Leading IT Change in Higher Education: Practical Strategies for Projects, People, and Progress - In-Person Workshop

Overview

Leading IT Change in Higher Education:  Practical Strategies for Projects, People, and Progress - In-Person Workshop

Where: 
College of the Holy Cross
1 College Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 
Directions

When: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
9:00 am - 3:15 pm

Registration Fee:
NERCOMP Member
Early-bird rate through 10/12/26: $175 (savings of $25)
Member rate after 10/12/26: $200

Non-Member
Early-bird rate through 10/12/26:  $255 (savings of $45)
Non-Member rate after 10/12/26: $300

The registration covers the workshop, morning break, and lunch.

Event Overview
Higher education IT projects are about more than technology—they're about people, processes, and creating lasting institutional change. This interactive workshop explores practical approaches to project and change management that help IT teams successfully deliver initiatives in complex campus environments.

Through real-world examples, peer discussions, and lessons learned from Worcester Polytechnic Institute's User Success & Experience team, participants will explore effective project management practices, change leadership strategies, governance models, process design, AI-enabled workflows, and solution architecture. Rather than focusing solely on methodology, this session emphasizes actionable techniques and proven approaches attendees can apply immediately within their own institutions.

Whether you're launching a formal project management practice, leading organizational change, or looking to enhance existing processes, you'll leave with practical ideas, reusable resources, and insights from colleagues facing similar challenges.
 

Session Outcomes:
Participants Will:
 - Apply practical project and change management tools, frameworks, and governance approaches to improve the delivery of IT initiatives in higher education.
 - Evaluate how AI and emerging technologies can enhance project planning, stakeholder engagement, communication, and change management while recognizing current limitations.
 - Develop an actionable strategy, template, or best practice that can be adapted and implemented within their own institution to improve project outcomes and organizational adoption.


 

Registration Cancellation Policy:
By clicking the "Register 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 5 business days before the event via email to nercomp@nercomp.org.

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.

Agenda

Agenda

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  Welcome and Introduction 
Speaker: TBD
 

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Intake and Solution Design
Speaker:
Melissa Floyd, Associate CIO, User Success and Experience, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Data, Security, and Architecture Review
Speakers: 
Alan Baker, Assistant Chief Technology Officer, Infrastructure Services and Architecture, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Meghan Halley, Assistant Director, Data Governance, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

12:00 p.m.  – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 1:30  p.m.  Lessons Learned: Project Management Tools and Best Practices
Speakers:
Jill Desmaris, Director, IT Finance, Portfolio and Program Management, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Kerrie Sacovitch, Associate Director, Communication and Change Management, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

1:30 p.m.– 2:00 p.m. Working With Project Teams
Speaker: Mike Hamilton, Project Manager II, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Afternoon Break

2:15 p.m – 2:45 p.m. Change Management: Working within IT and Campus Community
Speaker:  Kerrie Sacovitch, Associate Director, Communication and Change Management, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Tabletop Activity: Putting It All Together
Speaker:  Mike Hamilton, Project Manager II, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

3:15 p.m.  End

Speakers

Alan Baker
Assistant Chief Technology Officer, Infrastructure Services and Architecture

Alan provides strategic and operational leadership across WPI's technology infrastructure, spanning systems, cloud, network engineering, security, and software delivery. He chairs the IT Architecture Review Board, leading enterprise governance of technology standards and solution design, and authored the institutional standards that govern how infrastructure is designed and implemented. He joined WPI in 2019 after a 20-year career at Concord Communications, Computer Associates, and Broadcom, where as Principal Network Engineer he led the architecture of a global network across 96 offices. More recently, he has built Copilot-based tools that assist with architecture design and review.

 

Jill Desmarais
Director, IT Finance, Portfolio and Program Management

Jill is Director of IT Finance and Portfolio Management at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She leads a team responsible for IT budgeting, operations, portfolio management, and project delivery. Since joining WPI in 2018, Jill has led major initiatives including Workday Student, Zoom Phone, HaloITSM, and the retirement of the Banner ERP system. She brings extensive experience in global operations, business process management, and program leadership from prior roles in the high-tech industry.

 

Melissa Floyd
Associate CIO, User Success and Experience

Melissa leads the strategy and delivery of several core ITS service areas at WPI, including Business Architecture, Data Governance, Finance and Portfolio Management, Change and Communication Management, and Service Management. Her team serves as the "front door" to ITS, connecting campus partners with technology services end to end and focusing on process improvement, aligning technology with institutional needs, and developing solutions that support WPI's strategic goals and data initiatives. She also partners with the Information Security Office to build security compliance and education into those frameworks, and she has developed an AI-assisted tool that supports solution design. 

Meghan Halley
Assistant Director, Data Governance

Meghan partners with departments across campus to improve how WPI manages its data, guiding change in data literacy, access, quality, and security as an inaugural member of the User Success and Experience team. She also administers WPI's KnowBe4 compliance, phishing, and security awareness platform, working closely with the CISTO's office. She brings more than 12 years in higher education and administrative expertise in systems like Salesforce.

Mike Hamilton
Project Manager II

Mike has built his career at WPI, starting in student affairs, moving through the Academic Technology Center, and now working in IT project management. Supporting faculty, staff, and students across those roles has given him a practical read on how technology lands in different corners of the university, and much of his project work centers on the change side of implementation: bringing diverse stakeholders along and helping new tools actually get adopted rather than just deployed. He has also built an AI-assisted tool that takes solution and architecture documents and drafts them into a project charter.

 

Kerrie Sacovitch
Associate Director, Communication and Change Management

In higher education since 1997, Kerrie has moved from front-line service desk support into leading the ITS Communications and Change Management team. She has developed and presented numerous workshops and cross-campus programs including orientations and  cybersecurity awareness, and continues to manage knowledge content. She currently focuses on informing and engaging the community as new technology is adopted, and steering the ITS CAB. Her certifications include ITIL, Knowledge Centered Support, and MSI Change Management Specialist, and her work is grounded in customer service and continuous improvement.

Lodging

Hotel Information:

Rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express, 10-12 Johnson Street in Auburn, MA. 01501
Call the hotel directly at 1-508-832-2500

Parking and Entry

Parking: 

Please park in the Hogan Campus Center lot. Parking is free. When you enter campus from the last gate on the left (Gate 7) you will soon see a series of large parking lots on your right going all the way up to the Hart Athletic Center. All of those lots are general parking. As long as you make sure not to park in student or faculty/staff parking lots there shouldn’t be any problems.

See Campus Map for Parking locations

There is an electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the parking garage for a fee. The stations are on the ChargePoint network and the ChargePoint website has information to utilize your smartphone to use the ChargePoint network. 

Building Access:
You may enter the building via the steps or ramp adjacent to the parking lot.  You are actually entering on the 3rd floor.

Elevators: 
You will enter on the 3rd floor and take the elevator up to the 4th floor.

Restrooms:
There are accessible restrooms located within the Hogan Campus Center on each floor