Maximizing Workday and AI: Strategies for Every Stage of Your Journey (Workday User Group) In-Person Workshop

Overview

Maximizing Workday and AI: Strategies For Every Stage of Your Journey (Workday User Group)  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
Get more from Workday — and discover what's next. This interactive, in-person workshop brings together higher education Workday professionals to focus on three core operational areas: optimizing platform performance, expanding capabilities through existing tools, and exploring emerging features. Through expert insights, panel discussions, peer conversations, and a Workday Extend showcase, participants will spend equal time on administrative optimization, app development via Workday Extend, and newer platform capabilities including automation and A-delivered features. Whether you are fine-tuning daily operations or planning future enhancements, you will leave with actionable next steps for your institution.

Session Outcomes:
Participants will be able to:
 - Identify opportunities to streamline operations and get more value from tools and capabilities already available in your Workday environment.
 - Evaluate how emerging platform features — including AI Delivered features, UMSA, and Flex Credits — could improve processes and user experiences at your institution.
 - Recognize innovative approaches to extending Workday functionality through Workday Extend and other developing solutions.
 - Connect and collaborate with fellow higher education Workday professionals to share experiences, challenges, and ideas for making the most of your platform investment.

Registration Cancellation Policy:
By clicking the "Register Now" button, you commit to attend and will be 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 to the NERCOMP Workday User Group
Speakers:
Michelle Edmonds, Manager, Workday Operations & Strategy, Babson College
Nephellie Dobie, Assistant CIO, Wellesley College

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Making the most out of Workday Post-Implementation (HR, Fin, Student)
Facilitator: Nephellie Dobie
Speakers:
Jen Gresham, Associate VP Technology, Simmons University 
Kim Bromann, Director, Enterprise Cloud Systems, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Christian Carde-Guzman, Business Analyst, Amherst College 
Stephanie Tong, Manager, Project Management and Business Analysis, Wellesley
College 

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The Conversation Continues: Peer-to-Peer Roundtables
Apply the insights from the main stage. Immediately following the panel, join a targeted roundtable table to swap ideas, troubleshoot shared pain points, and
network directly with fellow attendees and speakers in an intimate, high-value setting.

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. AI & Workday: Maximizing Out-of-the-Box Value
Join us for an informative session featuring a Workday representative who will provide an overview of the UMSEA contract/process and use of flexible credits. Following the overview, client panelist(s) will share real-world use cases demonstrating how they leverage Workday’s no-cost, out-of-the-box AI features.

Speakers:
Workday Representative, TBD
Kim Bromann, Director, Enterprise Cloud Systems, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Christian Carde-Guzman, Business Analyst, Amherst College

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Workday Extend Showcase
Speakers:
Jennifer Thomas-Starck, Director of International Studies, Wellesley College
Carol Shanumagaratnam, Registrar, Wellesley College 
Jessica Catano, Senior Director, Workday Strategy & Operations, Berklee College of Music 
Michelle Edmonds, Manager, Workday Operations & Strategy, Babson College

3:15 p.m. End

Speakers

Kim Bromann, Director, Enterprise Cloud Systems, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Information Available Soon

Christian Carde-Guzman, Business Analyst, Amherst College

Christian Carde-Guzman is a Workday and business systems professional with experience supporting higher education and public government-sector transformation initiatives. At Amherst College, he has led the implementation of Workday Learning and supports reporting, analytics, business processes, and Workday Student, partnering with functional areas including HR, Finance, Financial Aid, and Benefits. His background also includes instructional design, learning technology, and faculty development, giving him a strong perspective on both the technical and user-adoption sides of enterprise systems.
 

Jessica Catano,  Senior Director, Workday Strategy & Operations, Berklee College of Music
Information Available Soon

Nephellie Dobie, Assistant CIO, Wellesley College

Nephellie Dobie is the Assistant Chief Information Officer for Library and Technology Services at Wellesley College. With over 28 years of experience in higher education and IT consulting, she specializes in strategic project management, software implementations, system integrations, workflow optimization, and change management.

As Assistant CIO, Nephellie leads the IT Project Management and Business Analysis teams supporting key enterprise systems, including Workday, Salesforce, PowerFAIDS, and Slate. She also oversees User Services, including computing support, the help desk, and classroom technology, while actively guiding AI literacy and support initiatives for administrative staff. Notably, she served as the lead project manager for Wellesley’s
full Workday implementation, including the Student module. She holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University and an MBA from Simmons College.

Michelle Edmonds, Manager, Workday Operations & Strategy, Babson College
Information Available Soon

Jen Gresham, Associate VP Technology, Simmons University

Jennifer “Jen” Gresham is Associate Vice President for Information Technology at Simmons University, where she leads technology strategy, enterprise systems, infrastructure, support, and information security. She previously served as AVP for Technology Business Solutions & Strategy, leading major initiatives to modernize the university’s ERP and student information systems.

Jen’s work focuses on challenges familiar to higher education technology teams: setting clear priorities, making the most of existing systems, strengthening governance, and balancing institutional needs with staff capacity and budgets. She brings colleagues across academic and administrative areas together to simplify processes and build shared ownership of technology decisions. Drawing on earlier experience in education, conservation, and nonprofit leadership, Jen takes a practical, collaborative approach to change, emphasizing support for the people who use and maintain the technology.

Carol Shanumagaratnam, Registrar, Wellesley College

Carol has worked in higher education for over 35 years; for the past 15 years, she has been in her current role. She was part of Wellesley's original Workday Student implementation team. They went fully live in Fall 2019, so this fall marks the start of their 8th year using Workday Student.
 

Jennifer Thomas-Starck, Director of International Studies, Wellesley College

Jennifer has served as the Director of International Studies at Wellesley College since 2004. In this capacity, she oversees the college’s semester- and year-long study programs and supports short-term faculty-led programs, as well as student and faculty bilateral exchanges. Prior to joining Wellesley College, she managed Boston College’s international programs and partnerships and also served for several years as on-site coordinator for Boston College’s study abroad program in Strasbourg, France.  She holds an MA in French Literature from Boston College and a BA in Foreign Languages from Rhodes College (Memphis).
 

Stephanie Tong, Manager, Project Management and Business Analysis, Wellesley\ College

Stephanie has been at Wellesley College for over 15 years and currently manages a team of Business Analysts supporting Workday modules in addition to cross-functional areas such as security, reporting, and integrations. She was part of the implementation team at Wellesley College for Workday HCM/Payroll, Finance, and Student.

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 or stairs to the 4th floor.

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