From Silos to Systems: Building an Integrated Academic Innovation Ecosystem

Friday, October 02, 2026 | 8:00AM–8:45AM MT
Session Type: Breakout Session
Delivery Format: Presentation
Most institutions are not struggling with a lack of innovation, but with how innovation is organized. This session explores how aligning academic innovation, instructional design, and technology teams through shared priorities, cross-functional roles, and coordinated workflows can transform siloed efforts into a connected, human-centered ecosystem that strengthens faculty and staff support, improves decision-making, and advances sustainable institutional change.

Presenters

  • Megan Adkins

    Dean, Online Education, Graduate Studies, and Academic Innovation, University of Nebraska

  • Timothy Bartling

    Executive Director, Learning Spaces, University of Nebraska

  • Frank Thiel

    Sr. Learning Designer, University of Nebraska at Kearney