BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Edge, the Nation's Nonprofit Technology Consortium - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://njedge.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Edge, the Nation's Nonprofit Technology Consortium REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T170000 DTSTAMP:20260415T164522 CREATED:20250623T205746Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T155827Z UID:10000005-1768467600-1768496400@njedge.net SUMMARY:EdgeCon Winter 2026 DESCRIPTION:Date: January 15\, 2026\nTime: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm\nCost: $49\nVenue: Princeton University\n \n View EdgeCon Winter 2026 Recap Article Here »\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Agenda \n 8:00 am – 8:30 am – Check In / Registration\n8:30 am – 9:30 am – Exhibitor Networking & Breakfast\n9:40 am – 10:20 am – Breakout Session 1\n10:30 am – 11:10 am – Breakout Session 2\n11:20 am – 12:30 pm – Keynote Panel – McDonnell Hall\, Room A02\n12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – Exhibitor Networking & Lunch\n1:40 pm – 2:20 pm – Breakout Session 3\n2:30 pm – 3:10 pm – Breakout Session 4\n3:10 pm – 4:00 pm – Coffee & Connections: Exhibitor Networking\n\n Breakout Sessions \n\n Breakout Session 1 • 9:40-10:20 am \n Expand\n Protecting Your Institution From Fraudulent Applications with Identity Verification\n Room: A10 • Jadwin Hall \nInstitutions are struggling to detect and prevent increasingly sophisticated fraud attacks in the admissions process. Thomas Edison State University will share what led to their decision to confront the problem head on\, the process to select a solution\, the implementation\, practical challenges\, and next steps.  \nAttendees will learn the major considerations for any fraud detection solution\, best practices for preparing internal and external constituents for the process\, and support considerations to ensure a successful launch.   \nPresenters: \n\nChristine Carter\, Director Graduate Admissions & Recruitment\, Enrollment Technology\, Thomas Edison State University\nJeff Butera\, Lead Analytics Consultant\, Voyatek\n\n Expand\n From Blue Jays to Bright Futures: Hatching a Podcast for Enrollment & Engagement\n Room: A06 • Jadwin Hall \nManor College launched “”The Nest\,”” a dynamic new podcast showcasing the diverse and impactful journeys of its alumni. This session will delve into the strategic development and behind-the-scenes of this storytelling initiative\, specifically designed to resonate with prospective students and foster a stronger sense of belonging among current students and alumni. \n“The Nest” transcends traditional testimonials\, offering authentic and engaging narratives that highlight the transformative power of a Manor College education. Each episode explores alumni career paths\, personal growth\, community involvement\, and the enduring impact of their Manor experience. By sharing relatable stories of success\, resilience\, and connection\, the podcast aims to: \nRecruitment: Provide prospective students with genuine insights into the value and outcomes of a Manor College education\, fostering aspirational connections with alumni role models. \nRetention: Strengthen current students’ sense of community and pride by showcasing the vibrant alumni network they will soon join\, reinforcing the long-term value of their investment. \nThis presentation will move beyond theory to offer a practical roadmap for attendees. We will cover the podcast’s conceptualization\, detailed content strategy (including identifying compelling alumni stories and tailoring them for specific audiences)\, the nuts and bolts of the production process (from recording and editing to music and branding\, leveraging campus resources and student involvement)\, and the dissemination plan (utilizing various digital platforms for maximum reach). Crucially\, we will also share key lessons learned throughout the development and initial launch phases\, including unexpected challenges and effective solutions. Preliminary outcomes and metrics related to prospective student engagement and current student feedback will also be discussed. \nAttendees will gain practical insights into: \n\nDeveloping a compelling storytelling strategy for recruitment and retention.\nIdentifying and engaging alumni as powerful advocates.\nUnderstanding the production workflow for creating an engaging podcast.\nUtilizing podcasting as an innovative and accessible communication tool.\nMeasuring the impact of storytelling initiatives on enrollment and student engagement.\nAvoiding common pitfalls and maximizing resources based on our lessons learned.\nJoin us to discover how Manor College is harnessing the power of alumni voices to inspire the next generation of Blue Jays and cultivate a lifelong connection with its students\, and gain the practical knowledge to implement a similar initiative at your institution.\n\nPresenters: \n\nKelly Peiffer\, MA\, Vice President of Marketing Communications\, Manor College\nAnthony Machcinski\, Director of Marketing\, Content and Photography\, Manor College\n\n Expand\n Why NSPs Are Not ISPs: Architecture\, Intent\, and Outcomes\n Room: A08 • Jadwin Hall \nNetwork Service Providers (NSPs) and commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may appear similar on the surface\, but they are fundamentally different in how they are designed\, governed\, and evaluated. \nThis session explores those differences through the perspective of an industry practitioner who has spent years designing\, operating\, and stabilizing large-scale enterprise networks\, and who has worked alongside research and education networks as a customer\, partner\, and collaborator. Drawing on that experience\, the session examines how NSPs like EdgeNet are purpose-built to support teaching\, research\, healthcare\, and public mission in ways that traditional ISPs and commercial networks are not. \nParticipants will gain insight into how NSP architectures prioritize resilience\, predictability\, scalability\, and long-term institutional outcomes\, and how high-capacity fiber backbones\, optical transport\, and packet-based services enable advanced research workflows and large-scale data movement. The session highlights why these design choices matter from an operational and strategic standpoint\, and why understanding the distinction between NSPs and ISPs leads to better decisions about campus connectivity\, digital strategy\, and future-ready infrastructure. \nPresenter: \n\nChristopher Henderson\, Senior Network Engineer\n\n\n Breakout Session 2 • 10:30-11:10 am \n Expand\n Implementing AI in Higher Education – A Roundtable\n Room: A10 • Jadwin Hall \nArtificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how Higher Education conducts business and educates their students. AI is reshaping teaching\, learning\, and administration in every size college and university. Institutions are leveraging AI to personalize instruction\, enhance student engagement\, and streamline assessment through adaptive learning platforms and intelligent tutoring systems. Faculty can benefit from AI‑driven analytics that identify learning gaps with their students. AI can also support evidence‑based pedagogy\, while administrators are able to employ predictive models to improve retention and optimize resource allocation. This panel will explore current applications\, challenges\, and future directions\, highlighting how AI is redefining the educational landscape and preparing students for an increasingly agentic digital world. \nParticipants: \n\nJohn Bruggeman\, Consulting CISO\, CBTS\nChris Treib\, CIO\, Geneva College\nMoe Rahman\, Associate Vice President / CIO\, Community College of Philadelphia\nPatricia Clay\, MBA\, Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer\, Hudson County Community College\n\n Expand\n Accessibility Is Everyone’s Business: Collaboration Across Operations\, PR\, and Student Services\n Room: A09 • Jadwin Hall \nAs institutions increasingly rely on digital technologies across the student lifecycle\, accessibility has become a critical component of sustainable\, resilient operations. This session examines accessibility as a strategic\, cross-functional responsibility-one that intersects with institutional technology decisions\, operational processes\, and student-facing systems well beyond the classroom. \nThe presentation explores how business and operations\, public relations\, and student services contribute to accessible digital ecosystems through technology adoption\, workflow design\, and communication practices. Rather than framing accessibility solely as regulatory compliance\, the session connects it to institutional strategy\, risk management\, data-informed decision-making\, and student success. \nThrough practical examples\, attendees will see how accessible technologies and processes-such as inclusive procurement practices\, accessible digital communications\, and student service platforms-strengthen operational efficiency\, enhance the student experience\, and support long-term institutional resilience. Participants will leave with a collaborative framework and actionable insights for embedding accessibility into technology-driven initiatives across their own departments. \nPresenter: \n\nLaura M. Romeo\, Ph.D.\, Director of Digital Learning Innovation\, Scholarship\, and Educational Services\, Edge\n\n Expand\n The Banana Ball Playbook: Five Rules for Reimagining the Student Experience\n Room: A06 • Jadwin Hall \nThe Savannah Bananas became a viral sensation by breaking baseball’s sacred rules with one philosophy: Fans First. Entertain Always. What if higher education took the same approach? This session uses the “Banana Ball” framework to explore five rules for student-centered transformation-from eliminating the “bunting” of expensive textbooks to using AI for engagement\, feedback\, and personalized learning experiences that keep students in the game. Come ready to debate which sacred cows need to go\, and which rule feels like dynamite to your system. \nPresenter: \n\nMark Green\, EdD\, Vice President Institutional Effectiveness\, Technology\, and Innovation\, Holy Family University\n\n Expand\n Rapid Value Creation: Applying Private-Equity Cost Discipline to Institutional Operations\n Room: A08 • Jadwin Hall \nWhat would happen if institutions approached cost savings the way private equity firms do-focused\, data-driven\, and execution-oriented? \nThis session introduces a PE-inspired “rapid value creation” framework that institutions can apply immediately\, using procurement as the primary lever for near-term savings. Topics include establishing spend transparency\, identifying quick-win opportunities\, aligning incentives\, simplifying approval workflows\, and using data analytics and AI to surface inefficiencies and prioritize actions. \nThe presentation will also address common cultural and governance challenges unique to higher education and mission-driven organizations\, offering strategies to implement change without disrupting academic or student-facing priorities. Attendees will walk away with a clear roadmap for launching a cost-savings initiative that produces results within months\, not years.” \nPresenter: \n\nSeth Koos\, Director\, Procurement Services & Contract Compliance\, Western Connecticut State University\n\n\n Keynote Panel • 11:20-12:30 pm \n From Spend to Strategy: How Institutions and Tech Partners Deliver Measurable Value in Higher Ed\nAs financial pressure\, accountability\, and complexity increase across higher education\, institutions are reexamining what “value” truly means from their technology partnerships and investments. Today\, success is no longer defined by deployment alone\, but by outcomes\, whether in student experience\, operational capacity\, risk reduction\, or long-term institutional resilience.\nThis panel brings together organizational leaders and technology partners to explore how value is created or lost across the technology lifecycle\, from procurement and implementation\, to adoption and optimization. The discussion will examine how expectations around ROI have evolved\, what boards and senior leaders look for when assessing technology investments\, and how institutional teams and vendors share responsibility for delivering measurable results.\nDesigned for both executives and practitioners\, this discussion will also explore the organizational and cultural factors that shape outcomes and practical ways front-line managers and staff can influence success.\n\n Breakout Session 3 • 1:40 – 2:20 pm \n Expand\n Advancing Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Education and Learning Outcomes\n Room: A10 • Jadwin Hall \nArtificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping every major sector of the U.S. economy\, creating an urgent national need for educational institutions to equip learners with the skills required to thrive and to lead in an AI-driven world. AI-related careers are among the fastest-growing and highest-demand fields\, yet employers report persistent shortages of workers with AI competencies. Strengthening institutional ability to deliver AI-focused programs\, hands-on learning opportunities\, and pathways into high-growth technology careers is essential for maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness\, supporting national security\, and ensuring that all learners can fully participate in and shape the future of an increasingly AI-enabled society. \nIn this session\, the speaker introduces a new agentic AI application iNavigator\, a student advising and support system.  This project was developed to provide students with 24/7 advising and support. It uses Vertex-AI in the Google Genimi models to create agents that provide local (departmental) resources that would otherwise not be possible on generative AI models such as ChatGPT/OpenAI. \nAttendees learn how to develop and apply agentic AI models to their instructions and how to use a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipeline to build a Small Language Model (SLM) that addresses the need for a department\, school\, or university. The application can also extend its use to corporations and organizations as an internal AI system. The code will be available at GitHub for free access to all.  \nPresenter: \n\nPaul Wang\, Director\, Chair\, and Professor\, Morgan State University\n\n Expand\n WHY Before HOW: Aligning Strategic Initiatives to What Actually Matters\n Room: A09 • Jadwin Hall \nOrganizations across higher education are continually launching complex\, high-stakes initiatives-from AI and digital platforms to partnerships\, mergers\, shared services\, and new academic or workforce offerings. While these initiatives are often well-intentioned and strategically justified\, many fall short of expectations-not because of poor execution\, but because leadership teams were never fully aligned on why the initiative mattered or how success would be defined. \nThis session introduces Business Value Story™\, an emerging strategy-to-execution alignment approach designed to help organizations define and quantify the business value an initiative must deliver before determining how it will be implemented. Rather than starting with solutions\, structures\, or technologies\, Business Value Story establishes a shared language of business value\, translates strategy into specific and measurable business outcomes\, and aligns cross-functional leaders around a common definition of success. \nUsing real-world scenarios from higher education-including early collaborative work around transformative initiatives-this session will explore how institutions can reduce misalignment\, improve decision-making\, and accelerate execution across both technical and non-technical strategic efforts. Participants are invited to engage in the conversation\, offer feedback\, and help shape how this work evolves in partnership with Edge. \nPresenter: \n\nDan Miller\, AVP EdgeMarket and Solution Strategy\, Edge\n\n Expand\n Ask the Course Catalog: Building a Grounded\, Hallucination-Free AI for Course Discovery\n Room: A06 • Jadwin Hall \nThis session showcases Section Tally AI\, a conversational agent that enables students\, faculty\, and advisors to search the course catalog\, explore schedules\, and analyze course enrollment data using natural language. Developed at Rowan University through collaboration between Office of institutional Research & Analytics and Information Resources & Technology\, the system demonstrates how AI can deliver fast\, consistent answers from complex course schedule and catalog data without hallucinations. \nAttendees will learn how student information system data was modeled into a star schema\, combining course catalog details\, section schedules\, enrollment counts\, capacity\, and instructor metadata into a unified semantic layer. This preparation allows the agent to reliably answer both lookup questions (for example\, “Which sections of college composition 1 are still open?”) and aggregate questions (such as “How many courses are full this term in CS department?”). \nThe session will explain how the AI layer was designed to remain grounded in data using few-shot prompting\, curated examples\, and controlled query patterns that guide the model toward consistent interpretations and results. Instead of relying on open-ended text generation\, the agent translates questions into structured\, rule-aligned queries\, ensuring answers are repeatable and aligned with institutional definitions. \nParticipants will also learn practical techniques for hallucination prevention\, including prompt design strategies\, reference question libraries\, and validation checks that prevent the system from hallucination. The session concludes with lessons learned\, adoption strategies\, and guidance for institutions seeking to move beyond static catalogs and dashboards toward reliable\, AI-powered course discovery. \nThis session is ideal for institutional research teams\, advising leaders\, academic administrators\, and campus technology teams looking to operationalize AI on structured course catalog data safely\, at scale\, and with confidence. \nPresenters: \n\nBharathwaj Vijayakumar\, AVP Institutional Data & Analytics\, Rowan University\nJaress Loo\, Director\, Software Development\, Rowan University\n\n Expand\n Cybersecurity Awareness: A Refresher and Best-Practices for Non-Security Personnel\n Room: A08\, Jadwin Hall \nCyber risk is no longer confined to IT-faculty\, staff\, and student-facing offices are routinely targeted by phishing\, fraud\, account takeover attempts\, and increasingly convincing AI-enabled deception. This interactive refresher is designed for non-cybersecurity personnel and provides practical\, university-relevant guidance that participants can apply immediately at work and at home. This session surveys today’s most common threat patterns and simple habits that prevent most incidents. Topics include spotting phishing and strengthening email security; online safety tips for parents and families; recognizing common scams such as elder fraud\, fake job offers\, toll and billing scams\, and impersonation schemes; detecting AI-generated content and deepfakes; and everyday protective tools such as password managers\, VPNs\, and ad blockers. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the evolving risk landscape tied to digital citizenship\, plus actionable checklists\, reporting pathways\, and a shared baseline of security behaviors that reduce risk across the university community. \nPresenter: \n\nDemetrios Roubos\, Ed.D.\, M.S.\, CISSP\, Information Security Officer\, Stockton University\n\n\n Breakout Session 4 • 2:30 – 3:10 pm \n Expand\n VRM AI‑Driven Compliance Playbooks: Scaling Vendor Risk Reviews with Human-in-the-Loop Assurance\n Room: A10 • Jadwin Hall \nRowan University faced a sudden operational challenge: 75% of our VRM student analysts accepted internships or an eight-month Co-op with Lockheed Martin\, leaving limited daytime availability and only late-night windows for contribution. This gap inspired the creation of the VRM AI‑Driven Compliance Program\, a transformative approach to vendor risk management that blends governance rigor with artificial intelligence. \nAt the heart of this solution is the VRM Unified Compliance Repository\, a dynamic catalog of regulations\, policies\, standards\, procedures\, and executive directives. Using AI\, we take ServiceNow ticket data and compare it against this repository to instantly generate a customized Due-Diligence Intelligence Playbook for each Get Technology request. At the top of each playbook is the initial inherent risk assessment\, which sets the tone for how the review should proceed. Following that\, the playbook provides step-by-step guidance for both student analysts and senior security managers\, ensuring consistency\, reducing oversight risk\, and surfacing nuanced requirements often missed in manual workflows. \nThis innovation enables analysts to work asynchronously at night without supervision\, while senior managers can quickly validate and quality-control outputs-turning what was once a bottleneck into a streamlined\, repeatable process. Beyond solving an immediate staffing challenge\, this approach sets a new standard for scalable\, governance-driven VRM operations. \nDeveloped through a unique collaboration between ISO and EA within IRT\, this will be the first live process in the OutSystems platform\, with a go-live targeted by month’s end-a milestone for both teams. Attendees will learn how Rowan leveraged AI to maintain resilience\, improve accuracy\, and create a model that other institutions can adapt for their own risk management programs. \nPresenters: \n\nLou Belsito\, Manager\, Information Security Risk Management\, Rowan University\nMahmudul Siddiquee\, Enterprise Application Architect\, Software Development\, Rowan University\n\n Expand\n From Insight to Impact: How Business Intelligence Transforms Student Success\n Room: A09 • Jadwin Hall \nWhat happens when data stops being just numbers and becomes the catalyst for cultural transformation? This session explores a successful data-driven evolution within an academic division of a major urban\, minority-serving community college. Confronted with significant demographic shifts\, the institution leveraged data transparency and data literacy to drive measurable improvements in enrollment and retention. We will demonstrate how sustainable cultural change is achievable through a holistic strategy anchored in faculty empowerment\, robust interdepartmental collaboration\, student-centric practices\, and a strong culture of accountability-all focused on improving student outcomes. \nBuilding on the high-level architecture and strategic deployment methods presented at EdgeCon Autumn 2025\, this session offers a real-world use case showcasing the tangible impact of business intelligence solutions on student success. The Dean of Math Science & Health Careers and the Associate Vice President of Information Technology will jointly present the landscape\, benefits\, challenges\, and methods from their respective perspectives\, highlighting alignment and intersections between academic and technology strategies. \nPresenters: \n\nMoe Rahman\, Associate Vice President / CIO\, Community College of Philadelphia\nVishal Shah\, Dean\, Math Science & Health Careers\, Community College of Philadelphia\n\n Expand\n The AI Explainability Problem: Why Transparency Is Harder Than You Think\n Room: A06 • Jadwin Hall \nAs higher education institutions adopt AI for financial aid decisions\, scholarship allocation\, admissions\, and advising\, a critical question emerges: Can anyone actually explain how these black box systems make decisions? Students\, administrators\, and even those implementing these tools are often unable to fully explain the outputs. \nThis presentation examines the explainability problem head-on. Drawing from systematic analysis of over 5\,500 academic articles\, I’ll share the emerging consensus: 71% of scholarship frames explainability as an enabler of AI adoption\, not a barrier. Yet despite this consensus\, how to achieve transparency remains an open question. \nThe heart of the session is a plain-language walkthrough of current explainability tools. What do SHAP and LIME actually produce? How are emerging approaches like blockchain audit trails being explored? Here’s the Alice in Wonderland problem: explainability models themselves require explanation. I’ll show why “explainable AI” often just shifts the complexity rather than resolving it. \nAttendees will leave with a realistic understanding of the explainability landscape-what these tools can and can’t do\, what questions to ask vendors\, and why this remains an unsolved problem with real consequences for students. \nPresenter: \n\nErica Attoe\, Graduate Fellow\, Schaefer Center for Public Policy\, University of Baltimore\n\n Expand\n Success by Design: Transforming Academic Operations at MCCC\n Room: A08 • Jadwin Hall \nAs colleges navigate increasing complexity in scheduling\, curriculum management\, and student support\, building an integrated Academic Operations structure has become essential. This session explores how Mercer County Community College strategically combined multiple administrative and academic support units into one cohesive Academic Operations department centered on student success. Attendees will learn how the team leveraged Coursedog to streamline scheduling\, improve data accuracy\, and enhance cross-departmental collaboration\, ultimately reducing barriers for students. The presentation will highlight the development of a unified mission rooted in access\, efficiency\, and student-centered decision-making\, as well as the cultural and structural shifts required to bring diverse units together under a shared purpose. Participants will leave with practical strategies and insights for designing an Academic Operations model that strengthens institutional effectiveness and meaningfully supports student success. \nPresenters: \n\nAdelina Marini\, Assistant Director of Academic Operations\, Mercer County Community College\nDr. James H. Whitney III \, Associate Provost\, Mercer County Community College\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n VIP Sponsors \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n Exhibitor Sponsors \n \n Abnormal \n \n Anthology \n \n Blackboard \n \n CBTS \n \n Checkpoint \n \n Coursedog \n \n datto – Vancord \n \n eplus \n \n Form Assembly \n \n Ivy Ocelot Gravyty \n \n NetApp \n \n Nokia \n \n Paloalto \n \n PKA \n \n Purestorage \n \n Ring Central \n \n Sailpoint \n \n SHI \n \n Softdocs \n \n Velocity Tech \n \n Voyatek \n \n Watermark \n\n Lanyard Sponsor URL:https://njedge.net/event/edgecon-winter-2026/ LOCATION:Princeton University CATEGORIES:Community ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CollageEmail-WebHeaders-Winter2026.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250109T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250109T170000 DTSTAMP:20260415T164522 CREATED:20250625T174127Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T201552Z UID:10000006-1736409600-1736442000@njedge.net SUMMARY:EdgeCon Winter 2025 DESCRIPTION:EdgeCon Winter 2025\nDate: January 9\, 2025\nTime: 9 am – 5 pm\nAttendee Ticket: $49\n\nNon-sponsoring Vendor Ticket: $250 \nEvent Location:\nPrinceton University\nParking & Directions\n\nEdgeCon is taking place in the Frick Chemistry Building and Jadwin & McDonnell Halls at Princeton University. The included hyperlink provides a Google Maps location to navigate to campus.\nParking will be available in the Stadium Drive Garage on the Princeton Campus.\nThe conference host buildings are a short walk from the Stadium Drive Garage. You can find directions from the garage to the conference location on Princeton’s interactive campus map here.\n\nEdgeCon will provide a wealth of opportunities for networking and professional development\, engaging in a marketplace of ideas\, and community building.\nThis year’s conference will consider the growing impact of technology across the institution and throughout the student lifecycle. You’ll experience insightful\, inspiring content which will invite you to reimagine ways that technologies like data analytics\, AI\, and more can come together with strategy to transform the way our institutions operate\, enhance the educational experience\, and bring greater long-term resiliency to the institution as a whole.\nOur premier event returns to the campus of Princeton University\, featuring general sessions and panels\, breakout sessions\, a variety of exhibitors\, and more. Recent EdgeCons have sold out for attendees and sponsors\, so sign up early and get ready to connect with the Edge community again this Winter!\n \n Read the Event Recap\n \n Agenda\n8:00-8:30 AM- Check In / Registration\n8:30-9:30 AM- Exhibitor Networking & Breakfast\n9:40-10:20 AM- Breakout Session 1\n10:30-11:10 AM – Breakout Session 2\n11:20 AM-12:30 PM – Keynote Panel\n12:30-1:30 PM – Exhibitor Networking & Lunch\n1:40-2:20 PM- Breakout Session 3\n2:30-3:10 PM – Breakout Session 4\n3:10-4:00 PM – Coffee & Connections: Exhibitor Networking\n\n Breakout Sessions \n\n 9:40-10:20 – Breakout Session 1 \n Expand\n Transforming Communication: The Zoom Phone Project at Stevens Institute of Technology\n Jadwin Hall\, A07 \nJoin us for an insightful session on the successful implementation of the Zoom Phone project at Stevens Institute of Technology. This initiative aimed to modernize the campus communication infrastructure by transitioning from traditional phone systems to the innovative Zoom Phone service. The project involved meticulous planning\, procurement\, and deployment phases\, ensuring a seamless transition for all departments. \nWe will delve into the change management strategies employed to facilitate this significant shift\, including comprehensive user training\, stakeholder engagement\, and continuous support. The project management efforts were pivotal in coordinating the migration of facilities phones\, decommissioning outdated systems\, and ensuring compliance with new regulations such as the Ray Baum Act and Kari’s Law. \nDiscover how the collaborative efforts of the IT team with institutional stakeholders led to the project’s success. We will share key insights\, challenges faced\, and the remarkable outcomes achieved\, including enhanced remote work capabilities\, improved emergency calling services\, and significant cost savings. \nThis session will provide valuable lessons for institutions looking to upgrade their communication systems and navigate the complexities of large-scale IT projects. \nPresenters: \n\nMaryam Mirza\, Senior Director for IT\, Client Experience and Strategic Initiatives\, Stevens Institute of Technology\nHammad Ali\, Senior Director of Infrastructure Services\, Stevens Institute of Technology\nLuis Quispe\, Associate Director of Networking and Telecom Engineering\, Stevens Institute of Technology\n\n Expand\n Phase Shift in HigherEd Computing: Navigating the Liminal Space Between Past and Future\n Jadwin Hall\, A08 \nHigher education technology is undergoing a pivotal phase shift\, navigating the liminal space between the past and the future. Institutions face a stark choice: retreat into the stability of legacy systems or embrace the transformative potential of emerging technologies. This presentation explores the dichotomy between these paradigms\, contrasting the structured\, productivity-focused past-characterized by databases\, deterministic algorithms\, and tools like the Microsoft Office Suite-with the unstructured\, human-centered future\, defined by AI\, cloud computing\, Python\, and automation. \nGrounded in Per Bak’s theory of self-organized criticality and Pierre Lévy’s phases of human development\, the discussion highlights how small technological shifts can catalyze systemic transformation. It emphasizes the transition from structured data to unstructured intelligence\, from repetition to adaptive machine learning\, and from quantity-driven productivity to quality-focused collaboration between humans and AI. \nThe session challenges institutions to confront the “no middle” reality: clinging to legacy systems limits innovation\, while adopting future-focused technologies enables resilience\, adaptability\, and intelligence augmentation. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the critical decisions shaping HigherEd computing and strategies to position their campuses as leaders in this transformative era. \nPresenter: \n\nRobert Clougherty\, CIO\, Drew University\n\n Expand\n Data-Assisted Advising: Delivering Digital Products for Advancing Postsecondary Student Success\n Jadwin Hall\, A09 \nAcross the US\, students are taking more time to finish their degree programs\, or are dropping out before completion\, leading to low graduation rates and long-term financial burdens. Advisors are key to ensuring individual student belonging and increasing student success outcomes\, but with caseloads of 350 students or more\, they can miss out on important information about their students. Getting the right analytics into advisors’ hands allows them to reach students who may be facing obstacles in completing their degree as soon as needs for support emerge. \nIn this session\, DataKind will share their approach to working with institutions across the country to tackle this problem by leveraging machine learning and AI to identify which students are most in need of support and why. DataKind is building a nationwide cohort of institutions leveraging this data-assisted advising product through a philanthropy funded engagement with support from Google.org. By using predictive models trained on an institution’s unique data\, the institutions that DataKind works with are able to equip advising staff with the analytics they need to provide students with the correct resources and level of support to enable student success in degree completion and beyond. \nThe presentation will cover lessons learned in both predictive model development and implementation in the field\, best practices for preparing your institution’s data for engagement\, how DataKind approaches product scaling\, and ways for institutions to get involved in this work. \nPresenter: \n\nDr. John Harnisher\, Head of Education Initiatives\, DataKind\n\n Expand\n AI\, Education\, and Industry: Bridging the Gap for the Future & Current Workforce\n Jadwin Hall\, A10 \nWhether you use AI regularly or are just starting to learn about it\, AI is not going anywhere. As artificial intelligence continues to revolutionize various sectors\, its impact on education and industry becomes increasingly significant. This panel discussion aims to explore the intersection of AI\, education\, and industry\, focusing on what industry wants\, what students are learning formally and on their own\, and what the implications for future careers-and the respective training needed for them-are. We will delve into how Career and Technical Education (CTE)\, creative industries\, and academia are adapting to these technological changes and preparing learners for the evolving workforce. \nPanelists include 1st Street Partnerships Co-Founder and AI strategist Monk Inyang; the tech visionary\, speaker\, and author Rachael Mann; and a current New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) student or graduate. We will entertain questions after asking our panelists how they see AI being used in formal and informal educational settings at various levels\, which tools they think are most useful for different populations\, and what skills they think are necessary to flourish in this rapidly changing economy and workforce. What do these trends and considerations all mean for you whether you’re a student\, a working professional\, or an educator? A team member from the Learning and Development Initiative at NJIT/New Jersey Innovation Institute will moderate and facilitate audience questions and discussion. \nParticipants: \n\nStefanie Toye\, Project Manager\, The Learning & Development Initiative\, New Jersey Institute of Technology\nRachael Mann\, Keynote Speaker | TEDx Speaker | AI in CTE Strategist | Author of Pack Your Bags for an AI-Driven-Future\, The Martians in Your Classroom\, The CTSO Competition Companion | 2022 Top 30 Global Gurus\nMonk Inyang\, Co-Founder\, 1st Street Partnerships\n\n Expand\n Business Process Management in Higher Education\n McDonnell Hall\, A01 \nBusiness Process Management (BPM) is transforming higher education by enhancing efficiency\, reducing redundancies\, and aligning institutional operations with strategic goals. This session will explore how BPM streamlines workflows across the higher education enterprise while supporting cost savings and operational agility. Learn how BPM empowers institutions to adapt to evolving challenges\, such as technological advancements and regulatory requirements\, while maintaining a strategic focus. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging BPM for improved outcomes and sustainable institutional success in a rapidly changing landscape. \nPresenter: \n\nStephanie Thomas\, Business Process Architect\, Edge\n\n\n 10:30-11:10 – Breakout Session 2 \n Expand\n Building Scalable Mentorship Programs for Lifelong Success: Driving Retention\, Graduation Rates\, and Alumni Engagement\n Jadwin Hall\, A07 \nEffective mentorship programs are essential to career access and can significantly impact key institutional outcomes such as retention\, graduation rates\, and alumni engagement. In this session\, we will explore how higher education institutions can build scalable mentorship programs that drive both immediate and long-term success. \nThe presentation will dive into strategies for matching mentors and mentees using PeopleGrove’s AI-powered technology\, which streamlines the mentorship process by intelligently connecting individuals based on a variety of criteria\, including industry\, identity\, academic background\, personal interests\, and career aspirations. By leveraging these multi-dimensional similarity points\, PeopleGrove’s platform ensures more meaningful and relevant mentorship experiences\, fostering deeper relationships that drive student and alumni satisfaction. \nFurthermore\, PeopleGrove offers robust data collection and analysis tools that provide institutions with real-time insights into mentorship effectiveness. These data-driven reports track key metrics such as student engagement in mentorship activities\, retention rates\, and career progression\, offering a clear view of first-destination outcomes. Institutions can also measure the long-term impact of mentorship on alumni engagement and giving\, making it easier to demonstrate a return on investment to leadership and stakeholders. By offering this comprehensive visibility\, PeopleGrove empowers institutions to continuously optimize their mentorship programs\, ensuring that they not only meet student needs but also align with institutional goals such as increasing alumni giving and building a lifelong culture of philanthropy. \nIn this session\, attendees will gain actionable insights on how to build mentorship programs that are scalable\, data-driven\, and impactful. By exploring case studies and best practices from peer universities\, attendees will learn how to maximize engagement\, enhance student outcomes\, and foster long-lasting relationships that benefit both students and alumni throughout their careers. \nPresenters: \n\nAshley Scales\, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement\, Stevens Institute of Technology\nNicole Stewart\, SVP\, Campus Partnerships\, PeopleGrove\n\n Expand\n Navigating AI in Cyber Security and Network Operations\n Jadwin Hall\, A08 \nJoin John Bruggeman\, Consulting CISO\, for an insightful session exploring the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in cybersecurity and network operations. Delve into the risks and rewards of deploying AI in security frameworks and discover how AI-driven operations are enhancing network efficiency and end-user experiences. Additionally\, hear from Chris Treib of Geneva College as he shares his journey implementing AI Operations in a real-world educational setting\, providing students with valuable hands-on experience and future-ready skillsets. This session is a must for anyone looking to understand the transformative impact of AI on the cybersecurity landscape. \nPresenters: \n\nJohn Bruggeman\, CISO\, CBTS\nKirk Rooney\, Solutions Architect\, CBTS\nChris Treib\, CIO\, Geneva College\n\n Expand\n The Digital and Data-Driven Center for Teaching and Learning\n Jadwin Hall\, A09 \nThis session will explore best practices for using communication technology\, digital content and marketing platforms\, artificial intelligence\, and collected data to create a sustainable Center for Teaching and Learning model. The model will empower CTLs to support faculty in their academic success. \nPresenter: \n\nJohn Baldino\, OFS\, Director\, Center for Teaching and Learning\, Lackawanna College\n\n Expand\n NextGen: The Role of Technology in Achieving Equity\n Jadwin Hall\, A10 \nThis session will explore how Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System\, the fourth largest system in the nation\, will deploy a commercial modern technology solution systemwide in response to obsolete technology in its legacy system; a desire to have a more robust and relevant technology ecosystem supporting student success; an increased importance of educational equity and student access; and a need to provide equitable access to data and data democratization. \nMinnesota State’s NextGen Project will link all of its 26 Colleges\, 7 Universities and 54 campuses through a unified administrative technology system that will improve the student experience and streamlines enterprise-wide business processes in the student support and services divisions. \nPresenters: \n\nSatasha Green-Stephen \, Senior Vice Chancellor\, Academic and Student Affairs\, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System\nJacquelyn Bailey\, Vice Chancellor of Information Technology & CIO\, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities\n\n\n 1:40-2:20 – Breakout Session 3 \n Expand\n Processes\, Partnerships\, and Services to Improve Performance and Security Monitoring\n Jadwin Hall\, A07 \nThis session will outline a model to provide performance\, availability\, reliability and security monitoring services for services around the University to improve IT services.  We partner with many departments to have visibility across the University to find impacts and improvements across services.  We also embed monitoring practices and procedures in project\, incident and change management to provide: \n\nAvailability reporting for cloud services to ensure SLAs are being met\nRoot cause analysis for incidents\nPerformance reporting for services before and after major changes\n\nPresenter: \n\nJoseph Karam\, Director\, Enterprise Monitoring Services\, Princeton University\n\n Expand\n Upskilling and Reskilling in the Age of AI\n Jadwin Hall\, A08 \nIn an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries\, the key to maintaining a competitive edge lies not only in adopting AI technologies but also in embracing a mindset focused on continuous learning and adaptability. This workshop introduces the AI Upskilling Taxonomy that emphasizes the importance of reskilling the workforce with a focus on essential skills\, such as problem-solving\, collaboration\, and resilience\, in addition to just technical expertise. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the need to shift from mere AI adoption to fostering a growth mindset that encourages personal and professional development. The true value lies in developing the capacity to learn\, unlearn\, and relearn in a constantly evolving technological landscape. Individuals and organizations that prioritize lifelong learning and proactive upskilling can navigate the uncertainties of AI integration more effectively. This holistic approach empowers employees to not only keep up with technological advancements but also to use AI as a tool to augment their own capabilities. As a result\, fostering a culture of continuous improvement will be crucial in preparing New Jersey’s workforce for the future. \nPresenter: \n\nMichael Edmondson\, Associate Provost\, New Jersey Institute of Technology\n\n Expand\n Leveraging Data Visualization for Institutional Effectiveness\n Jadwin Hall\, A09 \nIn today’s data-driven world\, higher education institutions face the challenge of harnessing the power of data to enhance their effectiveness. Through the inception of the Division of Strategic Analytics and Data Illumination\, Kean University has empowered its community to access\, analyze\, and utilize data to support decision-making and foster innovation. This presentation explores the pivotal role of data visualization for driving institutional effectiveness\, offering insight into how visual representation of data can drive informed and streamline decision-making. Through our historical and real-time student data\, attendees will gain the highlights of how Kean is utilizing data visualization in transforming datasets into actionable insights and fostering the data-driven culture across the institution. By leveraging data visualization strategies\, institutions can make more informed decisions\, gain deeper insights\, and achieve their goals with greater efficiency and impact. \nPresenters: \n\nNeva Lozada\, Associate Vice President of Administration\, Kean University\nMichael Salvatore\, Senior Vice President of Administration\, Kean University\n\n Expand\n AI and Machine Learning: Powering Intelligent Solutions for Higher Education\n Jadwin Hall\, A10 \nThis session will delve into the latest study conducted by Workday\, which examines the state of AI in the enterprise\, including the benefits\, challenges\, and opportunities perceived by business & educational leaders. The study reveals that 93% of organizational leaders emphasize the importance of human involvement in AI decision-making processes. While 80% agree that AI and ML improve employee efficiency and decision-making\, concerns persist regarding the reliability of underlying data (77%) and ethical application (29%). \nObjectives: \nThe session will explore how AI and ML can support the automation of talent acquisition\, streamline employee onboarding\, and facilitate data-driven workforce planning. Participants will discover how AI-powered analytics provide valuable insights empowering campus leaders to make informed decisions and drive institutional growth. \nJoin us to discover how AI and ML are transforming institutional functions and explore the immense potential these technologies hold for institutions striving to enhance productivity\, drive innovation\, and unlock new insights on their faculty\, staff and students. Gain valuable insights\, engage in thought-provoking discussions\, and explore the future of intelligent higher-ed  solutions. \nPresenter: \n\n 2:30-3:10 – Breakout Session 4 \n Expand\n AI-Driven Solutions for Enhancing Technology Operations and Resource Utilization in Academic Institutions\n Jadwin Hall\, A07 \nThis session aims to present innovative AI-driven solutions designed to enhance technology operations and optimize resource utilization in academic institutions. The focus will be on two conceptual solutions. \nSolution One is tailored for academic institution users\, including students\, faculty\, and administrative staff\, to overcome decision-making difficulties and resource constraints by utilizing existing technology. It features requirement analysis\, a recommendation system for optimal technology platforms\, resource optimization\, system comparisons\, user training\, and advanced research tools. The benefits include cost savings\, improved efficiency\, better decision-making\, increased research productivity\, enhanced collaboration\, and time savings. \nSolution Two\, on the other hand\, is designed to assist technical teams in developing custom solutions\, creating architecture designs\, and considering additional aspects based on customer requirements. This will aid project management teams in gaining diverse perspectives and innovative ideas. \nBy implementing these AI-driven solutions\, academic institutions can significantly enhance their operational efficiency and resource utilization\, ultimately leading to a better educational experience for all stakeholders. \nPresenter: \n\nMahmudul Siddiquee\, Enterprise Application Architect\, Rowan University\n\n Expand\n The Role of Zero Trust Architecture in Modern Technology & Security Strategy\n Jadwin Hall\, A08 \nIn today’s world of remote work\, cloud computing\, and relentless cyber threats\, traditional security models are no longer enough. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is the modern approach to securing your organization by adopting a “never trust\, always verify” mindset. \nJoin us for this panel discussion where we’ll demystify Zero Trust\, explore its core principles\, and provide actionable strategies to transform your security posture. \nWhether you’re just starting your Zero Trust journey\, looking to refine your strategy\, or want to understand this modern architecture\, this session is designed to help you build a more resilient and secure organization. \nDon’t miss this opportunity to rethink your security and embrace the future! \nPresenter: \n\nDr. Dawn Dunkerley\, Principal Virtual Chief Information Security Officer\, Edge\n\n Expand\n When Zero Divides: Breaking the Rules of Possibility with AI\n Jadwin Hall\, A09 \nWhat happens at the edge of impossible? In physics\, the “impossible” division by zero becomes meaningful at singularities. Similarly\, critical points in academic networks-program transition bottlenecks and course centrality nodes-represent organizational singularities where traditional analysis breaks down. This session explores how generative AI’s unique ability to operate across multiple conceptual frameworks can transform these seemingly impossible problems into navigable solutions. Through real university cases-from student program migration patterns to course network topology-we’ll demonstrate how quantum-inspired thinking and AI-human collaboration can fundamentally reshape our approach to complex academic structures. \nPresenter: \n\nViktoria Popova\, Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness\, Analytics\, and Planning\, CAIO\, Centenary University\n\n Expand\n Bridging Safety Innovation and Education: A Collaborative AI-Driven Approach\n Jadwin Hall\, A10 \nJoin PruTech Solutions and Rutgers University for a session highlighting the development and implementation of Intellisafety\, an AI-driven safety management application. Learn how PruTech partnered with Rutgers’ MBS Externship Exchange Program to conduct research\, marketing\, and product testing in K-12 and higher education settings. Rutgers students will share their insights from spring and fall semester projects\, including competitive analysis\, market outreach\, and solution enhancement. Discover how this innovative collaboration bridges academia and industry to create impactful\, scalable safety solutions for educational institutions. \nPresenters: \n\nKarl Erber\, CTO\, PruTech Solutions\, Inc.\nJohn Makdis\, Rutgers University Student Contributor\, MBS Program\nChristopher Di Paolo\, Rutgers University Contributor MBS Program\nWill Brown\, CAO\, PruTech Solutions\, Inc.\n\n\n VIP Sponsors \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n Exhibitor Sponsors URL:https://njedge.net/event/edgecon-winter-2025/ LOCATION:Princeton University CATEGORIES:past ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://njedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/EdgeCon-LOGO-WINTER2025-Princeton-WithTreeAndDate-2048x871-1.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR