Brian Cohen is the vice president of the Center for Digital Government and Center for Digital Education, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government and education. Prior to joining the Center, Brian was vice chancellor and University CIO for the City University of New York (CUNY).
As the vice chancellor and University CIO at CUNY, Brian directed the Office of Computing and Information Services (CIS), developed and managed the enterprise IT vision, strategy and day-to-day technology operations of the University. His areas of focus included academic and business systems, cloud strategies, IT policies and procedures, cybersecurity, project management, IT resiliency and disaster recovery and network and telecommunications.
Brian also served in leadership roles with the City of New York. Among his many accomplishments, Brian developed the City of New York’s e-Government strategy, implemented the City’s award-winning nyc.gov website and managed the City’s effort to address the Y2K technology challenge.

An unrelenting advocate for students and families, Dr. Debra Duardo serves as the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. She leads the nation's largest regional education agency, which oversees 80 K-12 school districts that serve 1.3 million students across the country's most populous and diverse county.
Since her appointment by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in 2016, Dr. Duardo has focused on ensuring educational equity and access for all students; supporting at-promise students and their families to break down barriers; and providing the leadership and support superintendents and administrators need to help our school communities learn, grow and thrive.
In her 30-year career in education, Dr. Duardo leads with a fierce passion for supporting students at every crossroad in their educational journey. Rooted in her own life experience as a teen mom and high school dropout, she knows all too well the roadblocks students face and has dedicated her life’s work to find alternative pathways to meet students where they are. Knowing the life-changing power of an education first-hand, Dr. Duardo works every day to ensure all students in L.A. County receive an education in a safe, caring environment for success in college and careers. 
In 2023, Dr. Duardo was awarded the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education for her groundbreaking work in pre-K–12 classrooms and her achievements in making LACOE the premier hub of innovation in California’s efforts to transform education through a whole-child, whole-family approach.
Dr. Duardo holds a master's degree in social work from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a doctorate from UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.

Fadi Fadhil is a seasoned IT executive with a 20+ years track record of digital transformation, business strategy, and partnership building both in government and education. Fadi served as the CIO of the City of Minneapolis as well as the CIO of Minneapolis Public Schools. Amongst other leadership roles, such as Director of Technology in Saint Paul Schools, MN, Fadi was also the Lead Technology Architect and liaison between the US Army and the new Iraqi government in Baghdad, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II 2003-2005. With a deep understanding of government and education, Fadi offers a unique combination of strategic vision, field experience, and wealth of knowledge in cybersecurity and IT operations.

Dr. Elizabeth Graswich is a communications leader with nearly two decades of expertise in public education, communications, public policy, and media. Her work includes leadership and support for numerous initiatives, such as artificial intelligence, the COVID-19 response, diversity, equity and inclusion, digital literacy, multimedia storytelling and strategic partnerships.
She served as a board member on multiple education foundations for more than 15 years, including her present role on the board of the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation.
Prior cabinet-level leadership roles include Communications Director for the San Ramon Valley and Elk Grove unified school districts in Northern California.
She honed her storytelling skills as a reporter for The Sacramento Bee, where she focused on education and public safety.
Graswich earned a master's degree in Communication Management and a doctoral degree in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.

Christopher Hoang, Ed.D., is a passionate educator and technology advocate dedicated to empowering students and teachers. He holds a Doctor of Education in Learning Technology from Pepperdine University. His commitment to ongoing learning is reflected in numerous certifications, including Universal Design Learning, Google in Education, Microsoft in Education, and Apple Learning Coach. He is the Assistant Director, Technology Innovation and Outreach for the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). In this role, he leads technology initiatives, supports districts, and spearheads county-level Artificial Intelligence (AI) planning as head of the LACOE AI Taskforce. Beyond administration, Dr. Hoang is an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University, training future educators. He's a recognized thought leader in educational technology, presenting at numerous conferences and workshops, with publications in EdSurge. Dr. Hoang's notable accomplishments at LACOE include securing significant funding for educational programs, expanding partnerships with universities, and driving innovation through events like the AI Symposium. He remains deeply committed to serving at-risk youth, equity in technology access, and empowering English language learners.

Dr. Rosa Isiah has served students for over 31 years. Currently, she serves as Assistant Superintendent in the Hacienda La Puente USD.  Dr. Isiah is actionably passionate about Leadership, Equity, multilingual Education, Women in leadership, and closing opportunity gaps for historically underserved students. Dr. Isiah’s experiences as an immigrant, emerging multilingual, a child in poverty, and a First Generation college graduate add to her passion for her work.
Dr. Isiah co-authored five books on the Whole Child, Emerging Multilinguals, Equity, Leadership, and the Power of Relationships, including Beyond Conversations About Race (2021). Dr. Isiah was the recipient of the Loyola Marymount University 2019 Leader for Social Justice award.
Dr. Isiah is an Educational Consultant and Speaker who presents on a number of topics including Educational Leadership, Organizational Culture, Equity, and Social Justice. Dr. Isiah serves as an Advisory Board member for the Alliance for Excellent Education Future Ready Schools and as part of the Phi Delta Kappan (PDK) International Board of Directors.

Taraneh Karim has dedicated over a decade to education, profoundly shaping student learning through innovative teaching and technology integration. Her journey began with Teach For America, and she later transitioned to high school education, where she taught a range of courses, including ELD and Advanced Placement, using forward-thinking instructional methods. 
Currently, Taraneh serves on the EdTech Team for Torrance Unified School District (TUSD), where she plays a pivotal role in curriculum development and pedagogical strategies, with a strong focus on technology integration. She is also a founding member of the Torrance Unified AI Committee, where she helped develop policies and guidelines for AI use among educators, students, and administrators. In addition, she oversees the district’s AI Exploration Program, working to build AI literacy and fluency across all stakeholders, ensuring that students and educators are prepared for the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in education.

Alysia Odipo, Ed.D., is the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Los Nietos School District. She previously served as director, principal, assistant principal, literacy coach, and first grade teacher. She holds a Doctorate in K-12 Urban Education from USC and teaches at UC Irvine and UMass Global. She travels to Kenya each summer as a board member for Friends of Yimbo, a nonprofit organization, that supports three villages in Yimbo area of western Kenya.

Dr. Alice Pak, a former social science teacher turned EdTech specialist, now serves as a Coordinator I in the Educational Technology & Innovation unit at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. With 15 years of experience in online learning, curriculum design, and professional training, she has a passion for integrating technology into education. Her Doctorate in Learning Technologies focuses on enhancing online engagement and exploring the effective use of EdTech tools. Dedicated to fostering digital literacy and creating dynamic learning experiences, Dr. Pak joined LACOE to provide professional development and support educators in leveraging technology effectively.
In addition, Dr. Pak, an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, teaches in the MAT program, preparing pre-service teachers. She also serves on the OCASA Charter board, supporting innovative education initiatives in Orange County.

Gabe Perez is the Area Vice President for Systems Engineering at Fortinet, where he has been an integral part of the team for over 5 years. With more than 25 years of industry experience, including over 15 years in cybersecurity, Gabe brings deep technical background and strategic leadership to the organization. His expertise spans network security, systems engineering, and delivering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers. Gabe is passionate about evangelizing cyber security solutions and helping organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Dr. Joan Perez serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the San Gabriel Unified School District.  Prior to serving in SGUSD, she served as Director of Educational Services in Hermosa Beach and an elementary principal for the Walnut Valley Unified School District.  From 2008 to 2012, she was the Reading Language Arts Coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE).  In this role, she worked with all 27 Orange County districts to implement the new California State Standards, plan and deliver professional development workshops, and conducted on-site cognitive coaching for administrators.  As a coordinator, she supported all areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, staff development and the programmatic use of data to support effective teaching and learning.  In 2007, she served as the Early Intervention for School Success (EISS) for OCDE as a program specialist.  As a program specialist, Joan coordinated and assisted to manage the EISS statewide grant and facilitated site visitations.  
As a Forward-thinking Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, she is dedicated to reimagining K-12 education through innovative, human-centered leadership. She drive initiatives that empower students and educators to thrive in an ever-evolving world, with expertise in Organizational Leadership, Instructional Leadership, Educational Technology, and Curriculum Design. Passionate about creating adaptive and inclusive learning environments, she prioritizes student-centered decisions and transformative approaches. She is a human-centered leader driven to shape the future of education with vision, empathy, and impact.
As a leader, Joan has been an active member of ACSA, a California Department of Education Gold Ribbon Site Lead, and a member of the California Statewide Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee (CISC).  Additionally, Joan served on her district ACSA board and was recognized as a Region IX ACSA Administrator of the Year.  In 2018, Joan earned her doctorate from the University of La Verne where she focused on organizational leadership and educational reform.  

Tom Ryan has recently retired from Santa Fe Public Schools, in New Mexico, as Chief Information and Strategy Officer. He has co-founded, K12 Strategic Technology Advisory Group, to assist district leaders deliver educational success with technology, which is led by experienced school technology leaders. He has expertise in strategic planning and leadership, designing digital learning environments, technology infrastructure reviews.
Dr. Ryan has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. He has served as CIO in large and very large public-school districts and has 40+ years of experience and expertise in teaching, leadership, technology integration and blended/online learning program development. 
He is past chair in CoSN and works with the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) performing large school district reviews and helps coordinate annual CIO conferences. Dr. Ryan is a Senior Fellow for the Center of Digital Education and presents at several international and national conferences throughout the year.