Charron Andrus
Associate Chief Information Security Officer, UC Berkeley

Charron Andrus is an IT and cybersecurity executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning public and private organizations, clinical environments, and higher education. She has spent nearly 15 years within the University of California system, serving at both UC Berkeley and UC Davis Health, where her work has focused on technology leadership, and building resilient and inclusive IT environments.

Charron is the co-founder of the Black Leadership Alliance Council at the University of  California (BLAC@UC), Co-lead of the EDUCAUSE Diversity in IT Community Group, and most recent past Chair of University of California Womxn in Technology (UC WIT). She also serves as an appointed Sacramento City Independent Redistricting Commissioner and as a member of the Hearts with Haiti Executive Board of Directors.

Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity across faculty, staff, and student communities, as well as a deep belief in the power of meaningful relationships and collaboration within higher education and beyond.

Charron holds an M.A. in Gerontology from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Biola University. Outside of her professional and community leadership, she enjoys writing and is the author of a book of poems: Words That Occur in the Absence of Love; and a Planner, Journal and Goal Tracker: Simplicity & Joy Planner. She is also a proud mother and grandmother who treasures time with her son, daughter-in-love, and grandson

 

Andy Birenzi
Senior Director of Enterprise Systems, Bowdoin College
 
Andy Birenzi leads the Enterprise Systems Team at Bowdoin College, providing strategic direction and oversight for the college’s enterprise applications. Under his leadership, the team ensures the reliability, integration, and continuous innovation of the systems that power Bowdoin’s academic and administrative operations.
Andy holds an MBA and is an alumnus of both the Next Leaders Fellowship (NLF) and the MOR Leadership programs that have shaped his collaborative and forward-thinking approach to technology leadership. He is deeply committed to harnessing technology to drive organizational effectiveness, streamline processes, and deliver transformative digital experiences for faculty, staff, and students.
 

 

 

Dr. Sherri Braxton Castanzo
Deputy CIO for Digital Innovation at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME

With over 20 years of higher education experience and prior experience as a defense contracting program manager, Dr. Sherri Braxton Castanzo currently serves as the Deputy CIO for Digital Innovation at Bowdoin College.  She is also active in the 1EdTech Consortium, EDUCAUSE, and the Consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges (CLAC), all of which focus on effective practices in technology for higher education.  Dr. Braxton Castanzo is also one of the inaugural mentors of the Next Leaders Fellowship, an initiative providing a framework to identify, develop, and advocate for talented Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) information and technology professionals in higher education. She is a national thought leader on digital credentials, microcredentials, and comprehensive learner records and has both presented and authored several articles and book chapters on these topics.\

Dr. Braxton Castanzo earned a Doctor of Science in Computer Science with Minors in Educational Leadership and Management Science from the George Washington University. She also holds a Master of Science in Computer Science with a Math Minor from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science from Wake Forest University. She is also a graduate of both the MOR Associates Information Technology Leadership Program and the EDUCAUSE Learning Technology Leaders Institute where she also served as a faculty member and co-director.

In her spare time, she enjoys exercising, watching football, riding her horse, Indigo, and spending time visiting local wineries with her husband, Ron.

 

Michael G. Cato
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Bowdoin College

Information and Technology department and has spent well over 20 years in Higher Education IT. He is active in a number of professional organizations such as CAUDIT, EDUCAUSE, and NERCOMP, and the Next Leaders Fellowship, with an emphasis on leadership development. He is the 2022 Technology Executive of the Year – Education award winner from the IT Senior Management Forum (ITSMF), and the 2021 recipient of the EDUCAUSE DEI Leadership Award.

Michael holds a B.S. in Zoology from Andrews University and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. He loves to learn, read, eat, occasionally cook, and starts most days being humbled by CrossFit. Michael is raising an awesome son with his partner and wife Heather.

 

Darice Corey
Senior Director of Web and IT Planning, Yale College, Yale University

Darice Corey is a digital strategist, higher ed IT leader, and advocate for inclusive innovation.

Currently serving as Senior Director of Web and IT Planning for Yale College, Darice leads digital transformation initiatives that align technology with student success, institutional priorities, and community impact. Her portfolio spans award-winning platforms, AI literacy programs, and large-scale infrastructure projects. Darice has launched cost-saving applications, redesigned Yale’s flagship website (Webby Award), and co-created the “Designing Your Career” tool used by over 7,100 students across 83 institutions.

But her work started long before Yale. Darice designed youth tech programs, built inclusive employment spaces, and led data-driven neighborhood revitalization efforts in underserved communities—earning a U.S. Congressional commendation along the way. That early work still shapes how she leads today: with empathy, strategy, and a deep belief in the power of technology to transform lives.

Darice is currently pursuing an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration to further explore ethical AI, student-centered innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.

 

Patricia Juarez 
Senior Business Systems Analyst, UC Berkeley

With over 30 years of experience in the IT industry in Mexico and the U.S., Patricia is a Senior Systems Analyst at UC Berkeley. Patricia has successfully led highly technical teams through complex projects to integrate systems for campus departments. She frequently presents her workshops at national IT conferences and is an alumnus of the prestigious Next Leaders Fellowship program.

As an independent Native Indigenous Scholar and Practitioner, Patricia authored an essay about ceremonial attire making in a 2019 anthology of Chicanx/Latinx traditions. She is also the founder and leader of Calpulli Huey Papalotl and Calmecac Tlalocan.Links to an external site. Patricia has been a visiting scholar at many academic institutions across California and Mexico. Two of her essays on Nahua cosmovision have been published online and a third is currently under peer review.

Ezra Plemons
St. Olaf College
Information Available Soon

 

Asha Ramachandra
Director of IT Strategy, California State University, Channel Islands

Asha Ramachandra is working as the Director of IT Strategy at California State University Channel Islands. Asha leads initiatives in AI strategy, digital transformation, and enterprise modernization, aligning innovation with institutional priorities, inclusive excellence, and student success. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education technology, she’s an active contributor to EDUCAUSE and a frequent presenter on leadership, change management, and responsible AI in higher education.

 

 

Faye Snowden
Executive Director for Technology Programs & Governance, University of California, Berkeley

Faye Snowden has 21 years in higher education, serving in various information technology leadership and senior project management roles. Faye’s entire career has been focused on the information technology field. Her broad experience includes computer operations, help desk design, implementation and leadership, infrastructure (network and telecom) leadership, project and program management, business analysis, and teaching project management. She is currently the manager of the Technology Program Office for Berkeley IT.

During her career, Faye has designed, implemented, and managed help desks in higher education and private industry, transformed failing teams, developed a portfolio management office, and led projects and programs to replace legacy IT voice, network infrastructure, and enterprise systems.  She has a master’s of English from University of California, Stanislaus, and certifications in project management, Lean Six Sigma, business analysis and ITIL foundations. 

Aside from IT, Faye is a published author of poems, short stories and mysteries. She has received writing fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and Djerassi.

While her entire career has been focused on information technology, Faye’s mantra is that technology should enable the strategic mission of the institution it serves.

Lalitha Subramanian
Program Management Director of Academic Programs, University of Washington Continuum College (UWCC)

In her tenure at the UWCC, Lalitha has launched new noncredit certificates in Data Analytics, Software Product Management, Localization, and Drone Technology. Her work includes developing new and maintaining existing relationships with advisory boards, reviewing programs annually to assess overall program content and effectiveness, customer satisfaction, fiscal status, and market demand. Some of her efforts have been recognized by the University of Washington, and the University Professional, Continuing, and Online Education Association (UPCEA), a leading organization for education professionals which sets the benchmark for education research, methodology and policy.

Shauntae Trammell
Manager | IT Technology Support Centers, The George Washington University

Shauntae Trammell is an accomplished technology leader with an 18-year tenure at George Washington University, specializing in campus-wide technology transformation, change management, and IT service delivery. As the Manager of Technology Support Centers, she leads a large team of technical professionals delivering endpoint and classroom support across GW’s ten Schools and Colleges, serving over 900+ technology-enabled spaces on three campuses. 

 Throughout her career, Shauntae has spearheaded major enterprise-wide initiatives, acting as a strategic translator between technical teams and business units. By translating business requirements into scalable technical solutions, she ensures IT infrastructure directly solves organizational challenges and advances the university's mission. Her approach to change management ensures that complex system upgrades not only deliver efficient, innovative, and intuitive processes, but also drive seamless adoption and administrative excellence across campus. A trusted collaborator across higher education, Shauntae builds strong, cross-functional relationships through targeted faculty outreach, advisory committees, and panel discussions aimed at advancing educational technology.  

Beyond her daily leadership, Shauntae actively drives conversations on innovation and inclusion as host of the podcast Leadership Amplified. Through the show, she explores diverse perspectives in technology, highlights the power of leadership mentorship, and uplifts underrepresented voices across higher education. 

Shauntae holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems Technology Management from George Washington University and is affiliated with IT leadership programs, including the Next Leaders Fellowship and the MOR Leaders Program. At her core, she believes that no matter how rapidly technology evolves, successful adoption is grounded in trust and inclusion, and promoting true leadership is about building high-performing teams that turn complex challenges into lasting institutional impact.  

Sally Wu
Director of Instructional Design and Media Production, UCLA

Sally PW Wu, Ph.D., is the Director of Instructional Design and Media Production at the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center, where she leads the team supporting course development and the campus strategy on digital learning, teaching with technology, and instructional innovation. In 2026-2027, she will co-lead the inaugural AI in Teaching Faculty Fellows program and AI pedagogical pathway that engages instructors in thoughtfully integrating AI into their courses and foster productive dialogue around AI in teaching and learning at UCLA. Sally has a background in research-based curricular design and equitable, technology-integrated learning experiences. She has led initiatives to support BIPOC, first-generation, and other minoritized students and was a Next Leaders Fellow in 2024 for rising technology leaders in higher education. Sally has held adjunct lecturer positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Washington University in St. Louis and serves as an Academic Consultant for Musizi University in Uganda. Sally earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology-Learning Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her bachelor’s degree from Haverford College.