Get ready for DisruptED26. February 18, Phoenix AZ
Join Collegis Education and Arizona State University for a high-impact, invite-only event designed specifically for presidents, provosts, and senior institutional leaders. If you have a mandate to deliver — and a small margin for error — this event is for you.
Request an Invite
We’re keeping this event small and space is limited. Complete the form to learn more about DisruptED26 and how you can attend.
Event Details
As an invited guest of Collegis Education, your hotel stay and all meals are covered. Travel is the responsibility of event attendees.
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Date: February 18, 2026
Venue: ASU SkySong Innovation Center
Lodging: The Moxy: A Marriott Property
Who Should Attend DisruptED26?
DisruptED26 is an invite-only event for the higher-ed executives steering institutional strategy.
If you’re a president, provost, CFO, or other cabinet-level leader who is navigating high-stakes decisions about finances, operations, enrollment, or long-term sustainability, this is the room to be in. Sessions are geared toward leaders who know incrementalism won’t save their institutions, have a mandate to deliver, and little margin for error.
If you’re trying to hold the line, this won’t be your kind of summit. If you’re ready to redraw it — welcome!
Real Conversations. Real Impact. See What Happens When Higher Ed’s Boldest Minds Collide.
Featured Speakers
Our speaker lineup features market analysts, authors, regulatory experts, and higher ed’s most innovative minds, with more speaker announcements to come.
Reamer Bushardt
Provost and VP of Academic Affairs, MGH Institute of Health Professions
Cut Through the Noise.
It’s Higher-Ed Real Talk.
DisruptED26 won’t resurface antiquated “best practices” pulled from outdated slide decks. Instead, it unapologetically focuses on what can work in this moment, zeroing in on how to operationalize aspiration and innovation for maximum impact.
We’re bringing together an elite group of higher ed experts, researchers, and leaders to learn what it takes to turn emergent technologies, AI, and trends into long-term, sustainable impact for your institution.
This is where decision-makers gather to confront the hard truths and build smarter paths forward.
DisruptED26 Agenda
Dynamic sessions that fuel fearless dialogue and deliver practical strategies for higher ed’s toughest challenges.
Speakers:
- Casey Evans, COO, ASU EdPlus
- Amanda Gulley, Chief Product and UX Officer, ASU EdPlus
Too often, institutions attempt to innovate by layering new tools onto old systems, only to discover that little has changed for the learner. True innovation cannot remain confined to whiteboards, pilot programs, or strategy decks — it must be operationalized in classes, systems, and the daily student experience.
In this keynote, Casey Evans and Amanda Gulley will explore what it takes to move from ideation to impact in ways that center students, scale across the enterprise, and build resilience for the future. They will address the myth that meaningful innovation requires new budgets, making the case instead for a mindset that values focus, intentionality, and the willingness to let go of legacy practices that no longer deliver.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to align design and operations to create ecosystems that are student-centered, sustainable, and positioned for long-term success in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.
Speakers:
- Charles Elliott, Head of Industry Architects, Google Cloud
- Chris Daughtery, Higher Ed Lead, Google Cloud
What does the future of learning look like in an AI-driven world? This presentation will explore Google’s forward-thinking approach to artificial intelligence in education, grounded in the principles of personalization, empowerment, and responsible innovation. We will showcase current, real-world applications of Google’s AI that are already transforming classrooms by providing students with personalized learning paths and giving educators powerful creative tools. Looking ahead, we will discuss the exciting future developments in educational AI, including more integrated and intuitive experiences designed to unlock the full potential of every learner.
Speakers:
- Dan Antonson, AVP Data and Analytics, Collegis Education
- Wes Catlett-Miller, Sr. Director Strategy and Innovation, Collegis Education
AI-readiness isn’t just about adopting new tools — it’s about rethinking how data, technology, and human systems work together. Systems Thinking helps us see the big picture: how technology, data, and teams interact within complex systems, exposing leverage points for meaningful change. Design Thinking turns those insights into action, creating solutions that are tested, refined, and grounded in real human experiences.
This interactive session unites both disciplines to help institutions bridge silos, integrate data-informed design into strategy, and make innovation tangible. Through real-world examples and guided frameworks, participants will leave with a shared model for applying Systems and Design Thinking to build adaptable, data-enabled infrastructures that support sustainable innovation and accelerate digital transformation.
Speaker:
- Phil Hill, Principal and Market Analyst, Phil Hill and Associates
The OPM model was instrumental in allowing nonprofit institutions to not just participate but even to lead in the development of online programs, but we are not in the 2010s any longer. Times have changed – there is an increasing need for a spectrum of offerings, institutions have or need to develop core competencies to reach nontraditional students, and we are no longer in a ‘build it and they will come’ era. In this session, renowned higher ed analyst Phil Hill dives into the reality of where OPMs may or may not be the best option. Learn how to transition from dependency to empowerment, and from contract-bound limitations to real strategic control. This is a roadmap for presidents and provosts who are ready to fully own their online (and hybrid) strategies.
Panel:
- Phil Hill, Principal and Market Analyst, Phil Hill and Associates
- Charlie Rose, Shareholder, HMBR LTD.
- Tricia Heinle, VP and General Counsel, Collegis Education
Higher ed is facing a regulatory reckoning. From financial aid overhauls and DEI rollbacks to escalating compliance threats, institutions are being hit with a wave of policy reversals that are already destabilizing operations. This unfiltered panel discussion breaks down what’s changing, what’s coming next, and why playing it safe may no longer be a viable option. You’ll leave with a candid look at the legal, financial, and reputational risks on the horizon — and a strategy for building institutional resilience through smarter governance, faster decision-making, and bold leadership in turbulent times.
Panel:
- Reamer Bushardt, MGH Institute
- Marc Austin, Montclair State University
- Denise L. Aberle-Cannata, College of Western Idaho
- Dan Gregory, Concordia University Texas
- Jeff Certain, VP Solution Development & GTM
Higher ed’s old playbook no longer works. To win against demographic decline, tightening budgets, and relentless competition, institutions need a new model, and need it fast. Survival often depends on it. In this panel discussion, you will see how leaders from four institutions drove meaningful impact in enrollment, marketing, retention, and IT by balancing investments in internal areas of excellence with strategic partnerships that offset talent gaps and expand capacity. You will learn what a unified engine for institutional progress looks like and why aligning your data, technology, and talent is imperative to its success. Expect candid case study insights, actionable strategies, and practical takeaways you can implement within your teams.
Welcome to 1951 @ ASU SkySong Innovation Center
A collaborative space for ideas and innovation to thrive.
At ASU SkySong, innovation is more than just a concept — it’s a place. As one of the premier economic engines in the Valley of the Sun, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center’s focus on innovation and technology attracts companies ranging from some of the world’s best-known brands to one- or two-person startups.
Named for the year Scottsdale was incorporated, 1951@SkySong offers an environment where disrupters have the resources at hand to think outside the box and identify bold solutions, build new products, and explore untapped markets.
Experience Immersive Innovation with ASU Dreamscape Learn
Step inside the future of learning — and experience education reimagined.
Immediately after the final session, DisruptED26 attendees will step into ASU Dreamscape Learn — a fully immersive, story-driven VR environment that’s redefining what’s possible in higher ed. Enjoy a private tour of the facility and a hands-on test drive of this groundbreaking experience, where technology, cinematic storytelling, and science converge to spark deeper engagement and discovery. Feel what it’s like to learn inside another world — and witness firsthand how immersive technology is transforming education.
Join Us Tuesday Evening for a VIP Welcome Reception
Date: February 17, 2025
What better way to kick off DisruptED26 than with a few craft cocktails, delicious food, and great conversation? After you settle into the host hotel, we invite you to join your fellow attendees, DisruptED26 speakers, and hosts Collegis Education and ASU for a VIP welcome reception at Social Hall. Known as one of the premier event venues in Tempe, AZ, Social Hall offers a fun, laidback atmosphere with a large selection of indoor and outdoor games including shuffleboard, skeeball, pool tables, ping pong, foosball, electronic darts, and your favorite retro arcade games.