New York/New Jersey Higher Education IT Leadership Summit 2026 Banner

Overview

Where higher education IT leaders shape what’s next.

The New York/New Jersey Higher Education IT Leadership Summit is an exclusive, invite-only gathering for CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, and senior IT leaders from higher education institutions across the state. Focused on today’s most critical priorities including cybersecurity, infrastructure, data strategy, AI, and digital learning, this one-day summit delivers actionable insights, real-world strategies, and valuable peer connections. Attendees will engage with peers, exchange ideas, and explore innovative approaches that support institutional goals and drive student and organizational success.

Who Should Attend: Senior IT leaders, technology managers, and academic innovators responsible for shaping and advancing IT strategy within higher education institutions.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

The NY/NJ Higher Education IT Leadership Summit offers something truly special: an open, trusted environment to confer with peers on our most critical technical and leadership challenges. Because we decide the topics and drive the conversation, the insights are candid, practical, and deeply relevant. It is single-handedly the best place to share knowledge, mentor team leaders, and build strong professional networks. 

- Dr. Dilawar Grewal, Assistant Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Hostos Community College (CUNY)

Agenda

Thursday, October 15

8:30 am Eastern

Welcome, Introductions, and Opening Remarks

8:45 am Eastern

AI Unfiltered: The Wins, the Wrecks, and the Real ROI

Moving beyond broad AI trends, four presenters will share real-world campus implementations and the practical results achieved. They will discuss the challenges addressed, solutions implemented, resources required, outcomes achieved, and adjustments made along the way. The closing discussion will explore how institutions can determine whether an AI initiative should be expanded, redesigned, or discontinued. Attendees will leave with useful evaluation criteria they can apply to their own AI pilots.

9:45 am Eastern

Networking Break

10:00 am Eastern

Who’s Driving the AI Bus? Building the Campus Rules of the Road

As shadow AI tools become more common across campus, institutions need clear and practical processes for managing their use. Working through a realistic scenario, participants will address tool approval, data access, identity and security requirements, vendor and contract reviews, ongoing monitoring, and policy enforcement. Tables will assign decision-making responsibilities across IT, academic affairs, legal, procurement, research, and institutional leadership before establishing an approval and escalation process. Each group will develop a concise campus AI decision framework that can be adapted for use at its institution.

11:00 am Eastern

No Filter: How Students Are Really Using AI

Students are among the most active users of AI, yet their perspectives are often missing from institutional conversations. Representing different institutions and disciplines, student panelists will speak candidly about how they use AI, whether campus tools and guidance meet their needs, and their concerns about privacy, appropriate use, and institutional policies. They will also share how AI is shaping the skills needed after graduation and how colleges can better prepare them. Attendees will hear directly from students about what institutions should start, stop, and continue doing

12:00 pm Eastern

Lunch and Networking

1:00 pm Eastern

Assume the Breach: Protecting the Campus and Keeping It Running

Higher education institutions must protect open, highly connected environments while preparing for the reality that a cyber incident may still occur. This panel will explore identity and access controls, third-party and SaaS risk, incident response, executive communications, and maintain essential campus operations during recovery. Panelists will share practical lessons involving ransomware, compromised credentials, vendor outages, and sensitive research or health data. The discussion will also address AI as both an emerging threat and a tool for improving detection and security operations. Attendees will leave with clear priorities for strengthening prevention, response, and operational continuity.

2:00 pm Eastern

The Budget Squeeze: Funding What’s Next Without Breaking What Works

As institutions work to strengthen digital accessibility, this panel will focus on three immediate implementation needs: establishing ownership across IT and campus departments, prioritizing content for review and remediation, and creating a practical process for correcting and tracking accessibility issues. Panelists will discuss how responsibilities are being divided across websites, course materials, documents, social media, procurement, and third-party platforms. In this session, plan to walk away with practical actions ready to implement immediately.

3:00 pm Eastern

Bits and Bytes: The Accessibility Clock Is Ticking: Turning Compliance into Campus Action

This fireside chat will focus on three immediate accessibility implementation needs: establishing ownership across IT and campus departments, prioritizing content for review and remediation, and creating a practical process for correcting and tracking accessibility issues. Speakers will discuss how responsibilities are being divided across websites, course materials, documents, social media, procurement, and third-party platforms. Attendees will leave with three practical actions they can begin implementing immediately.

3:30 pm Eastern

Closing Remarks

3:45 pm Eastern

End of Conference

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

New Jersey Institute of Technology - Central King Building

355 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 596-3000

Get Directions To
New Jersey Institute of Technology - Central King Building

Advisory Board

Education Representatives

Walead Abdrabouh
Director
Information Systems and Business Intelligence
Stockton University

Gamin Bartle
Chief Information Officer
Information Technology
William Patterson University

Angela Chen
Vice President
Information Technologies
University of Delaware

Robert Doster
Chief Information Officer
Ramapo College of New Jersey

Pooja Goel
Associate Vice President for Enterprise Applications & Associate Chief Information Officer
Information Services and Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Dilawar Grewal
Assistant Vice President & Chief Information Officer
CUNY

Garrett McAlister
Acting Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
SUNY Westchester Community College

Michele Norin
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Rutgers University

Michael Parente
VP for IT & CIO
Information Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology

Jennifer Smith
Associate Vice President of IT Operations
The New School

Don Welch
Vice President for Information Technology & Global University CIO
Information Technology
New York University

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: October 15, 2026

Open to higher education institutions 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:

Jasmin Tetzlaff
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1308
E-mail: jtetzlaff@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

Venue

New Jersey Institute of Technology - Central King Building

355 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 596-3000

Show Hotel & Parking

Room Block

There is no room block set up for this event. There are a number of hotels nearby.

Map and Directions

https://www.njit.edu/about/maps-directions

Event Parking

Parking for this event has been assigned to the Summit Garage Parking Deck.
154 Summit Street
Newark, NJ 07102

You may not park in other parking lots on the campus. Please note, the Garage deck entrance is equipped with a two-way speaker that can be activated with the touch of the red button located near the card reader. Press this button when at the parking gate entrance and ask the Public Safety Officer for assistance. Guests should state the information under “Visitor Name” on your parking confirmation. An ID is not needed to enter this lot. Please follow the ground signage to your event location.

Below are helpful links to maps and directions which will help you navigate your way in and around New Jersey Institute.

  • Click here to access the campus parking map.
  • Click here to access the campus map.

Driving directions to NJIT
Public transportation directions to NJIT

Parking fees subject to change without notice.

Attire

Business casual