Manager of eLearning at Oakland University (headshot attached and bio below)

Dan Arnold is the Manager of Support Services for Oakland University's e-Learning & Instructional Support department. With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Dan has built a diverse background in financial aid, student recruitment, and online learning. His commitment to education extends beyond his primary role, having served as the Administrative Professional Assembly President and as a Senator, actively participating in Oakland University governance.
Dan's expertise has been recognized nationally, as he has presented at conferences around the US and served as Vice-chair for Research for the UPCEA e-Design Collaborative. For the past 10 years, Dan has also been an educator, teaching Human Resources and Organizational Leadership coursework for the School of Education and Human Services at Oakland University. Dan has brought his combined administrative and academic backgrounds to OU's AI Taskforce, where he is part of a team helping shape the future of artificial intelligence at OU.
In addition to his professional roles, Dan has hosted a podcast focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, reflecting his commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment. 

Ronald M. Bergmann most recently served as Vice President for Information Technology and CIO at Lehman College/CUNY. At Lehman, Ron and his team pioneered the use of analytics, automated major business processes, enhanced classroom technology, and opened the first virtual reality lab in the region. Lehman was cited as an exemplar in the 2018 Horizon Report for its innovative Lehman 360 digital platform. Ron is a fellow of the EDUCAUSE/CLIR Frye (now Leading Change) Institute and was named in 2017 as one of the nation’s top technologists, transformers, and trailblazers by the Center for Digital Education.
Ron previously served as first deputy commissioner of New York City's information technology agency where he was selected by Government Technology Magazine as one of the nation's leading individuals redefining and advancing technology's role in government. 

Bob is a seasoned technology leader with over 30 years of experience in the IT industry. 
His expertise includes having worked closely with the Department of Defense (DoD), Army, Navy, Air Force, Intelligence Agencies and is now focued on State and Local Government, Education and Healthcare.  
He combines his passion for technology with a deep understanding of public sector needs. You might recognize him from conferences like NASCIO and EDUCAUSE, or perhaps you’ve come across his insights in industry articles and interviews.

Brian Cohen is the Vice President of the Center for Digital Government and Center 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.
Brain 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.

Luke DeMott is the Assistant Vice President for IT and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).
Before taking on this role, Luke held multiple roles in the technology sector, spanning 25 years.  These roles have included infrastructure management, data and analytics, and security.  Luke has worked in many industry verticals, including insurance, technology, higher education, and finance.  
Luke has several master's degrees, many of the tech sector major certificates, and ten years in security leadership. 

Director of Online and Digital Education at the University of Michigan-Flint

Nick is the Director of Online and Digital Education at the University of Michigan-Flint, where he has been a pivotal part of the campus community since 2003. In his role, Nick leads a dedicated team focused on enhancing educational experiences through his leadership and innovation. His work emphasizes change management, accessibility, and financial responsibility to keep the university responsive and adaptable in the ever-evolving landscape of higher education.
Nick has been a driving force in integrating generative AI at the university. He developed a successful professional development course called GenAI Prompt Literacy and co-developed Teaching with GenAI, equipping educators with the skills to effectively use AI in their teaching. As a member of the U-M Generative Artificial Intelligence Advisory (GAIA) Committee, Nick contributed to a key report assessing the opportunities and challenges posed by generative AI, helping position the university as a leader in ethical and responsible AI use.
Nick's leadership was also crucial during U-M Flint's transition to remote learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic and in the migration from Blackboard to Canvas, underscoring his commitment to enhancing teaching and learning outcomes.

Nicholas has over 27 years of experience working with the public sector specializing in state and local government and administration. Nick has helped save state agencies, municipalities, and public-school districts in the northeast US millions of dollars through building relationships, leveraging technology, and redesigning workflow. As a customer relationship executive with SIDGS, he helps enable state and local governments in the Northeast US serve citizens more efficiently.

Bhavani has been serving as the Chief Information Officer for Oakland Univeristy since 2021 where she leads the University’s more than 100-member IT organization, which is responsible for providing a robust and secure computing environment, reliable infrastructure and viable enterprise applications. As CIO, Bhavani has worked to simplify, sustain, innovate and drive digital transformation with emphasis on addressing the top priorities of IT in Higher Education – information security, privacy, student centric learning and sustainable funding.
Prior to joining Oakland University, Bahavani served as the Chief Information Officer at Ferris State University, and held numerous positions including Senior Director of Information Technology at Wayne State.

Director of Applications at the University of Michigan-Dearborn

With over 26 years of experience in Higher Education IT, Brian has consistently developed innovative and highly technical solutions in alignment with organizational goals. As IT Director of Applications at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, he oversees a team responsible for University Business Systems, including the Banner Student Information System. His leadership extends to supervising system analysts and application administrators, collaborating closely with customers to support enterprise applications.
Brian's team provides project and consulting services for custom reporting, software integrations, and strategic software/vendor recommendations. They also build and support Salesforce functionality, enhancing student engagement and retention through the student portal, advising systems, strategic communications, and more. By leveraging tools like Student Success Hub and Marketing Cloud, Brian and his team are committed to delivering personalized, equitable experiences that support the entire lifecycle of students.

As the CIO at Baker College, Scott Wood has 17 years of experience in the higher education IT market. In his time at Baker, Scott has served in various IT roles and lead the institution through key transformations, including aligning Baker College with the NIST cybersecurity framework. Scott has also been an adjunct professor for nine years and has led numerous committees for Baker College, such as the LMS User Group, Change Management, as well as the Policy and Procedures Approval Committee. Scott has also served as a peer reviewer for EDUCAUSE.