AI Agents: The Challenges and Opportunities of Using Agentic AI to Advance Data Governance Efforts

Thursday, October 01, 2026 | 4:15PM–5:00PM MT
Session Type: Breakout Session
Delivery Format: Panel Session
Data governance, IT professionals, and data analytics professionals have long known that establishing a data governance program requires substantial time, sustained effort, and the capacity for continuous monitoring. At the same time, compliance requirements and the need for data to inform leadership decision-making have accelerated dramatically over the past couple of years. The gap between building a robust data governance program and the rising need for data can seem insurmountable. But what if there is a way to minimize the gap? In this panel, we delve into the current state of agentic AI, how it can be used responsibly to drive data governance efforts, the potential risks of doing so in higher education, and possible solutions.

Presenters

  • Melissa Barnett

    Founder & Principal Consultant, Limelight DataWorks, LLC

  • Ivana Fredotovic

    Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Bowling Green State University

  • Olivia Kew

    Chief Data Officer, Vanderbilt University

  • Lisa Welch

    University Data Officer and Sr. Director, Business Intelligence, Pepperdine University

  • Henry Zheng

    Vice Provost, Carnegie Mellon University