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.
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)
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 ROIMoving 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 RoadAs 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 AIStudents 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 RunningHigher 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 WorksAs 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 ActionThis 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 ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change. |
355 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 596-3000
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
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.
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