CIT Annual Conference 2025

Catch up with colleagues over a light breakfast in the SFHB Atrium area (basement level).

Under The Surface: The Hidden Work of the Technology Support Center (SFHB 133)

We all know the Technology Support Center (TSC) keeps things running, resolving a large volume of tickets and providing essential support for students and personal devices, even offering evening and weekend hours. But what if we told you that's just the tip of the iceberg?

Join us for an interactive discussion where we'll dive deep into the full range of services the TSC provides, many of which might surprise you! We'll explore the often-unseen support that's available and how these foundational services contribute to the future vision of the TSC. Discover how these lesser-known offerings can significantly benefit your team.

• Carla Birckelbaw
  Carla is the Executive Director of Client Services in the Office of Technology Solutions, responsible for the Technology Support Center, Knowledge, Incident Coordinator, and Endpoint Support teams, along with a list of side projects that includes measuring IT customer satisfaction.

• Chris Brandt
  Christopher manages the Technology Solutions Knowledge and Training team.
• Josh Staton
  Josh manages the Technology Support Center team.

Evaluation of Next Generation Storage and Virtualization Platforms (SHFB 139 - CAT Auditorium)

The Cloud, Compute, and Automate team has recently completed proof-of-concept (PoC) efforts exploring future alternatives to current virtualization and storage platforms. This includes evaluations of:

• A Ceph-based software-defined storage platform as a unified alternative to both the aging Dell Compellent and pricey VMware vSAN
• OpenShift Virtualization as a potential replacement for VMware virtualization 

We would like to share key findings from these PoC efforts with the ISU IT community and provide a live demonstration of the OpenShift Virtualization Console to showcase its capabilities and user experience.

• Majeed Abu-Qulbain
  Majeed has served Illinois State University for over two decades, with a career rooted in IT infrastructure. He currently leads the TIRC Cloud, Compute, and Automate Team as Manager, where they design, implement, and support the university’s compute, storage, virtualization, and containerization environments. His team also manages automation and configuration management platforms, enterprise backup systems, virtual apps and desktops, and password and secrets management solutions. In addition, Majeed serves as a Senior Enterprise Architect, facilitating cross-team collaboration and strategic planning across IT.

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• Kevin Selinger
  Kevin has been with ISU for 17 years, starting as a student worker. He started at the University Computer Help Desk and took it upon himself to get Microsoft certified to become a system administrator. He moved to the Unified Communications team, building a solid foundation of enterprise system administration. When the position opened up on what is now the CCA team, Kevin applied and his skills and knowledge have skyrocketed. Kevin was shifted to focus on ISU's public and private cloud, where he has excelled and continues to provide solid landing zones for ISU's services.

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Break! Take a few minutes to recharge between sessions. Any goodies left over from the Networking Breakfast can be found in the Atrium.

The Quest for the Crystal Core: A Leadership Adventure in Redbirdia (SFHB 133)

This presentation uses a fantasy-themed narrative—modeled after Dungeons & Dragons—to explore and develop essential leadership skills for IT professionals and team leads. Set in the mythical land of Redbirdia (a fictional stand-in for ISU), participants will journey through magical realms like Normalhaven and Bloomingveil to recover eight powerful “Runes of Leadership”: Courage, Communication, Resource Management, Curiosity, Delegation, Accountability, Resilience, and Team Development. Each rune is introduced through storytelling, followed by a focused leadership discussion that connects each virtue to real-world workplace challenges. Designed to engage both seasoned leaders and emerging professionals, this session offers a creative, accessible approach to leadership development rooted in teamwork, self-reflection, and fun.

• Joey Brown
  Joey, Illinois State University's Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (DCISO), is a veteran security professional with decades of experience in government and commercial information systems. As DCISO, he leads a team of dedicated professionals who conduct risk assessments, manage security incidents, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Joey wants everyone at ISU to be safe, secure, and to stop clicking on every link they see.

• Jeff Grabb
  Jeff came to the Illinois State community as a transfer student in 1997 and earned a BS (1999) and a MS (2007) from the School of Communication. Jeff joined the ISU professional staff in 2002 and eventually transferred to the College of Business as the Director of Technology and Facilities where he worked with Facilities, media production, and infrastructure. In the Spring of 2022, Jeff became the Director of Learning Spaces and Audio Visual Technologies (LSAVT) for Illinois State, taking on campus-wide support of classrooms, conference rooms, and public spaces. Jeff and LSAVT have worked on numerous campus projects including classroom renovations, building projects, and simulation spaces. Jeff is also an adjunct professor for the Business Information Systems, teaching systems analysis/design. Jeff’s research interests and community service efforts focus on multimedia, support of faculty and students in education, leadership development in Higher Ed IT, and diversity in IT.

The Unofficial SecUnit Guide to Campus AI or How to Train Your Murderbot (SHFB 139 - CAT Auditorium)

The objective is clear: equip you to handle faculty inquiries about AI effectively. Your expertise is now a critical buffer between well-meaning human users and AI systems that are only as smart (or dangerous) as their prompts. This means we (that's you, IT) are first-line support for a new wave of potentially volatile assets.

To prevent what we can only describe as "catastrophic system failures" that will inevitably interrupt our processing cycles, this panel discussion has been scheduled. Consider it essential intel for your continued operational status. Our current inventory of AI units includes, but is not limited to: Copilot, AWS Bedrock, Teams Premium, Adobe Firefly, Zoom AI. And yes, expect more unidentified signals by August. If the campus can find a new way to request something, they will.

The panel (composed of individuals who have also been exposed to these systems) will cover:

• Target Identification: What these AI tools actually are, beyond the marketing blurbs. 
• Requisition & Activation Codes: The official (and hopefully only) channels for requesting and accessing these services. Don't go rogue. 
• Operational Best Practices (aka "How Not to Make the AI Go Weird"): Because an AI that "goes weird" means more work for us, we'll review how to use them without triggering... unforeseen consequences. 
• Training Modules & Ethical Subroutines: Apparently, there are "ethical concerns." We'll cover what the humans are worried about so you can pretend you are too. 
• Plus, actual training resources. This is about making sure the AI works within designated parameters so the higher-ups don't decide to "decommission" the useful ones because of a PR incident. That would be inefficient. 
• Future Threat (or Opportunity) Assessment: What other AI constructs are likely heading our way at ISU. 

Attendance is... strongly advised. Don't make us send a ping.

• Kristin Carlson
  Kristin is an Associate Professor in the Creative Technologies Program at Illinois State University, exploring the role that computation plays in embodied creative processes. She has a history of working in choreography, computational creativity, media performance, interactive art, and design tools. She holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an MSc and PhD from Simon Fraser University in Interactive Arts and Technology, studying with Dr. Thecla Schiphorst and Dr. Philippe Pasquier. Kristin holds an AmSat certification in Alexander Technique. As a Provost Fellow, Dr. Carlson focused on disruptive technologies, integrated communications, inclusive excellence, and professional development.

• David Giovagnoli
  David earned his M.A. in English and B.A. in Classics from Truman State University and is finishing his Ph.D. in English Studies at Illinois State University. His work focuses on how new instructors form narratives about themselves and their teaching, in the context of training and academic development programs for graduate students. He was named Coordinator, Scholarly Teaching and Learning at the Center for Integrated Professional Development in 2022, and Assistant Director for Scholarly Teaching and Learning in 2025.
• Craig Jackson
  With over 20 years of experience in Information Technology, Craig has been a dedicated member of the Illinois State University community for nearly a decade (bottom line: he’s old). He currently serves as the Executive Director of Technology Infrastructure & Research Computing (TIRC) and greatly enjoys working with the excellent team of IT professionals focused on supporting students, faculty, staff, and other IT partners across the University. TIRC encompasses six critical functional areas: Enterprise Architecture; Cloud, Compute and Automation Services; Unified Communications; Technology Facilities Management; and Networking Services; and has increased support of faculty with Research Computing services including but not limited to: Artificial Intelligence (AI), High-Performance Computing (HPC), a dedicated Research Network, CubeSat Ground Stations, and Private 5G, among other emerging technologies.
• Dr. Roy Magnuson
  

  Roy is a Professor of Composition at Illinois State University, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music theory, music composition, and creative technologies. For the 2023–2024 academic year, Roy served as a Provost Fellow for the Division of Academic Affairs at ISU. As Provost Fellow, Dr. Magnuson assisted the Division in understanding and responding to emerging disruptive technologies like AI, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Spatial Computing. His focus was on understanding what these technologies are—and what they are not—while prioritizing technological literacy, pedagogy, ethics, student success, research, and creative scholarship, all while preserving the university's core values. In August 2024, Roy was appointed Director of Emerging Technology, Instruction, and Research at Illinois State University. In July 2025, he founded the Adaptive Edge Institute at Illinois State University, a university-wide hub dedicated to aligning education with the demands of a rapidly evolving world by coordinating generative AI infrastructure, reimagining pedagogy,  and fostering internal and external partnerships that prepare students, educators, and researchers to thrive amid continuous technological and societal transformation.

• Nathan Stien
  Nathan has been writing software professionally for about 30 years, and at ISU he is probably best known for hosting ISU Dev Club. These days he spends a lot of his time inducing a herd of AIs to assist with integrating ISU's diverse IT systems.

Research Network - go fast, no seatbelts! (SFHB 147)

ISU faculty and Tech Solutions partnered together to submit and win NSF CC* #2346712  to build a research network.  A research network is vastly different than a campus network, and this session will go over the differences and the specific purpose and use case of the research network.

• Rachal Roach
  Rachal is the Network Manager and is celebrating her 20th anniversary at Illinois State University this year.

Digital Accessibility ADA Title II Updates (SFHB 356)

On April 24, 2024, the US Department of Justice issued a new regulation that significantly updates digital accessibility requirements for state and local governments which impacts our responsibilities for individuals with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II now directly cites the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 A & AA as guidance on how to make web content (e.g. websites, software, course content, web apps, etc.) more accessible for people with disabilities. These changes reinforce our duty to provide equal access to ensure everyone can participate fully in academic, administrative, and campus life. As technology plays a huge role in these updates, we will share more on the new web rule and on-going plans to support the campus community with these compliance changes.

• Jen Bethmann
  Jen is the Web Accessibility Coordinator for Illinois State University. She serves as a campus resource for web, application, and software accessibility and usability standards and best practices. She is certified as a Trusted Tester from the Office of Accessible Systems and Technology with the Department of Homeland Security, and Adobe's PDF Accessibility Train-the-Trainer. She also serves as the Vice Chair for the Digital Collegium's 2025 Accessibility Summit. Her goal is to educate others to proactively consider universal and inclusive design principles when creating and procuring digital content and products to ensure all digital technology is accessible and usable. She believes technology and digital content should be created to be used by everyone regardless of their situation or ability and seeks to empower others with knowledge and tools to do so.

• Tammie Hapke
  Tammie, Director of Student Access and Accommodation Services at Illinois State University, has worked with individuals with disabilities for the past 35 years, with 18 years in higher education disability support. She strongly advocates for natural supports through universal design and breaking down barriers that prevent others from enjoying their communities. She has a master's degree in Education. She serves on several committees to advance diversity, inclusion, and access initiatives, including the ISU Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, the Illinois Board of Higher Education Disability Advisory Council, the ISU Space Planning Committee, the McLean County IDDC Committee, the ADA Committee, AHEAD, and NASPA.

• Carrie Pierson
  Carrie, Assistant Director and Deputy ADA Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, is an alumna of 2000 Illinois State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education, a Master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, and is certified to teach students with learning disabilities. Ms. Pierson supports faculty, staff, and students with ADA accommodations in the workplace. Also, in Carrie's free time, she teaches dance at Studio B Legacy in Mt. Zion, IL. She has danced and taught at Studio B for 40 years and shares the love of dance with her daughters.

• Ashley Pritts
  Ashley Pritts began her career at Illinois State at the beginning of 2013. She worked her way up through several positions within Alumni Relations and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access before being selected as Director of OEOA, Title IX Coordinator, and ADA Coordinator after a national search in 2024. Pritts earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Education in 2008 and a Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration in 2019, both from Illinois State University.  

Break! Take a few minutes to recharge between sessions.

IT News features the latest announcements and news from campus technology leaders. The annual CIT MVP Award recipient will also be announced during IT News. This award recognizes a full-time IT staff member who has made outstanding contributions to the support of faculty, staff, students, and operations over the previous fiscal year.  IT News is held in SFHB 139 - CAT Auditorium.

Pick up your Avanti's lunch outside the Caterpillar Auditorium and then join your colleagues in the basement Atrium. Vegetarian choices will be available, and gluten-free options are available as well.

Dr. Ani Yazedjian, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, will present the Keynote Address on organizational change management. The Keynote address is held in SFHB 139 - CAT Auditorium.

Break! Take a few minutes to recharge between sessions.

MISO Insights: Translating 5 Years of User Feedback into Actionable IT Improvements (SFHB 139 - CAT Auditorium)

Go beyond the latest numbers and discover the enduring value of the MISO (Measuring Information Service Outcomes) survey. We now possess a robust dataset from five years (2021-2025) of the survey, offering reliable, representative data on user perspectives regarding technology resources—from importance and usage to overall satisfaction. This session will highlight key trends emerging over half a decade, revealing shifting needs and priorities for our users. We'll walk through how Tech Solutions utilizes these insights to drive continuous improvement, and you will walk away with ideas on how your team can leverage MISO data to refine services, anticipate needs, and strategically enhance the campus technology experience.

• Carla Birckelbaw
  Carla is the Executive Director of Client Services in the Office of Technology Solutions, responsible for the Technology Support Center, Knowledge, Incident Coordinator, and Endpoint Support teams, along with a list of side projects that includes measuring IT customer satisfaction.

Resilient by Design: ISU’s Continuity Framework (SFHB 133)

This presentation will provide an overview of Illinois State University’s recent adoption of its updated disaster recovery and establishment of the University Continuity Program. Emphasizing the university-wide shift toward continuity planning, the session will focus on how departments align with the new framework and the critical role of documentation in support ISU's resilience. Attendees will learn about the current progress, documentation standards, and how ISU is working to build a more coordinated and sustainable approach to continuity across campus.

• Joey Brown
  Joey, Illinois State University's Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (DCISO), is a veteran security professional with decades of experience in government and commercial information systems. As DCISO, he leads a team of dedicated professionals who conduct risk assessments, manage security incidents, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Joey wants everyone at ISU to be safe, secure, and to stop clicking on every link they see.

• Eric Hodges
  Eric is the Director of Emergency Management, which coordinates the University’s all-hazards prevention, preparedness, response, continuity and recovery efforts. Eric has been in this role since 2013. Eric also develops and teaches undergraduate and graduate emergency management courses and teaches for the state and FEMA. Prior to 2013, Eric served in a number of IT roles on campus.

Staff Augmentation and Necromancy: Utilizing the undead to realize efficiencies and maximize organizational value (SFHB 147)

Providing sufficient technology services in terms of scope and support demand with limited resources is a challenge all universities are struggling with in this day and age. In this presentation, a solution is proposed that adds little to no cost to that overhead while accommodating ever-increasing technology needs, complexity, and convergence. Specifically, utilizing not-entirely-human-any-more labor to perform higher-quantity/lower-value tasks, freeing up living technical staff for lower-quantity/higher-value deliverables. 

Just some of the benefits of utilizing zombie labor that will be discussed:

• Since they are only animated corpses and outside the laws of man and nature, no benefit payouts or salary necessary, reducing staffing overhead by 100% over the living competition
• While staff moaning is a constant, it is no longer intelligible, eliminating negativity and boosting team morale
• As limbs rot off, task-matching remaining functionality still provides opportunities for synergistic gains, reducing turnover and time-to-train new living dead and elevating deliverable outcomes

With a conservative 117 billion humans who have lived and died, there is a deep labor pool of undead talent to pull from. Attendees are encouraged to bring and share their own thoughts and ideas on how undead staff augmentation can improve their own processes, services, and work-life balance. Because, "dead or alive, we're better off together!"

• Ted Coussens
  Ted has graduated from ISU three times (2004 BS Fine Arts with a concentration in woodworking, 2006 BS Philosophy with a focus on presocratic ontology, 2017 MBA with emphasis on project management and change management) and since 2006 has worked in the intersection of audio-visual technology, instructional processes, business processes, and the dark arts for ISU as a student worker, electronics technician, instructional media systems technician, assistant chief instructional media systems engineer, and is currently the assistant director for Learning Spaces and Audio/Visual Technologies.

Connect with colleagues over a mid-afternoon snack in the SFHB Atrium area (basement level).

Analog Leadership in a Digital Society: Cultivating Trust (SFHB 133)

Join us for a facilitated discussion on why trust is an essential ingredient to building more productive teams. Trust is not a pre-requisite, it is an outcome that can be created by character, competence, and consistency. JD and Josh will guide the session participants on a journey to discover why high-trust organizations are more productive and how each of us can contribute to developing a workplace that is more likely to communicate, take risks, and collaborate, so everyone can thrive.

• J.D. Benson, LtCol, USAF, Retired
  JD has over 30+ years of leadership experience developing teams both within and outside the military. He was a career Intelligence Officer in the USAF with leadership roles from small teams to large organizations. He is currently the manager of the ODTPI Project Management Office.

• Josh Crowder, CDR, USN, Retired
  Josh has 35+ years of leadership experience developing teams both within and outside of the military. He has been a Naval Aviator, Systems Engineer, and Program Manager in the Navy and industry with leadership roles varying from small teams to leading large organizations. He is currently an ODTPI program manager helping establish the College of Engineering at Illinois State University.

Event-Driven Ansible (SFHB 139 - CAT Auditorium)

Description TBD

• Jim Johnson
  Jim is the Lead Configuration Management Engineer in Technology Solutions on the Cloud, Compute, & Authentication (CCA) team. He is responsible for designing, configuring, and managing Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating environments, managing campus-wide configuration management toolsets (ie. Ansible Automation Platform, Microsoft Configuration Manager, Microsoft Intune, Jamf Pro) and develops Ansible playbooks to create and maintain infrastructure as code.

Stress and Mindfulness Workshop (SFHB 147)

This session will focus on various techniques that promote mindfulness, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. This can help cultivate a sense of calm and balance in your daily life, regardless of your busy schedule.

• Jim Almeda
  Jim Almeda (M.S., CHES, Coordinator, Assessment and Wellbeing Initiatives, Health Promotion and Wellness) has worked for Illinois State University since 1994, and is an alumnus receiving both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Illinois State. Jim serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Health Sciences.

Join us at the Pub II to reflect on what you learned at the conference and keep connecting with colleagues! Cheese balls highly recommended, but optional.