Event
Event Details
Where:
Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN
When:
October 27, 2025
October 27, 2025
Attain Partners convened higher education leaders in Nashville for a day of dialogue, strategy, and exploration of the future of our institutions ahead of EDUCAUSE 2025.
The event brought together IT leaders, senior administrators, and thought leaders to share real perspectives on today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities with voices from across the sector, including leaders from Boston University, Marshall University, and Teachers College, alongside experts from Attain Partners.
Following an engaging series of panels and discussions, attendees connected during a networking reception co-sponsored by Blackthorn.io.
Speakers and Panelists
David Comroe
Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Teachers College
Pete Groustra
Assistant Vice President for Projects, Programs, & Governance (PPG)
Boston University
Marylou O’Donnell-Rundlett
Associate Vice President
Student Information Systems, IS&T
Boston University
Jodie Penrod
Chief Information Officer
Marshall University
Matthew Frank
Vice President, Technology Evangelism
Blackthorn.io
Greg Baroni
Founder and CEO
Attain Partners
Reshma Patel-Jackson
Partner
Attain Partners
Alexander Brown
Managing Director
Attain Partners
Kristi Phillips
Managing Director
Attain Partners
Jason Belland
Executive in Residence
Attain Partners
Jen Best
Senior Manager
Attain Partners
Agenda at-a-Glance
Addressing the Current State
- 1p – 1:15p | Welcome
- 1:15p – 2p | Panel: IT Leaders as Institutional Strategists
- Featuring Dave Comroe (Teachers College) and Pete Groustra (Boston University)
- Moderated by Reshma Patel-Jackson
- 2p – 2:30p | Reimagining the Student Experience
- Featuring Marylou O’Donnell-Rundlett (Boston University), Jodie Penrod (Marshall University), and Matthew Frank (Blackthorn.io)
- Moderated by Kristi Phillips
- 2:30p – 2:45p | Snack and Networking Break
Exploring the Future State
- 2:45p – 3:15p | Evaluating AI Technology Investments
- Led by Alexander Brown
- 3:15p – 4:15p | Interactive Workshop: Design Thinking for Digital Transformation
- Led by Jen Best
- 4:15p – 4:30p | Closing Remarks
- 4:30p – 6p | Networking Happy Hour
- Co-sponsored by Blackthorn.io
Continue the Conversation
Explore how Attain Partners helps higher education institutions transform technology, operations, and culture to achieve lasting impact. Learn more.
Or, revisit the highlights from the Symposium in our event recap on LinkedIn.
