Registration and Morning Refreshments

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Beyond the Pilot: Operationalizing AI Across Higher Education IT

Artificial intelligence is quickly moving from experimentation to operational reality across higher education, but many institutions are still working to determine where AI can deliver meaningful value. This session will explore practical AI use cases already being implemented across admissions, student services, IT operations and administrative functions, while examining how institutions are balancing innovation, governance, staffing and long-term sustainability. Panelists will share real-world examples of AI-enabled automation, operational efficiencies and service improvements, along with lessons learned from moving beyond pilot programs into scalable institutional deployment.

Moderator: Ben Andera, Executive Director, Academic and Research Computing, Central Michigan University

Miloš Topić, Vice President for IT and Chief Digital Officer, Grand Valley State University

Networking Break

AI for Teaching, Learning and Research: Practical Models for the Modern Campus

As AI adoption accelerates across higher education, institutions are navigating new opportunities and responsibilities surrounding teaching, learning and research. This session will focus on how colleges and universities are supporting AI literacy, faculty engagement, student success and research innovation through practical implementation strategies and governance models. Attendees will hear how institutions are approaching classroom integration, academic support, research applications and responsible AI adoption while preparing faculty, staff and students for an increasingly AI-driven future.

Moderator: Marcio A. Oliveira, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, Associate Professor, Dept. Kinesiology, Office of the Provost, Michigan State University

Brendan Guenther, Ed.D., Chief Academic Digital Officer, Michigan State University

Tarek M. Sobh, Ph.D., P.E., President, Lawrence Technological University

Modernizing Identity, Access and Data Governance for the AI Era

As institutions expand automation, analytics and data-driven decision-making, longstanding challenges surrounding identity management, access controls and data governance are becoming increasingly complex. This session will explore how higher education IT leaders are modernizing identity and access management while creating governance frameworks that support secure, scalable, and efficient operations. Panelists will discuss practical strategies for addressing legacy systems, balancing data access with security requirements and creating governance models that support institutional collaboration, compliance and trust.

PJ Capelli, Security and Privacy Officer, Office of Information Technology, Western Michigan University

Garrett McManaway, Chief Information Security Officer and Senior Director, Information Security and Compliance, Wayne State University

Carrie Shumaker, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief Strategy Officer, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Lunch and Networking

Building Resilient Institutions: Cybersecurity, Incident Response and Operational Continuity

Higher education institutions continue to face growing cybersecurity threats, operational disruptions, and increasing reliance on interconnected technology systems. This interactive session will examine how colleges and universities are strengthening incident response planning, improving operational resilience and preparing for disruptions that impact learning, communications and campus operations. Through guided peer discussion, attendees will exchange lessons learned, contingency planning strategies and approaches for maintaining continuity during critical technology failures, outages and cybersecurity events.

From IT Support to Strategic Leadership: Positioning Technology as a Campus Partner

As technology becomes increasingly embedded across every aspect of higher education, IT leaders are being asked to serve not only as operational experts, but also as strategic institutional partners. This session will explore how higher education technology leaders are navigating workforce challenges, building collaborative relationships across campus and positioning IT as a driver of innovation, student success and institutional transformation. Panelists will discuss leadership development, staff retention, organizational culture and strategies for helping technology teams evolve alongside the rapidly changing needs of higher education.

Moderator: Bhavani Koneru, Chief Information Officer, University Technology Services, Oakland University

Dan Arnold, Ph.D., Director of Support & Innovation, Provost Fellow for Artificial Intelligence, AP Association President, e-Learning and Instructional Support, Oakland University

Amar Singh, Chief Information Officer & Chief Information Security Officer, St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Benjamin Stratton, Director of IT Customer Support and Student Experience Ambassador, Kettering University

Closing Remarks

End of Conference

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