Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Welcome and Opening Remarks

AI in Higher Education: Strategy, Use Cases and the Path Forward

Colleges and universities are navigating a rapidly evolving AI landscape, balancing innovation with institutional priorities, budgets, and risks. This session will explore where institutions are today in their AI journey and how leaders are defining a path forward. Panelists will share how they are aligning AI with institutional strategy, identifying high-impact use cases across academic and administrative functions, and supporting adoption across faculty, staff and students. The discussion will also touch on evaluating platforms, tools, and partnerships that can support long-term success.

Ayman Idrees, Chief Information Officer, Wor-Wic Community College

Ashish Patel, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

Jerry Waldron, Former Senior Technology Advisor, Maryland Research and Education Network, University of Maryland

Networking Break

Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Risk, Resilience and Workforce Innovation

The intersection of AI, cloud technologies and cybersecurity is creating both new opportunities and new risks for higher education institutions. This session will examine how leaders are assessing and mitigating AI-related threats, protecting institutional data and managing third-party and vendor risk. Panelists will also explore how AI is being leveraged for threat detection and automation, as well as innovative approaches to building cybersecurity capacity. The discussion will also explore strategies for engaging students in the workforce pipeline, along with potential challenges that may arise.

Stacy Cahill, Chief Information Security Officer, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)

Chuck Thomas, Director of Information Security and Network Infrastructure, Wor-Wic Community College

Governing AI: Ethics, Policy and Responsible Use at Scale (Interactive Session)

As AI adoption accelerates, institutions must establish governance frameworks that support innovation while protecting data, ensuring equity, and maintaining trust. In this interactive session, participants will engage in facilitated table discussions sharing how their institutions are approaching AI policy, addressing ethical considerations, and defining guardrails for responsible use. Through peer exchange and group discussion, attendees will gain practical insights and real-world approaches they can take back to their institutions.

Lunch

Modern Operations in Action: Cloud, Procurement and AI Strategies

As institutions modernize core systems and processes, migration to the cloud and evolving procurement strategies are becoming increasingly interconnected. This session will explore lessons learned from implementations, including business process reengineering, change management and institutional culture, as well as considerations around security, compliance and accountability in the cloud. Panelists will also discuss how institutions are evaluating technology investments, working with vendors and implementation partners, and leveraging collaborative purchasing models to manage rising costs. As part of this session, attendees will see a brief demonstration of how AI can support procurement processes, including contract review, vendor evaluation and workflow efficiency.

Jason Paluck, Associate Vice President, Department of Information Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Beyond Compliance: Accessibility, Risk and Human-Centered Digital Experiences

With the Department of Justice’s updated ADA Title II rule extending compliance timelines into 2027, higher education institutions are navigating evolving expectations around digital accessibility. This session explores how public colleges and universities are addressing accessibility across websites, mobile apps and digital services, including enforcement risks, legal exposure and strategies to maintain compliance. It also highlights how accessibility efforts can advance human-centered design and create more inclusive digital experiences for students, faculty, and staff.

Emily Singer Lucio, ADA Coordinator, University of Maryland, College Park

Jack Suess, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Closing Remarks

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.