Overview

August 5
11AM PT, 2PM ET

Watch Now

As colleges and universities across the country face the unique challenge of accommodating hybrid learning and remote administration environments, innovative technology and connectivity solutions are more essential now, than ever before. Institutions are evaluating options to help ensure student and faculty safety, advance student learning, and continue to support research & operations. Top of mind are solutions to expand campus wi-fi, collaboration tools for remote learning, and video intelligence to support thermal analytics and more.

Join the Center for Digital Education and AT&T on August 5th for an immersive discussion with higher education technology experts to discuss:

  • The impact of COVID-19 on higher education and critical considerations for the return to campus
  • Building blocks of a comprehensive remote learning ecosystem and telework options for faculty
  • Examples of institutions using technology to help enable a safe and productive learning environment

Speakers

Samantha Thibault

Samantha Thibault

Director, Solution Architecture, AT&T Public Sector

Samantha (Sami) Thibault is an information and communications technology expert who enables public sector clients to harness the power of innovation and technology to prepare for change, create value, and tackle strategic, organizational, and operational challenges. Sami is the Director of Solution Architecture for AT&T Public Sector where she leads the National Principal Architect and Technical Solutions teams. Her organization is responsible for designing new strategies and architecting end-state technology solutions to meet the dynamic needs of AT&T’s diverse state & local government, K-12 and higher education customers.
Sami’s career as a technology leader spans 25 years where she has held various results-oriented leadership roles supporting public sector customers. Sami holds Systems Science and Electrical Engineering degrees from Fresno State University. She has been happily married for 25 years, has two grown children, and enjoys good friends, even better wine, and all the Northern California coast offers.

Jim Jorstad

Jim Jorstad

Interim CIO at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and Center for Digital Education Senior Fellow

Jim Jorstad is a leading force in the innovative and effective use of technology in teaching, learning, and research for over twenty years. He has a B.S. with honors in Mass Communications and holds M.A. with honors in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Iowa. Jim is responsible for integrating technology into teaching and learning, strategic social and rich media, learning space design, distance education, and is involved in diverse IT projects with a user base of 12,000. He is a frequent lecturer and consultant for universities, organizations, and companies worldwide. Jim was a member of the editorial board for EDUCAUSE Quarterly and an EDUCAUSE Frye Fellow of 2005, one of 50 leading IT professionals chosen worldwide. He has held numerous technology leadership positions within the University of Wisconsin System. In 2008, he was the recipient of the Mediasite UNLEASH Return on Investment Award.

Joe Morris

Joe Morris

Vice President of Research, e.Republic

Joseph Morris is vice president of Research and a national keynote speaker on issues, trends and drivers impacting state and local government and education. He has authored publications and reports on funding streams, technology investment areas and public-sector priorities, and has led roundtables, projects and initiatives focused on issues within the public sector. Joe has conducted state and local government research with e.Republic since 2007 and knows the ins and outs of government on all levels. He received his Bachelor of Arts in government and international relations from the California State University, Sacramento.

Steven Zink

Steven Zink — Moderator

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Education

Steven Zink is an emeritus faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he served as the University’s first Vice President of Information Technology, while simultaneously serving as Dean, University Libraries. During his lengthy tenure at the University, Zink assembled a vibrant hybrid organization of information professionals, ranging from specialists in instructional technology to librarians to information technology professionals. In 2008, the physical manifestation of the organization was realized with the opening of the widely acclaimed 300,000 square foot Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. From 2011-2016, he served as Vice Chancellor for the Nevada System of Higher Education, the coordinating body over all public institutions of higher education in Nevada.