Wednesday, January 20, 2027 | 12:00PM–1:00PM ET | Online

Webinar | Shared Digital Leadership: Where CIO and COLO Strategy Converge

A Collaboration with UPCEA

Digital learning has become part of the core infrastructure of higher education, connecting academic programs, enterprise technology, data, student services, artificial intelligence, accessibility, cybersecurity, and the learner experience. As these systems become more interconnected, the traditional boundaries between technology strategy and digital learning strategy are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

Drawing on the UPCEA Hallmarks of Excellence in Digital Learning Enterprises, this webinar brings together CIO and digital learning leadership perspectives to examine what it takes to move from managing a collection of technologies to governing an integrated digital learning ecosystem. Rather than focusing on individual tools, panelists will explore the leadership structures, governance practices, institutional relationships, and decision-making processes needed to align technology investments with academic priorities and learner needs.

The conversation will address practical questions facing institutions today: Who owns the digital learner experience? Where should academic and technology governance intersect? How should institutions evaluate AI and other emerging technologies while managing security, privacy, accessibility, cost, and risk? And where can CIOs, COLOs, and other institutional leaders build stronger shared accountability for the digital enterprise?

By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify areas of shared responsibility among CIOs, COLOs, academic leaders, and other institutional stakeholders responsible for the digital learning ecosystem.
  • Examine governance approaches that connect technology strategy, academic priorities, learner experience, data, accessibility, security, and institutional risk.
  • Evaluate emerging technology decisions through a broader institutional lens that considers educational value, sustainability, interoperability, privacy, accessibility, and total organizational impact.
  • Recognize opportunities to reduce fragmentation across technology platforms, data systems, policies, and organizational structures.
  • Identify one practical action their institution can take to strengthen collaboration between technology and digital learning leadership.
 

Presenters

  • Asim Ali

    Executive Director, Biggio Center, Auburn University

  • Tom Cavanagh

    Vice Provost for Digital Learning, University of Central Florida

  • Ben Maddox

    Chief Information Officer, Cornell University

  • Gloria Niles

    Chief Academic Technology Innovation Officer, University of Hawaii System Office

  • Donna Petherbridge

    Vice Provost, DELTA, North Carolina State University

Accessibility

EDUCAUSE provides real-time AI captioning for all online events, in the main room and also in breakout rooms. To request any additional accommodations and/or services, please send an email to [email protected] or call (303) 449-4430 for assistance.

Virtual Event Policies and Expectations

Please review the EDUCAUSE Virtual Event Policies and Expectations for detailed information. View EDUCAUSE Virtual Event Policies and Expectations→