- Overview
- Agenda
- Speakers
- Lodging
- Parking/Accessibility
NERCOMP AI Leadership Academy + Applied AI Studio powered by the Next Leaders Fellowship - Hybrid - Annual Conference Pre Con Session
Registration is limited to 30 participants
Where: Online/Virtual
When: The academy will be held over three sessions. The first two sessions will be online, and the final session will be in-person at the NERCOMP 2026 annual conference in Providence, RI.
- Online - Monday, March 2, 2026 - 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST
- Online - Thursday, March 5, 2026 - 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST
- In-person - Monday, March 9, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST for the Leadership Academy and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m EST. for the Applied AI Studio
Registration includes breakfast, lunch, and afternoon break in Providence.
Note: This registration will cover all sessions
Workshop Organizer: NERCOMP and the Next Leaders Fellowship (NLF)
Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member: $850.00
Non-Member: $1,100.00
Watch this webinar recording to learn more about the AI Leadership Academy and Applied AI Studio - click here
Event Overview
AI isn’t just a technical shift—it’s a change leadership challenge.
The AI Leadership Academy + Applied AI Studio are two new professional development offerings designed for higher-ed professionals who want to strengthen their ability to influence and support how AI takes root in their teams, institutions, and across the NERCOMP community. The challenges ahead of us are as much about people and culture as it is about AI tools and techniques.
Skeptics are not only welcome in this program, they’re essential. The Academy creates space to surface hard questions about ethics, bias, sustainability, and responsible use—while also building the skills to lead constructive, human-centered adoption of AI.
Attendees will also earn a digital credential for these workshops.
Session Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate foundational literacy in AI concepts, capabilities, and limitations, including ethics, bias, data governance, and responsible use.
- Apply change management frameworks to build buy-in, overcome resistance, and lead AI-driven initiatives.
- Develop strategies to increase institutional capacity for responsible experimentation and sustainable AI adoption.
- Collaborate with peers across the NERCOMP community to define use cases for, and co-create, test, and refine AI-enabled solutions.
Applied AI Studio
On Monday afternoon, graduates of the Academy will have an opportunity to apply what they have learned by working on concrete projects from across the NERCOMP community. NERCOMP will extend a call for proposals to identify challenges and opportunities that community members can work on in small teams of Academy graduates to design and apply AI-enabled approaches.
Watch this webinar recording to learn more about the AI Leadership Academy and Applied AI Studio - click here
Registration Cancellation Policy:
By clicking the "Order Now" button, you indicate a commitment to attend and will be held responsible for the registration fee. Your fee can be refunded if you notify us of a cancellation at least 10 days before the event via email to nercomp@nercomp.org.
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.
Event Disclaimer:
NERCOMP reserves the right to use any photographs or other mechanical recordings taken at NERCOMP events in promotional materials. No mechanical recordings of any kind may be used at NERCOMP events without the prior written consent of NERCOMP organizers and presenters. The views and opinions expressed at NERCOMP events do not necessarily reflect those of NERCOMP, nor does NERCOMP make any representation regarding the information presented at NERCOMP events.
Spring 2026 Hybrid AI Leadership Academy schedule
Two - two-hour virtual workshops & In-Person at NERCOMP 2026 in Providence, RI (see below for details)
Monday, March 2 (3:00 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
AI Leadership Academy - First virtual session - AI Fundamentals + Use Cases
What AI is (and isn't), why it matters now, including issues of ethics, bias, and responsible use
Thursday, March 5 (3:00 pm - 5:00 p.m. EST)
AI Leadership Academy - Second virtual session - Leading Change & Overcoming Resistance
Frameworks to navigate change, addressing change dynamics, and overcoming inertia
In-Person Monday, March 9
8:00 am Registration and Breakfast
8:30 am - 10:30 am AI Leadership Academy - Generative AI Tools in Practice
Advanced prompt engineering, using the tools effectively with hands-on exploration of text, image, code, search, and agentic AI tools – what's useful today
10:30 am - 1:30 pm AI Leadership Academy - Moving AI Ideas to Solutions
Project Scouting, Scoping, Evaluation, and Implementation
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Finalize Leadership Academy and prep for Applied AI StudiP
Applied AI Studio
Monday, March 9 (1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST)
Graduates of the Academy will apply what they have learned by working on concrete projects from across the NERCOMP community. NERCOMP will extend a call for proposals to identify challenges and opportunities that community members can work on in small teams of Academy graduates to design and apply AI-enabled approaches.
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.
Tony Moore
Executive Director, The University of Arizona Global Campus Information Technology
Visionary and seasoned IT professional with over 25+ years of experience in Information Technology who thrives in challenging, fast-paced IT organizations delivering technology systems, solutions, architecture, and applications. Technology evangelist providing leadership in the areas of innovation, student recruitment and retention, data-driven analytics, research, and institutional advancement, leveraging 16 years of experience in higher education and 20+ years in telecommunications and broadband technologies.
Asha Ramachandra
Director of IT Strategy, California State University, Channel Islands
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.
Hotel Information:
Rooms are available at the Omni Providence Hotel via the NERCOMP 2026 registration process.
Room Rate
$185 single or double, excluding tax (currently 15%)
Cutoff Date
Monday, February 9, 2026
Click here for additional information at the Omni - https://events.educause.edu/nercomp-annual-conference/2026/hotel-and-travel
Hotel Parking
Self-parking is available at the Rhode Island Convention Center garage next door: rates may vary.
Current RICC parking information.
$45/day for valet overnight parking at the Omni, including drive-in/drive-out privileges.