Penny Evans-Plants
Chief Information Officer,
Berry College
Small College Tech Leaders Open House: Elevating IT from Support to Strategic Leadership
Thursday, October 01, 2026 | 1:00PM–1:45PM MT
Session Type:
Breakout Session
Delivery Format:
Public Meet-Up or Open House
Small college IT and technology leaders often live in two worlds at once: we’re still asked to “keep the lights on” while also being called into cabinet-level conversations about enrollment, risk, student success, and institutional resilience. This Small Colleges Community Group Open House is an informal space for CIOs, directors, managers, and aspiring leaders from small institutions to connect around that reality. Join fellow small college colleagues to share how you are elevating IT from a support function to a strategic partner on your campus: building trust with cabinet and deans, using data to tell compelling stories, experimenting with AI agents to extend capacity, and nurturing the next generation of leaders in lean environments. Co-leaders of the Small Colleges Community Group will offer brief framing remarks and facilitate table conversations on such topics as making the case for IT at the strategy table, leading change without more staff, and growing influence beyond your job title.
