Agenda

Speakers: 

• Darian Choi, Westmont College (getting additional details)
• Anitah Murungi, graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Global Management student at the Thunderbird School of Global Management and AI Acceleration student intern
• Abraham Lozano Serna, graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, AI Acceleration intern 
• Shristi Pathak, Graduate student in computer science,  AI-CIC student intern 

Moderator: Camille Campbell, ASU student 

Speaker info coming soon!

ASU Host: John Rome, Deputy CIO, ASU

This dynamic, rapid-fire panel discussion brings together distinguished leaders from higher education institutions and technology companies to explore pressing challenges facing universities today. Our expert panelists will share practical insights and strategic perspectives on critical decisions shaping the future of education technology. This session will discuss; Build vs. Buy: Evaluating when to develop custom solutions versus implementing existing platforms; Ethical AI Implementation: Ensuring responsible use of artificial intelligence in academic settings; Data Consolidation Strategies: Breaking down silos and creating unified data ecosystems; Technology Integration: Balancing innovation with existing infrastructure and Change Management: Fostering adoption of new technologies across campus.

Join us for this engaging session as our panelists share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and actionable strategies for navigating technology transformation in higher education. Attendees will gain valuable insights to help inform their own institutional technology decisions and roadmaps.

Presenters: 

• Chatham Vidanagamage, Artificial Intelligence & Product Engineering Leader | La Trobe University

ASU Host: Gemma Garcia, Executive Director, Learning Technology,Office of the University Provost, ASU

How can universities use Artificial Intelligence as a strategic partner in shaping student success?

Universities stand at the forefront of shaping student success in an era defined by Artificial Intelligence. How can AI evolve from isolated pilots to a strategic enabler transforming academic planning and student progression. In this session, we showcase how La Trobe University is using AI to drive transformational change embedding AI into the heart of academic decision-making. From curriculum design & oversight, subject scheduling to student progression and alternate exit pathways, we demonstrate how AI is helping us rethink higher education operations for agility, efficiency, and equity.

Our use of AI includes advanced planning algorithms that optimise subject offerings, identify overlapping subjects, and enable smooth teach-out transitions. This session showcases how universities can leverage AI to streamline logistics, and create pathways for all students.

Panelists: 

• Vince Kelen, Chief Information Officer | UC San Diego
• Nitzan Pelman, CEO, Climb Together
• David Wiley, Associate Professor and Academic Affairs Fellow 
• Amin Qazi, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer | AQL Labs

ASU Host: Danielle McNamara, Executive Director and Professor, Learning Engineering Institute, ASU

This session will bring together distinguished researchers, mission-driven builders, and education impact investors focused on architecting and building new AI-driven models to enhance and improve learning, student supports, and new thresholds of operational excellence within higher education, ultimately seeking to scale step-level improvements in the student experience.

Presenters: 

• Bobby Sprinkle, CTO, Florida State University
• Dr. Paul Marty, Professor in the School of Information in the College of Communication, Florida State University
• Rick Burnette, Senior Vice Provost and Chief Strategy Officer, Florida State University

ASU Host: Stuart Rice, Executive Director of Learning Experience, ASU Enterprise Technology

As institutions move beyond static digital tools, agentic AI presents a new paradigm for adaptive, student-centered learning. This session highlights how Florida State University successfully deployed agentic AI tools to personalize instruction, provide real-time feedback, and foster deeper student engagement. Discover how we transitioned from concept to classroom, ensuring equity, privacy, and scalability.

Presenters: 

• Irving Hidrogo Montemayor, Director of Artificial Intelligence for Education | Tecnológico de Monterrey
• Edrei Robles, AI in Education Leader | Tecnológico de Monterrey

ASU Host: Faith Dalzell, Assistant Director, Enterprise and Global Projects, ASU

The Student Accompaniment Model (SAM) at Tecnológico de Monterrey is an integrated support framework that links each student with Academic Program Advisors and Mentors, in order to ensure the completion of the student’ success path from admission to alumni stages. The SAM is now layering agentic AI that turns scattered records into immediate insight: an early-alert system and a dropout predictor that send risk pings to advisors and mentors; a student student profile that reveals academic and non-academic context; RAG-based virtual assistants answer policy questions about graduation requirements in natural language; a multiple-scenarios simulator lets staff test different combinations of interventions and decisions before they act; and an LLM content builder drafts personalized descriptions of social service and study-abroad options for students. These services feed a single, role-aware platform that surfaces the next-best action while humans stay firmly in control.

Presenters: 

• Christyna Serrano, Head of Community Learning & Growth; Berkeley Changemaker Professional Faculty

Discover the core principles behind effective agentic AI through system prompting and configuration strategies. In this 50-minute breakout session, we'll explore how thoughtful prompt design and model configuration create the foundation for AI systems that can eventually operate autonomously in educational settings. Using Playlab as our demonstration platform, participants will see live examples of building educational chatbots while learning the prompt engineering fundamentals that enable more sophisticated AI workflows. We'll cover key concepts, including system prompt architecture, model selection strategies, and configuration approaches that support intelligent decision-making. Whether you follow along hands-on or observe the demonstrations, you'll leave with practical knowledge about the building blocks of agentic AI and actionable strategies for implementing these concepts in your own educational context.

Please bring a laptop if you'd like to follow along with hands-on activities. The session will include live demonstrations for all participants, regardless of device availability.

Panelists: 

• Sarkis Daglian, Director of AI and Enterprise Cloud, UC Irvine
• Jennie Sanders, Vice President of Instruction, Western Governors University
• Victoria Maloy, Associate Director of Academic Technologies, University of Iowa

Host and moderator: 

• Kyle Bowen, Deputy Chief Information Officer, ASU Enterprise Technology

This session brings together scholars and practitioners to critically examine what it means to “scale” with artificial intelligence in higher education and beyond. Through data-driven perspectives and early research, panelists will explore how institutions can move beyond isolated pilots to envision sustainable, systemic integration of AI at scale.

Panelists: 

• Amy Diaz, President, Gateway Community College
• Aviva Legatt, AI Fluency, Implementation, and Ethics Advisory, University of Pennsylvania

Host and moderator: 

• Raghu Santaman, McCord Chair of Business

AI is reshaping industries and redefining the skills graduates need to succeed. This panel brings together leaders from business, education, and workforce development to explore how institutions and employers can collaborate to prepare students for an AI-driven economy. Panelists will share perspectives on cultivating transferable skills, building adaptable career pathways, and strengthening partnerships between higher education and industry. Attendees will gain insights into strategies that ensure students are not only job-ready but future-ready.

Presenter: 

• David Smiley, Assistant Teaching Professor | Notre Dame

Host: 

• Elizabeth Reilley, Executive Director | ASU Enterprise Technology

We report on transforming our “Generative AI in the Wild” course by integrating agentic workflows to replace traditional instructional tools. Taught over four semesters to large cohorts, the course previously used foundational model access, Chainforge simulations, Google Workspace, and an LMS. To unify the user experience, streamline information gathering, and provide real-time feedback for both individual and group work—during class and on homework—we are developing automated modules with the n8n agentic workflow system. The modular agentic design is expected to provide unique feedback and learning opportunities with controlled autonomous decision making. We will share lessons learned from the system development process and present outcome data from our Fall 2025 implementation. The design and development team—comprised of faculty and students—integrates a range of pedagogical and computational perspectives in the project.

Speakers: 

• Amanda Federico, Program Coordinator, Next Lab | Arizona State University
• Carly Haggard is a third year double major in Data Analytics and Mathematics at Westmont College
• Mike Ryu, Director of Engineering, CATLab and Assistant Professor of Computer Science | Westmont College

Host: 

• Dan Munnerley, Executive Director, Next Lab, Arizona State University

Two universities, two labs, one mission: Placing today’s students at the center of AI for tomorrow.

In this session, hear from a mix of undergraduate students at Westmont College and Arizona State University who are playing an active role in the design and development of AI systems at their institution.

Students from ASU Next Lab will present EdgeAI, an AI solution expanding access to education in remote and underserved areas, while Westmont’s CATLab students will showcase an agentic AI platform that helps students navigate complex academic systems and processes.

ASU’s Dan Munnerely will facilitate a discussion with university’s leaders Amanda Federico (ASU Next Lab) and Mike Ryu (Westmont’s CATLab) on the state of AI and how they have designed their labs to empower student-lead innovations on campus.

Speakers: 

• John Spirko, Principal Executive Enterprise Architect, ServiceNow
• Rudy Bellavia Vice President, Office of Business and Finance, Arizona State University

ASU Host: Kimberly Clark, Deputy Chief Information Officer, ASU Enterprise Technology

Each year, ASU hosts thousands of on-campus events. The process for students to request and register events was using a webform and approvals became cumbersome and outgrew its current ability to expand into the future. Executives, students, and employees lacked visibility into the status of the approval, often leaving users stuck in the middle and frustrated. With ServiceNow, ASU is transforming this process, allowing agentic data and automated processes to drive faster decision-making, improving the speed of delivery and overall constituent experience. Additionally, ServiceNow leveraged its own Agentic AI "Factory" to quickly spin-up a prototype of this application, building the art of the possible quickly for ASU.

Sponsored by ServiceNow

Presenter: 

• Alphia Possamai-Inesedy, Pro Vice Chancellor Student Success | Western Sydney University

ASU Host: Amanda Gulley, Chief of Product and Experience Design, ASU EdPlus

This session reimagines student success through a whole-of-institution initiative that centres students’ voices, lived realities, and ambitions across their first 100 days at university. Created for a region as diverse, dynamic, and complex as Greater Western Sydney—home to many first-in-family, low-SES, migrant, and mature-age learners—the conventional indicators of success are insufficient. The initiative leverages digital personalisation, strengths-based onboarding, and an equity-first mindset to create an ecosystem where every student can thrive.

This initiative is laying the groundwork for agentic AI integration by reshaping the human-to-human experience first. It outlines the early architecture of this transformation—one grounded in behavioural insight, institutional coherence, and deeply contextualised data—and discusses how to set up a foundation for adaptive, student-centred AI systems that will amplify human care.

Panelists: 

• Frank Rojas, Vice President for Strategy, Bay Path University
• Jason Ball, Associate Provost and Chief Information Officer, at Florida Atlantic University

• Jody Miller-Smith, Assistant Vice President, Academic Enterprise Enrollment Technology and Data Solutions, Arizona State University. 

   

Moderator: Emily Smith, Principal, VP Partner Success, CollegeVine

Join higher education influencer and Principal, VP Partner Success Emily Smith for a dynamic fireside chat with VPs and CIOs from AI-pioneering institutions. Hear candid insights on how AI is becoming part of higher ed’s operating system and discover the critical leverage points where leaders can drive transformation. Learn the strategies and considerations shaping real-world deployments of AI across campus operations.

Sponsored by CollegeVine

Speakers: 

• Deirdre Quarnstrom, Vice President, Education, Microsoft
• Dan Munnerley, Executive Director, Next Lab, Arizona State University
• Auryan Ratliff, Director of Emerging and Learning Technologies, EdPlus, ASU
• Elina Ollila, Deputy Center Director and Professor of Practice, The GAME School, ASU

Moderator: 

• Lisa Flesher Chief of Realm 4 Initiatives and MLF Teachers College Clinical Assistant Professor, EdPlus at ASU

This panel brings together leaders from Microsoft and Arizona State University to explore how immersive worlds, game-based learning and AI-driven tools can spark creativity, deepen engagement and empower students to take greater agency in their learning. From building collaborative virtual environments to designing playful learning ecosystems, panelists will discuss what’s possible now and what’s next. Join us to see how gaming, VR and AI are converging to shape the future of learning.

Presenter: 

• Joe Sabado, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Campus AI Exchange, University of California, Santa Barbara

This session introduces the Campus AI Framework, an 8-pillar blueprint, and the Strategic AI Compass, a 5-phase planning tool for intentional, responsible AI adoption. Participants will use maturity models and rubrics to align initiatives with institutional values, prioritize student trust, and foster cross-functional collaboration for student success. Ideal for academic, IT, and student affairs leaders aiming to scale impact, not chaos. Scenarios reflect diverse needs, including first-generation and non-traditional learners.

Panelists: 

• Mike (Dongyub) Ryu, Assistant Professor | Westmont College
• Dan Munnerley, Executive Director | ASU Next Lab

Moderator:

• Michael Torrence, President, Motlow State Community College

As AI reshapes the future of work, preparing students for tomorrow requires more than technical know-how. This session brings together leaders from higher education – across four-year and community college) and industry to explore how transferable skills, strong partnerships, and hands-on experiences can equip learners to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Panelists will share insights on bridging the gap between classroom and career, rethinking workforce readiness, and ensuring students from all types of institutions—community colleges to four-year universities—are empowered to succeed.

Panelists: 

• Stephanie Szuch, Senior Director Student Impact, Education at Work
• Dr. Isac Artzi, Associate Professor, Grand Canyon University

Host and moderator: 

• Michael Torrance, President | Motlow State Community College

As AI reshapes the future of work, preparing students for tomorrow requires more than technical know-how. This session brings together leaders from higher education – across four-year and community college) and industry to explore how transferable skills, strong partnerships, and hands-on experiences can equip learners to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Panelists will share insights on bridging the gap between classroom and career, rethinking workforce readiness, and ensuring students from all types of institutions—community colleges to four-year universities—are empowered to succeed.

Presenter: 

• Ericson Dimaunahan, Director for Operations, Mapua University, Philippines

ASU Host: 

• Bea Rodriguez-Franzen, Assistant Research Professor in Principled Innovation, Global Futures Office of Research Development and Strategy

This session highlights how Mapúa University in the Philippines has strategically integrated AI across teaching, assessment, instructional design, accessibility, and student support. Moving beyond experimentation, Mapúa’s digital ecosystem empowers faculty, enhances learning outcomes, and reflects a cultural shift in pedagogy and innovation. Framed by lessons from the pandemic and a long-term vision, the university positions AI as a core enabler of quality, future-ready education.

Speakers: 

• Ben Andries, Emerging Technology Solutions Analyst Lead, UMich
• Don Lambert, Director of IT Infrastructure, UMich

Host: 

• Elizabeth Reilley, Executive Director, AI Acceleration, Arizona State University

This session spotlights the University of Michigan’s Go Blue AI mobile app, a campus companion that uses agentic AI to enhance the student experience. By integrating U-M–specific tools, data, and Maizey projects, Go Blue provides proactive, context-aware support while safeguarding privacy. Key features like voice input, image analysis, and location services demonstrate how the app fosters autonomy, engagement, and scalable collaboration across the university community.