Michigan Higher Education IT Leadership Summit 2025
Overview
2025 Michigan Higher Education IT Leadership Summit: Planning for the Future of Technology in Higher Education
Colleges and universities in Michigan, like those across the country, are at a transformative moment. As they adapt to shifting demographics, evolving student needs, and changing funding models, the role of technology has never been more essential—or full of opportunity. IT leaders are uniquely positioned to help their colleges and universities thrive by enabling innovation, advancing data-informed decision-making, and improving institutional and student outcomes.
The 2025 Higher Education IT Leadership Summit brings together senior technology and institutional leaders for a day of strategic exchange, peer learning, and collaborative exploration. The Summit agenda reflects the priorities identified by the Advisory Board, offering a balance of strategic insight and practical relevance. While the full agenda will span a range of leadership and operational topics, the Summit is grounded in the issues top of mind for today’s higher education CIOs. These include building digital trust; data and technology governance; modernizing systems; IT organizational models and decision-making structures; aligning AI and data strategies with institutional priorities and mission; navigating the evolving cybersecurity and risk landscape; and strengthening the IT staff talent pipeline. A key focus of this year’s summit is the opportunity—and necessity—to take a fresh look at legacy infrastructure, systems, and policies that have evolved over time. Aligning these foundational elements with today’s institutional strategies is critical to ensuring that IT remains affordable, agile, and sustainable for the future.
These priorities—whether addressed in sessions, panels, or conversations throughout the day—will shape the dialogue and can lead to meaningful relationships afterwards. This Summit is a platform for fresh thinking and actionable solutions. Attendees will leave informed, inspired and equipped to elevate IT as a driver of institutional agility, academic excellence, and long-term success in a dynamic digital landscape.
Participants are encouraged to come ready to share their real-world challenges, engage actively in sessions, and contribute to a collaborative, solution-focused environment.
Who Should Attend
Senior and emerging IT leaders in higher education including, CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, Deputy CIOs/CTOs, IT Directors, System Managers, and those leading digital transformation, infrastructure, and learning technology initiatives.
Summit Objectives
• Foster Collaboration: Connect locally with higher ed IT leaders to exchange strategies, insights, and best practices in a face-to-face, peer-driven environment.
• Showcase Innovation: Explore real-world examples of how technology is transforming teaching, learning, and campus operations.
• Develop Leadership: Gain practical guidance and peer insights to grow leadership skills and advance both career and institutional goals.
• Tackle Top Challenges: Dive into critical topics like AI, system modernization, cybersecurity, privacy, cloud scalability, and managing limited budgets.
• Explore What’s Next: Discover future trends in higher ed tech and how they’ll shape IT strategy, workforce needs, and institutional success.
Why Attend
• Designed for You: Free for higher education professionals. Sized for meaningful engagement—limited to 60 invited attendees.
• Local & Convenient: Held in-state to eliminate costly travel and time away.
• Expert Insights: Hear directly from thought leaders, colleagues, and practitioners on pressing IT challenges and innovations.
• High-Value Networking: Build lasting connections with peers, partners, and potential collaborators in a focused, in-person setting.
Speakers
Agenda
Tuesday, September 16 |
|
8:30 am Eastern |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
9:00 am Eastern |
Opening RemarksBrian Cohen, Vice President, Center for Digital Education |
9:15 am Eastern |
Leading Through Uncertainty & Change - Strategic IT Leadership and AgilityThis interactive session will review the ways IT leaders can assist their institutions through periods of uncertainty, including budget reductions, changing enrollment patterns, and emerging technologies. The focus is on forming campus-wide partnerships, reducing departmental barriers, and utilizing collective expertise to enhance institutional resilience and adaptability. The session will also cover frameworks for collaboration across academic, administrative, and IT areas, as well as practical methods for addressing resistance to change. Examples from practice will demonstrate the potential roles for IT in supporting institutional objectives. Key Session Take-Aways: Moderator: Brian Cohen, Vice President, Center for Digital Education |
10:15 am Eastern |
Networking Break |
10:30 am Eastern |
Piloting, Scaling, and Governing AI in Higher EducationThis panel features IT leaders and experts discussing how to launch, expand, and manage AI initiatives in higher education. Topics include integrating AI into academic and administrative operations, collaborating across campus and with external partners, and addressing challenges like data privacy, legacy systems, and faculty concerns. The discussion will highlight current initiatives, share practical lessons, and provide strategies for aligning AI efforts with institutional goals. Special focus will be given to agentic AI—autonomous systems that automate multi-step workflows and support decision-making. The session offers guidance on creating AI roadmaps, preparing the campus, and ensuring transparency in responsible AI adoption. Key Session Take-Aways: |
11:30 am Eastern |
The Digital Campus 2.0: Advancing Academic and Administrative Success - Small Group CollaborationBuilding on the change management and AI sessions, this interactive session is dedicated to hands-on action planning. Participants will work in small groups to develop practical, responsible and context-specific AI strategies for their institutions. Using structured templates, groups will identify priority areas for AI deployment, outline steps for implementation, and consider how to align initiatives with broader institutional and ecosystem goals. Each group will present their action plan, including at least one bold idea, and receive feedback from peers and facilitators. The goal is for participants to leave with a concrete, actionable roadmap for advancing AI on their campus. Key Session Activities: |
12:30 pm Eastern |
Lunch and Networking |
1:30 pm Eastern |
Synthesis and Action: Applying Insights to Institutional StrategyThis session summarizes the day's major themes, guiding attendees to combine insights from leadership, change management, AI, and digital transformation. The aim is to outline actionable steps for each institution, identify collaboration opportunities, and establish processes for ongoing improvement. Emphasis is placed on aligning strategy, fostering shared decision-making, and maintaining innovation in complex environments. Key Session Take-Aways: |
2:30 pm Eastern |
Wrap Up & Closing Remarks |
3:00 pm Eastern |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change. |
Lansing Community College
411 Grand Ave
Lansing, MI 48933
517-483-1521
Lansing Community College
Planning Committee
Representatives
Elizabeth Klee
CIO
Information Technology
Oakland Community College
Bhavani Koneru
Chief Information Officer
Oakland University
Brian LaGoe
Director of Applications
IT Services
University of Michigan - Dearborn
Joseph Lubomirski
Director of Security, Infrastructure & Ops
IT Services
University of Michigan - Dearborn
Geoffrey Marsh
Vice President of Instructional, Administrative, and Informational Technology
IT
Kettering University
Bob Montgomery
Vice Chancellor for Information Technologies/Chief Information Officer
Oakland Community College
Milos Topic
Vice President for Information Technology & Chief Digital Officer
Grand Valley State University
Charlie Weaver
Assistant Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Information Technology
Ferris State University
Scott Wood
Chief Information Officer
Baker College
Registration Information / Contact Us
Event Date: September 16, 2025
Open to Public Sector only.
Registration - Free
If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.
This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.
Contact Information
Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:
Jen Caldwell
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1345
E-mail: jcaldwell@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@erepublic.com
Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!
Heather Earney
Center for Digital Education
A Division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com