officer, The Texas A and M University System AI as a Research Force Multiplier: What Research and non-Research Institutions Must Do Now and NextRoom 354AI is reshaping the research enterprise across disciplines, not just in computer science or data-intensive fields. This session explores how AI is accelerating discovery, changing research methods, and influencing funding competitiveness at research and non-research institutions alike. This session will discuss faculty enablement, shared infrastructure, compliance and reproducibility, and how institutions can support AI-enabled research without deepening inequities or overwhelming existing support models. The AI-Fluent Graduate: Aligning Curriculum with Workforce RealityAuditoriumEmployers increasingly expect graduates to understand how to work alongside AI, regardless of discipline. This session focuses on how institutions are aligning curricula, credentials, and learning outcomes with evolving workforce demands without sacrificing academic rigor. Session speakers will discuss what is needed to meet the expectations and needs of employer partnerships, micro credentials, and experiential learning. Carolyn Scott, Chief Academic Officer, American National University Scott Shaw, PhD, EdD, D.Min, LPC, LMSW, Associate Provost, Grace Christian University |
12:10 pm Central |
LunchAtrium |
1:10 pm Central |
Concurrent SessionsFrom Pilots to Platforms: Institutional Use Cases and Models for Scaling AIRoom 353Many institutions have launched AI pilots, but far fewer have successfully scaled them into durable, institution-wide capabilities. This session explores how colleges and universities are moving from experimentation to impact by aligning operating models with concrete, high-value use cases in higher education. Speakers will examine how AI is being applied across teaching and learning, research, student success, and administrative operations, when and where will agents be piloted and deployed, and discuss which use cases scale well and which tend to stall. Attendees will leave with practical insights into how to connect AI use cases to strategy and move from promising pilots to reliable platforms. Dina Vyortkina, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Innovation and Instructional Technology Enhancement, Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Florida State University The AI-Enabled Back Office: Productivity, Transparency, and Institutional Trust: Scaling Efficiency While Preserving CultureRoom 354As AI enters administrative functions, from enrollment and advising to finance and HR, institutions face both opportunity and risk. This session examines how universities are using AI to improve efficiency and decision-making while maintaining transparency, trust, and human judgment. Speakers will explore workforce impacts, bias concerns, governance guardrails, and how to communicate AI-use clearly to staff, students, and faculty. Christian Drennen, PhD, Director of Academic Technology, Center for Information Technology (CIT), and Co-Chair (Ex Officio), Education Technology Committee, Oberlin College and Conservatory Carolyn Scott, Chief Academic Officer, American National University The AI-Enabled CurriculumAuditoriumAI challenges long-standing assumptions about teaching, assessment, and academic integrity. This session explores how institutions are redesigning curricula for a world where AI is always present. Session speakers will examine instructional design, assessment strategies, faculty governance, and evidence of what improves learning outcomes. The discussion emphasizes responsible integration, academic freedom, and trust. Kevin Yee, PH.D., Special Assistant to the Provost for Artificial Intelligence and Director, Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, University of Central Florida |
2:00 pm Central |
Summary, Closing and Next StepsAuditorium |
2:30 pm Central |
Closing RemarksAuditorium |
2:45 pm Central |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change. |
Tennessee State University Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
330 10th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203
Tennessee State University Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: March 24 and 25, 2026
This is an invitation-only event, open to Public Sector only. For more information or to request an invitation, please contact Jasmin Tetzlaff.
Sponsorship is open to Industry members of the Higher Education Artificial Intelligence Council Program only. To learn more about becoming an Industry member, please contact Heather Earney.
Contact Information
Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:
Jasmin Tetzlaff
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1308
E-mail: jtetzlaffl@erepublic.com
Already a sponsor, but need a hand? Reach out to:
Mireya Gaton
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@govtech.com
Sponsorship is open to Industry members of the Higher Education Artificial Intelligence Council Program only. To learn more about becoming an Industry member, please contact:
Heather Earney
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com