Phil Ahn
Senior Director, Data Analytics & AI,
Babson College
AI-Powered Data Transformation in Higher Education: Strategies for Innovation and Impact (separate registration is required)
Monday, March 31, 2025 | 8:30AM–4:30PM ET | Room 551 AB
Session Type:
Preconference Workshop
Delivery Format:
Additional Fee Program
This one-day workshop will immerse higher education data and technology professionals in the transformative role of AI in data management with a focus on harnessing insights to drive student success, improve operational efficiency, and inform strategic decision-making. Through expert-led presentations, hands-on sessions, and a collaborative panel discussion, participants will explore the practical applications of AI in key areas, including predictive analytics for student retention, optimized enrollment strategies, and personalized learning pathways. A keynote by Dr. Bas van Gils will kick off the day, offering a vision of AI’s future in higher education, followed by a vendor-led showcase of AI tools tailored to educational needs. This workshop is designed for higher education administrators, IT and IR professionals, faculty, and decision-makers ready to lead their institutions into a data-driven future.
Outcomes:
- Learn actionable strategies and implementation plans to integrate AI-driven data insights within your institution
- Understand how to create a holistic, student-centered experience
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Agenda (subject to change)
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Registration and Networking Breakfast
- Check-In and Welcome Refreshments
9:30 AM - 9:35 AM | Welcome
- Speaker: Becky Frieden
- Overview: Introduction to the workshop, objectives, and importance of AI in data management for higher education, logistics.
9:35 AM - 10:35 AM | Keynote Address: The Future of AI in Higher Education
- Speaker: Prof. Dr. Bas van Gils
- Overview: Exploration of how AI is transforming data management and the potential impact on the business of higher education.
10:35 AM - 10:50 AM | Break (refreshments and non-perishables available 10:30am – 11:00am)
10:50 AM - 11:50 PM | Exploring the present and future of AI-driven solutions for academic and administrative excellence in higher education
- Speaker: Alpha Ibrahim, Ph.D., VP - Data, Analytics and AI, The Tambellini Group
- Overview: AI has the potential to transform how higher education institutions collect, manage, and leverage data—but how can institutions move beyond the hype to drive real impact? This interactive session will explore practical strategies for using AI to enhance data management, analytics, and decision-making in higher education. We’ll discuss how AI-powered tools can streamline operations, improve student outcomes, and unlock new opportunities for innovation. Join us for a dynamic discussion on what’s working, what’s next, and how to prepare for the future of AI in higher ed!
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Panel Discussion: Leveraging AI for Data-Driven Decision-Making in Higher Education
- Panel Moderator: Edlira Stefani
- Panelists:
- Expert 1: Craig Rudick, HelioCampus
- Expert 2: AWS (contact – Jan Day/Dallas Maddox)
- Expert 3: Liz Hess, VP of IT and CIO, Bentley University
- Expert 4: Phil Ahn, Senior Director, Data Analytics and AI, Babson College
- Overview: A deep dive into how institutions are using AI to enhance data management, drive decision-making, and improve student outcomes.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Interactive Workshop: Implementing AI in Your Institution
- Facilitator: Bas van Gils
- Overview: Hands-on session where participants work in groups to create actionable plans for integrating AI into their institution’s data management practices.
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | AI at Microsoft
- Speaker: Josh Reynolds, Director of Modern Workplace, Higher Education East, Microsoft
- Overview: Artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education, but the key to unlocking its full potential isn’t just in the data—it’s in how we interact with it. Microsoft Copilot serves as the user interface to AI, providing natural language access to powerful insights, automating complex workflows, and enhancing productivity across faculty, staff, and students. In this session, we’ll explore how Copilot is revolutionizing data-driven decision-making in higher ed, from administrative efficiency to student engagement. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for integrating AI-powered workflows into their institutions using Microsoft’s latest innovations.
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM | Break (refreshments and snacks available 3:00pm – 3:30pm)
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM | Closing Panel: The Road Ahead for AI in Higher Education
- Panel Moderator: Becky Frieden
- Panelists:
- Expert 1: Bas van Gils, Antwerp Management School
- Expert 2: Craig Rudick, HelioCampus
- Expert 3: AWS (contact – Jan Day/Dallas Maddox)
- Expert 4: LIz Hess, CIO, Bentley University
- Expert 5: Phil Ahn, Senior Director, Data Analytics and AI, Babson College
- Overview: Final thoughts and Q&A on the future trajectory of AI in data management for higher education.
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Closing Remarks
- Speaker: Becky Frieden
- Overview: Summary of the day’s key takeaways and next steps.
Target Audience:
- Higher education administrators
- IT, IR, and data management professionals
- Faculty members interested in data analytics and AI
- Decision-makers in higher education institutions
Presenters
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Becky Frieden
Senior Director of Enterprise Applications and Decision Support Systems, New York Institute of Technology -
Alpha Hamadou Ibrahim
VP of Data, Analytics, and AI, The Tambellini Group -
Liz Hess
CIO, Bentley University -
Josh Reynolds
Modern Workplace Director, Microsoft Corporation -
Craig Rudick
Director of Product Strategy and Data Scientist, HelioCampus -
Edlira Stefani
Executive Director, Data Engineering and Operations, Bentley University -
Bas van Gils
Prof., Antwerp Management School