Gerard Au has more than 20 years of progressively responsible IT experience, including leadership roles in two of California's public higher education systems (California State University and University of California). Prior to his 8-year tenure at CSUSB, Au spent nearly 14 years in various roles at UCLA, as well as two years in the private industry. He is an active participant of EDUCAUSE, serving on the EDUCAUSE Top 10 IT Issues panel from 2015-2017 and as institute faculty for the association’s inaugural Senior Directors Program. He is also a graduate from the EDUCAUSE Leadership Institute. Au has demonstrated results in direction setting, managing complex projects, and improving operational efficiency, as well as implementing and managing administrative systems and instructional and distance learning technologies. His areas of expertise include higher education governance, healthcare IT, strategic IT planning, leadership, project management, cloud strategy and implementation, system design and implementation, instructional technologies, distance learning, and server migration.

Pierre Bourgeix has spent 30+ years as a global security consultant and innovator, with a wide range of experience serving The Rand Corporation, The US State Department, ADT/Tyco Security, HySecurity, Wallace International, SecureState and BoonEdam. From a strong foundation in the physical security, barrier, gate control industry, Bourgeix’s path has grown to include electronic security, managed services security and finally, the IT and cybersecurity arena as well. He is a highly regarded thought leader in the convergence of IT, OT, and physical security and is a renowned expert in the integration of converged technology platforms, from large manufacturers to utility companies such as First Energy. He is also a subject-matter expert in the development and implementation of governance and privacy programs in IT, OT, and PS. Bourgeix holds master’s degrees in both Behavioral Education and International Business Management, with a bachelor’s in History and Political Science. He is a member of the US Naval Institute and is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.

Anthony Briscoe is an education technology leader with over 25 years of IT experience and seven years in operational leadership, managing, and leading IT operations through service delivery, policy engagement, and leadership development. He is a data-informed decision-maker, focusing on diversity mentoring, QoS, IT compliance, budget administration, and overseeing projects, infrastructure, procurement, vendor, and team management. He has worked in primary education for 13 years, with prior experience as a Field Technician, Help Desk Administrator, and CRM Consultant. He is a veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve and earned a degree in Applied Management Instructional Technology, Training, and Evaluation from Northern Illinois University. He mentors aspiring IT professionals and is a performing artist in his spare time.

Tirumala Rao Chimpiri is a seasoned enterprise-technology professional with more than 26 years of experience in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems, specializing in Oracle PeopleSoft Human Capital Management (HCM), Financials (FSCM), and Enterprise Performance Management (EPM). His work focuses on ERP and cloud-integration initiatives that support modernization and operational excellence in higher education and the public sector. He currently serves as Chair of the IEEE Computer Society (Long Island Section) and is an IETE Fellow. He serves on multiple advisory boards, including those of higher-education institutions, AACRAO, the HEUG Community Council, NERCOMP, and NTEN (26NTC). In addition, he contributes to conference committees and proposal review panels for leading organizations such as EDUCAUSE, HEUG, NERCOMP, and OHUG. His publications and presentations on ERP transformation, cloud security, and digital modernization in higher education have been featured in professional venues including IEEE, EDUCAUSE, AACRAO Technology & Transfer, and Ascend 2025.

A seasoned advocate for educational equity and former practicing attorney, Kimberly Conner empowers students, faculty, and staff to thrive in a rapidly evolving educational landscape. With expertise in IT communications strategy, Dr. Conner facilitates innovative learning opportunities and discourse forums, exploring the transformative impact of technology in higher education. Driven by a lifelong passion for educational equity, Dr. Conner is dedicated to preparing the university community for a future driven by technological advancements, where all individuals can succeed and reach their full potential.

Brian Fodrey is a higher education and technology executive with over 20 years of experience leading enterprise transformation, strategic planning, governance, process improvement, digital accessibility, and organizational change. In his current role at Carnegie Mellon University, he leads cross-functional initiatives that advance institutional priorities, strengthen operational effectiveness, and foster innovation. Previously, he served as CIO and Vice Provost for Educational Technology at Stevenson University. He holds an M.S. in Adult Learning and Organizational Performance from Drake University and an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from Kent State University.

Shelley Hinson is currently the Director of Technology for Whitby School. She has over 25 years of experience in IT instruction at both the K-12 and the university level. Shelley also has over 15 years of IT management in industry. Most recently, Shelley was one of the lead IT project managers at STC Bahrain, the largest telecommunications company in the Gulf. Shelley holds a Master’s degree in Occupational Technology from the University of Houston and has completed all Ph.D. coursework in Management Information Systems from the University of Houston.

Dr. Thomas Hoover is Louisiana Tech University’s highest ranking technology executive, responsible for creating and implementing the technology vision at Louisiana Tech, and reports directly to the President. Thomas has worked in Information Technology in higher education since 1999. Prior to his current position, he served as Chief Information Officer and Dean of the Library at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Director of Instructional Technology Support at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. Dr. Hoover was born in Southern California and has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the University of California at Davis, a Master's in Public Policy from Pepperdine University's School of Public Policy, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration from Louisiana Tech University.

Dr. Patricia Kahn has more than 25 years’ experience in technology services in both higher education and the private sector. She has provided the leadership and vision for technology in both academic and administrative areas across two- and four-year institutions. Prior to coming to the College of Staten Island, she held the position of Executive Director of Information Technology Services at Brookdale Community College and held key administrative leadership positions at Montclair State University. Her career resulted in the implementation of major technological advancements, directed activities relevant to budget planning and policy development, and led the successful implementation of distance learning initiatives. Dr. Kahn received her BS and MBA from Manhattan College, and her Ph.D. in Education from Capella University, with a concentration in Instructional Design and Online Learning.

Neal Richardson is an award-winning cybersecurity executive and proven leader with more than 20 years of experience protecting K–12, municipal, and critical infrastructure environments. Neal is nationally recognized for developing scalable security programs aligned with NIST CSF 2.0 and CIS Controls, and for advancing public-sector cyber resilience through strong governance, incident response readiness, and risk-reduction strategies. A former co-chair of the MS-ISAC K-12 Working Group and contributor to the CoSN and K12-SIX cybersecurity initiatives, Neal received the SANS Difference Maker Award for his leadership in strengthening community-level cybersecurity. He holds multiple industry certifications and continues to support organizations nationwide in identifying and mitigating cyber risk.

Rob Snyder is Director of Analytics and Special IT Projects within Information Technology & Analytics at Ithaca College, where he has worked since 2018, and from where he graduated in 1992 with a degree in Music Education. In his current role, he supports the teams that deliver analytics, reporting, college-wide ERP support, internal development, and systems integrations. Rob has appeared on EDUCAUSE panel discussions, contributed to the 2022 Horizon Report on Data and Analytics, and authored the companion EDUCAUSE implications paper for Enterprise Systems Analytics. Prior to the college, Rob led the design and development of software in the retirement industry, worked on large systems computing with IBM, and taught computer science, systems administration, and networking in the SUNY system.

Louis Tullo, M.Ed., TLIS, serves as Chief Information and Innovation Officer at Ravenscroft School, a PreK-12 independent school in Raleigh, NC, where he leads data strategy and governance, educational technology, cybersecurity, and faculty development. He oversees Ravenscroft's Innovation, Design, and Engineering department, a cross-divisional STEM program, and identifies future-focused tools and practices for use across the whole school community. Louis built Ravenscroft's data warehouse to support institution-wide decision-making, co-developed an AI literacy approach grounded in Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE) research, and teaches entrepreneurship. He serves on the TLIS Certification Council of ATLIS, which develops and maintains the credential. Louis holds a B.A. in Theatre from Boston College and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from UNC Charlotte, and begins his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at UNC Chapel Hill in fall 2026.

David Weil is Senior Vice President for Strategic Services and Initiatives at Ithaca College and regular contributor to strategic discussions around leadership and the role of IT in higher education. He has made numerous conference and webinar presentations, written a number of EDUCAUSE Review articles, and has served on taskforces and advisory groups related to enterprise IT and the use of data and analytics, including the EDUCAUSE Expert Panel on IT/IR Collaboration, EDUCAUSE Enterprise IT Working Group and the EDUCAUSE Task Force on Digital Transformation.