Expanding Expectations, Limited Capacity: How Higher Ed Technology and Data Teams Are Adapting

Thursday, October 01, 2026 | 10:45AM–11:30AM MT | EDUCAUSE Commons, EDUCAUSE Central Theater
Session Type: Breakout Session
Delivery Format: Panel Session
What happens when institutional priorities keep evolving, but workforce capacity does not change—or even shrinks? This session will highlight new findings from the EDUCAUSE 2026 Workforce reports that examine how the higher education technology and data workforce is responding to changing institutional demands, adapting to growing resource constraints, and navigating the impact of AI in the workplace. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how changing institutional priorities are creating new workforce needs and exposing role and skill gaps, which strategies teams are using to adapt to resource constraints, and how AI is introducing both new possibilities and new challenges for already stretched teams. Attendees will leave with practical examples of how peers are adapting to constrained resources, strengthening team capacity, and responding to new institutional expectations.

Presenters

  • Kristen Gay

    Researcher, EDUCAUSE

  • Liv Gjestvang

    Vice President & CIO, Denison University

  • Jay James

    Cybersecurity Operations Manager, Auburn University

  • Nicole Muscanell

    Senior Researcher, EDUCAUSE

  • Patrick Wagman

    Associate Director, Portfolio Management Office, University of California, Riverside