Where higher ed IT leaders shape what’s next.
The Michigan Higher Education IT Leadership Summit is a one-day, invite-only gathering designed for CIOs, IT directors, and digital transformation champions across colleges and universities. Focused on the most pressing issues in academic technology, from cybersecurity and infrastructure to digital learning and AI, the summit fosters peer collaboration, practical problem-solving, and forward-thinking leadership. Attendees gain real-world strategies to drive innovation, modernize operations, and elevate student and institutional success.
Who Should Attend: Senior IT leaders, technology managers, and academic innovators responsible for shaping the future of IT in higher education.
The Michigan Higher Education IT Leadership Summit is such an invaluable and insightful event for me as an IT executive. Higher education, and Michigan in particular, is at a critical point of change . The demographic cliff, changing federal requirements, the dangers and opportunities of AI, and increasing scrutiny on the return on investment of education all present unique challenges that need to be addressed here and now. Feedback and collaboration with other IT leaders is an essential tool to be able to understand, plan, and respond. Differences in institution size, academic focus, and resources all create a multifaceted perspective on these common issues. It presents a unique opportunity for insight and transparency that is hard to replicate in any other format.
-Geoffrey Marsh, Vice President of Instructional, Administrative, and Information Technology, Kettering University
Thursday, August 6 |
|
8:00 am Eastern |
Registration and Morning Refreshments |
8:30 am Eastern |
Welcome and Opening Remarks |
8:45 am Eastern |
Beyond the Pilot: Operationalizing AI Across Higher Education ITArtificial 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. |
9:45 am Eastern |
Networking Break |
10:00 am Eastern |
AI for Teaching, Learning and Research: Practical Models for the Modern CampusAs 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. |
11:00 am Eastern |
Modernizing Identity, Access and Data Governance for the AI EraAs 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. |
12:00 pm Eastern |
Lunch and Networking |
1:00 pm Eastern |
Building Resilient Institutions: Cybersecurity, Incident Response and Operational ContinuityHigher 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. |
2:00 pm Eastern |
From IT Support to Strategic Leadership: Positioning Technology as a Campus PartnerAs 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. |
3:00 pm Eastern |
Closing Remarks |
3:15 pm Eastern |
End of ConferenceConference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change. |
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
313-583-6330
Ben Andera
Exec Director of IT
Academic and Research Computing
Central Michigan University
Dan Arnold
Director of Support & Innovation; Provost Fellow for Artificial Intelligence
Online Learning
Oakland University
PJ Capelli
Security and Privacy Officer
Western Michigan University
Jonathon Conquest
Director of IT Operations
IT
Kettering University
Richard Durant
IT Operations Manager
University of Michigan - Dearborn
Elzabeth Klee
Chief Information Officer
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 and Operations
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Geoffrey Marsh
VP of Instructional, Admin and IT
Kettering University
Aaron Snead
Vice President Information Technology
Information Technology
Kalamazoo Valley 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
Ron Woody
Chief Information Officer
Eastern Michigan 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:
Lee Vang
Center for Digital Education
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1407
E-mail: lvang@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