Leading Change in an AI World:  Lessons From NERCOMP's AI Leadership Academy (a Leadership Ecosystem Webinar)

Where: Webinar/Virtual

When: Thursday, February 19, 2026
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST 

Note: Zoom login instructions will be sent the day prior. If you have not received login instructions by 4:00 pm the day before the webinar, please check your spam folder; if you still have not received the login details, please email nercomp@nercomp.org.

Workshop Organizer:  Michael Cato, VP & CIO, Bowdoin College

Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member: Free
Non-Member: Free

Event Overview:

Generative AI is no longer theoretical in higher education—it is a present and pressing leadership challenge. Yet many information leaders find themselves navigating AI amid uncertainty, uneven readiness, and real concerns around ethics, privacy, sustainability, and institutional impact.
This session brings together facilitators and participants from the inaugural AI Leadership Academy + Applied AI Studio, developed through the Next Leaders Fellowship in collaboration with NERCOMP. Rather than focusing on tools alone, the Academy centered AI as a leadership and change-management issue—one shaped by culture, trust, communication, and institutional context.

Through candid reflections and shared stories, panelists will discuss what surprised them, where resistance surfaced, what proved more complex than expected, and which approaches helped move AI conversations forward in real institutional environments. Attendees will gain practical insights into leading AI work thoughtfully—balancing urgency with responsibility and innovation with care—while recognizing there is no one-size-fits-all path.
The session will also highlight upcoming opportunities to engage more deeply through future offerings of the AI Leadership Academy.
 

Session Outcomes:
 - Examine AI adoption as a leadership challenge: Understand why leading AI efforts is as much about change management, trust, and communication as it is about technology.
 - Learn from lived experience: Hear candid reflections from facilitators and participants about what worked, what surprised them, and what proved difficult when leading AI conversations and initiatives.
 - Explore strategies for balancing urgency and responsibility: Consider how leaders can move forward with AI while thoughtfully addressing concerns about ethics, privacy, sustainability, and impact.
 - Appreciate the role of institutional context: Reflect on how differences in culture, readiness, and mission shape AI leadership approaches — and why there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
 - Identify pathways for deeper engagement: Learn about upcoming opportunities to participate in the AI Leadership Academy and continue building capacity for responsible AI leadership.

Moderator: Michael Cato, Senior Vice President & CIO, Bowdoin College

Panelists:
Andy Birenzi, Deputy CIO for Enterprise Engagement, Bowdoin College
Sherri Castanzo, Deputy CIO for Digital Innovation, Bowdoin College
Zahraa Fadlalah, Technology Integration Partner, Office of the Chancellor, California State University
Tina Pappas, Head of Discovery and Engagement Platforms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Faye Snowden, Executive Director, Technology Programs and Governance, UC Berkeley

This session will not be recorded.

This session is for individuals employed by higher education institutions only. No vendors, please.

Accessibility
NERCOMP strives to make its online offerings and in-person workshops accessible to all registrants.  Please contact us should you have an accessibility need. We've worked to provide resources that are accessible to as many people as possible, and if you encounter any issues while attending our events, please contact us at accessibility@nercomp.org or at 860-345-2081 to request assistance.