2026 Actionable Insights for AI Series (Recordings)

Melissa Curry is a 27-year veteran of UF with extensive experience in talent strategy, organizational operations, and higher education human resources leadership. Prior to her current role, she served as assistant vice president for Human Resources, overseeing talent acquisition, employment operations, immigration services, equal employment opportunity compliance, classification and compensation, workforce analytics, and strategic initiatives. She also previously led recruitment and staffing efforts at UF, including major HR system implementations and executive recruitment initiatives. Curry earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and her master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Florida, and she holds the SHRM-SCP certification.

Jan serves as the alliance manager on the AWS Higher Education Business Development and Strategy Team. In this role, she is responsible for AWS’ strategy of engagement with higher education professional development and community membership organizations. Jan brings more than 25 years of experience in education technology. She has held leadership roles in consulting services, customer experience, and product management at Blackboard, Pearson, Parchment and Hobsons.

Kurt has worked in the higher education sector for 24 years as both an administrator and consultant. His work has spanned every major component of university business. As a co-leader of our Organization and Talent Strategy team, he focuses on higher education organizational effectiveness, including operating model design and workforce strategy. Kurt works with a broad range of higher education institutions to advance their core functions through organizational design, management practices, performance measurement, and leadership/culture. Kurt has presented on the future of work and the employment value proposition at NACUBO, was a featured speaker at Tambellini’s Future of Work summit on the intersection of AI and talent management, and has facilitated panel discussions at CUPA-HR related to technology and the future of HR. Kurt has led operating model and talent management projects at multiple institutions including the University of Rochester, University of Minnesota, the University of Utah, UT Health San Antonio, and the University of Wisconsin.

Aaron Epps is a technology professional with deep roots in enterprise and partner ecosystems. He spent four years at Microsoft within the Customer and Partner Solutions organization before leading new product introduction for VMware Cloud Foundation at VMware. Today, Aaron works with partners at TouchNet, driving the go-to-market strategy for AI-powered solutions that are transforming how higher education institutions engage with students, families, and communities.

Patrick Frontiera leads the IT and Campus Operations portfolio at Amazon Web Services. In this role, Patrick is responsible for ensuring that colleges and universities successfully use AWS to sustain and differentiate their institutions. Prior to his role at AWS, Patrick was the Vice President for IT and Business Services at Loyola Marymount University, where he was responsible for ensuring that technology and auxiliary services teams provided high-quality services that enabled LMU's mission. Before joining higher education, Patrick was the Director of Software Development at a start-up company in Santa Barbara and an application developer at PeopleSoft, Inc.

Kenneth C. Hall is Senior Vice President for Advancement and CEO of the Florida International University Foundation. Ken has over 25 years of experience as an advancement professional and leader. He has worked for both private and public universities including Susquehanna University, Messiah University, Bucknell University and Penn State University. In his current role with FIU, Ken oversees a staff of 124+ and is responsible for all fundraising and alumni relations activities of the university, as well as management of the university endowment and real estate portfolio, advancement marketing and communications, and policy/budgetary oversight.

Michael Halverson joined the University of Miami in January 2022 as Associate Vice President for Development Resources. The Development Resources team serves the technology, reporting, analytics, research, data, and gift management needs of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. Michael serves as a member of the Division’s executive leadership team, and partners with colleagues across the campus community in support of the institution’s mission and goals. Michael has worked in higher education fundraising for 20 years, and has extensive experience with building teams, implementing technology solutions, and enabling a culture of data-driven decision making. He came to Miami from Loyola University Chicago, where he served as the Senior Director of Advancement Services – leading a team that built a comprehensive suite of business intelligence tools designed to put actionable data at the fingertips of fundraisers. Prior to Loyola, Michael worked at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He has a bachelor’s degree in music and business from Saint John’s University, an MBA and Ed.D. from St. Cloud State University, and certificates in Project Management and Analytics from Loyola University Chicago. Michael’s academic research has focused on studying donor attitudes and behavior, and he has developed statistical models that predict gift giving. Additionally, he has worked as a professional musician for more than 25 years – playing piano for both live performances and in the recording studio.

Dr. Hampton serves as Chief Administrative Officer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Prior to joining RPI in August 2025, Dr. Hampton was an Executive Education Advisor at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he led business development efforts in academic research and worked with hundreds of institutions across the world in adopting modern cloud technologies including cloud-based AI tools in digital tranformation efforts. Dr. Hampton has held administrative roles at seven different higher education institutions and has served as a faculty member at three.

Chris Howard is a Principal Sales Engineer at Global Payments, where he brings nearly two decades of experience helping institutions understand, evaluate, and implement campus commerce and credentialing solutions. He leverages deep knowledge across the full TouchNet portfolio to answer complex questions, demonstrate product capabilities, and guide stakeholders toward solutions that align with their strategic goals. Known for his clear communication style and practical insight, Chris regularly presents at industry conferences and collaborates closely with clients to ensure their needs are fully understood and addressed. 

Throughout his 19‑year career with Global Payments and TouchNet, Chris has contributed across multiple areas of the organization, including client implementations, internal and external training, and solutions engineering. His broad perspective allows him to connect technical functionality with real‑world use cases in ways that resonate with both technical and non‑technical audiences. 

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accounting with a focus in Accounting Information Systems.

Jay James is a cybersecurity leader and educator serving as a Cybersecurity Operations Manager at Auburn University, where he leads the Security Operations Center and advances enterprise security strategy across a complex higher education environment. Jay’s experience spans security operations, governance, risk, compliance, and AI enabled security initiatives; ultimately focusing on aligning cybersecurity with institutional mission, workforce development, and long-term digital resilience. He holds the CISSP and PMP certifications, along with a Master of Science in IT Cybersecurity and a Master of Business Administration, blending technical expertise with strategic business insight. His work sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, leadership, and responsible AI adoption in higher education. He has led initiatives that modernize security operations while intentionally developing student talent pipelines, strengthening institutional defenses and preparing the next generation of cyber professionals. Jay is known for building both people and programs. He has mentored and trained hundreds of students through structured SOC experiences, internships, formal educational programs, and workforce development pathways. His leadership philosophy emphasizes accountability, empowerment, and high standards paired with intentional mentorship. He views security not only as a technical function but as a leadership responsibility shaped by culture, clarity, and continuous growth. Beyond his institutional role, Jay has developed a strong national presence in higher education cybersecurity and AI literacy. He is an award recognized leader by EDUCAUSE and ISC2 and regularly speaks at conferences on AI governance, modern SOC strategy, inclusive leadership, and workforce development. Through his work, he challenges leaders to approach risk, innovation, and talent development with both rigor and vision.

Caroline Maulana serves as the Analytics & Data Governance Director and most recently Interim Chief Data Officer at the University of South Carolina, where she leads enterprise analytics, data governance, and institutional data strategy across the university system. In this role, she oversees the design and stewardship of enterprise data platforms, chairs cross-functional governance initiatives and works closely with executive leadership to ensure data is managed as a strategic institutional asset. With more than a decade of experience at the intersection of analytics, governance, and digital transformation, Caroline specializes in building scalable data ecosystems that balance innovation with accountability. She has led large-scale analytics modernization efforts, formalized executive data governance councils, and guided organizations through complex transitions involving enterprise reporting systems, AI integration, and risk mitigation frameworks. Caroline is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s inaugural Chief Data & Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAIO) certificate program, where she deepened her expertise in AI governance, ethical data use, and responsible innovation. She is a frequent contributor to thought leadership conversations on data strategy, digital transformation, and AI in higher education.

Dr. Keith W. McIntosh is Vice President and CIO at the University of Richmond, where he has served for the past 10 years, leading technology strategy and operations to support teaching, learning, research, and institutional operations. He also co-chairs the University’s Presidential Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence (PAG-AI), guiding the university’s strategic, ethical, and operational integration of AI across academic and administrative domains. 

With more than 40 years of leadership experience, including 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, including a combat tour in Iraq, and 16 years in senior higher education roles at Ithaca College and the Pima County Community College District, he is known for cultivating inclusive, mission-aligned IT organizations and fostering a sense of belonging across campus, including founding and facilitating Intersections, a weekly cross-cultural conversation open to all students, faculty, and staff since 2017. Dr. McIntosh has contributed extensively to national higher education leadership through service on the EDUCAUSE Board of Directors (2017–2021) and the NACUBO Board of Directors (2016–2022), where he was the first CIO selected to serve. He currently serves on the NACUBO Student Success Advisory Group, the EDUCAUSE Policy Advisory Committee, and the Center for Digital Education’s Higher Education AI Council, the Leadership Board for CIO's (LBCIO), and he is a mentor for the Next Leaders Fellowship and the Leadership Lounge. His leadership has been recognized with the EDUCAUSE DEI Leadership Award, the Capital CIO of the Year® ORBIE® Award (Non-Profit Sector), the inaugural EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award, and induction into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society.

Sherri Newcomb currently serves as Executive Director of Financial Planning & Budget Analysis at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Newcomb has more than 30 years of experience as a higher education business officer, including Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Queensborough Community College, the City University of New York; Chief Financial Officer, California State University, Fullerton; Chief Data Officer, South Dakota State University and Executive Director of Financial Management & Institutional Intelligence Solutions, Sungard Higher Education. Newcomb has served on numerous technology, analytics and financial committees at the campus, system and national level.  Newcomb is a past member of the NACUBO Board of Directors and the EACUBO Board of Directors.

Sandra E. Perez is a dynamic leader in higher education, serving as the Senior Director of Academic Initiatives and Human Resources at the University of Lynchburg. As an integral member of the Academic Leadership Team, she specializes in driving institutional transformation through strategic change management and process architecture. Her career is defined by a unique ability to bridge administrative operations with academic excellence, having led high-impact initiatives such as the university-wide transition from manual to digital workflows and the comprehensive revitalization of human resources infrastructure to improve organizational agility. At the leading edge of educational technology, Sandra is a recognized voice on the integration of generative artificial intelligence within the academic landscape. She co-leads the strategic implementation of AI across pedagogy and staff efficiency, serving on the AI Initiatives Committee to shape future-ready student experiences. Her thought leadership has been featured on national stages, including keynote addresses at the Google Summit and presentations for the Educause and Google "Gemini Blueprint" series. Through these platforms, she shares practical, scalable insights on leveraging AI to create more personalized, efficient, and effective educational environments. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Lynchburg, where she graduated magna cum laude. Her commitment to leadership and consensus-building has earned her prestigious honors, including the Iva Burford Administrative Managerial Leadership Award and the Student Government Association Leadership Award. Driven by a focus on innovation and collaborative growth, Sandra is dedicated to designing elegant solutions that enhance institutional health and support the evolving needs of the modern global education sector.

Kristy Pritchett leads Student Account Services at The University of Alabama, overseeing campus-wide revenue operations and PCI compliance. She brings 15 years of experience in higher education finance and policy development and more than 25 years of overall financial experience.

Jenay Robert is a senior researcher at EDUCAUSE. Her areas of interest include the future of education and work, equitable and inclusive education and work, social and cultural influences on teaching and learning, and ethical data practices. Recently, Jenay has been interested in how the recent proliferation of AI tools is impacting higher education, especially its impacts on digital transformation. Jenay holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from The Pennsylvania State University.

Daniel Shorstein is President of James Moore Digital, leading the firm’s digital and analytics work supporting higher education and affiliated organizations. He partners with finance, advancement, and operations leaders to improve reporting, strengthen governance and controls, and redesign workflows using practical automation and data-driven methods. Daniel has also led SaaS product development for higher education athletics finance and reporting, translating complex operational requirements into scalable, auditable workflows. Previously, he worked at Deloitte, where he helped build and implement analytics and AI-enabled use cases for enterprise clients. His recent work includes partnering with university and foundation teams to evaluate generative AI opportunities with risk-based oversight focused on accuracy, confidentiality, auditability, and measurable outcomes, while prioritizing the human element as a critical component of processes involving AI. As moderator, Daniel will guide a practical, experience-based discussion and share a repeatable framework for prioritizing human-centered AI use cases and right-sizing guardrails.

Jennifer Sparrow is the Associate Vice President for Research and Instructional Technologies and Chief Academic Technology Officer at NYU. She previously worked as an Executive Education Advisor at AWS. She was formerly the Deputy CIO and Associate Vice President for Teaching and Learning Technology (TLT) at Penn State. TLT works to help PSU faculty take advantage of information technology to enrich the educational experiences of their students and to champion the creative and innovative uses of technology for teaching, learning, and research. Prior to her work at PSU, she was Senior Director of Networked Knowledge Ventures and Emerging Technologies at Virginia Tech. For more than 20 years, she has championed the use of technology to engage students in the learning process. She has a passion for working with faculty to explore new technologies and their potential implementations in teaching and learning. She loves working with faculty who are willing to push the boundaries of the leading edge of technology in teaching, learning, and research. Her teaching and research projects included examining the convergence of technologies and learning spaces to create interactive and engaged learning opportunities. Jennifer's conversations around technology focuses on increasing digital fluency for students, faculty, and life-long learners. Jennifer received her bachelor's degree from Smith College, her master's degree from Florida Gulf Coast University, and doctorate from the University of Central Florida. Jennifer is the winner of the 2013 EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award.

Afia Tasneem is a nationally recognized AI strategist and higher education transformation leader with over 15 years of experience driving enterprise innovation, operational efficiency, and business growth. As Senior Director and AI Strategy Lead in Huron's Education and Research Consulting practice, she helps higher education leaders transform AI from isolated experiments to institution-wide capabilities, aligning innovation with mission, operational priorities, and responsible use. At Huron, she has led AI strategy engagements across different types of institutions, partnering with presidents, provosts, chief AI officers, CIOs, and executive leadership to design enterprise AI strategies, governance frameworks, and implementation roadmaps. Prior to Huron, Afia served as Senior Director and Head of IT and AI Strategy Advisory Services at EAB, where she managed a portfolio of 193 CIOs and guided cross-campus initiatives in AI, digital transformation, data governance, and cybersecurity for 500+ cabinet leaders. She conceived and launched an AI Strategy Product Suite equipping leaders at 300+ institutions with the practices needed to scale AI from early pilots to institution-wide adoption. A frequent keynote speaker and executive facilitator, Afia has delivered AI plenary speeches to audiences of 200+ university presidents and led immersive workshops with 100+ CIOs. Her expertise is regularly featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed.

Lindsay K. Wayt, Ph.D., is senior director of analytics at NACUBO. She works on initiatives and programming that support NACUBO’s efforts to help colleges and universities integrate the use of analytics to achieve institutional goals. This includes collaborating with NACUBO members and key stakeholders from other organizations to propel the use of data-informed decision-making in higher education. She has experience conducting higher education research, studying topics such as the use of data and analytics in higher education, tuition discounting, and higher education leadership. Wayt completed her doctoral work focused on educational leadership and higher education.

David Weil is Senior Vice President for Strategic Services and Initiatives and Chief Information Officer at Ithaca College, where he leads IT, analytics, AI, and HR. A nationally recognized leader, he frequently speaks and writes on leadership, digital transformation, and AI. His work has been featured in programs and publications by EDUCAUSE, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and others. David is the recipient of the 2024 EDUCAUSE Leadership Award. He is passionate about leadership development and helped create the EDUCAUSE Executive Leaders Academy and the Senior Directors programs.

Since August 2023, David Woods oversees the University of Florida’s gift compliance program, leading the implementation of several new compliance programs, and educating stakeholders on donor regulation. Prior to his current role, David served as Director of Culture & Engagement at UF Advancement, where he cultivated a strong culture of recognition, drove retention of high‑potential talent, and spearheaded diversity and inclusion initiatives. His earlier experience as Claims Services Director for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company provided him with a proven track record of operational excellence, strategic project leadership, and employee development. David holds a master’s degree in Tech Entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Malone University.