EDUCAUSE Rising Voices Live! Telling the Real Story of Higher Ed: Beyond Fluff, Toward What Matters

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 1:00PM–1:45PM MT | EDUCAUSE Studio, Terrace Lounge, Terrace Level
Session Type: Activity
Delivery Format: Facilitated Conversation Session
This conversation will cut through the buzzwords and crisis headlines to explore what truly matters in higher education—to the people who work and learn in it, and to the business of running it responsibly. We will surface the often-unspoken realities of institutional culture, incentives, and tradeoffs, and highlight how authentic storytelling from emerging leaders can reshape narratives about value, impact, and change in higher ed.

Presenters

  • Sarah Buszka

    Executive Director, Applied AI Lab, Waukesha County Technical College

  • Alex Jacoby

    Director of Technology Strategy, Northwestern University

  • Wes Johnson

    Executive Director Campus IT Experience, University of California, Berkeley

  • Sandeep Sidhu

    Chief Information Officer, Emily Carr University of Art & Design