Vanguard University

Keep these higher education IT leaders, bloggers, podcasters and social media personalities on your radar. 

Anyone who works in higher education knows the value of IT. Colleges and universities are entering a new normal for education, and it’s up to technology leaders to guide them into this new frontier. From hybrid learning to cybersecurity, universities are facing new challenges, making new investments, and learning new skills and lessons along the way.

For our 2022 list of higher ed IT influencers to follow, EdTech: Focus on Higher Education chose 30 people using their platforms to propel universities forward. Whether they’re working with educators to boost their digital teaching skills or promoting diversity and inclusivity in collegiate esports, these influencers are making waves at their institutions. Take a look at this year’s list of higher education IT leaders, bloggers, podcasters and social media personalities and give them a follow.

If you’re on the list, share the news with your followers! And don’t forget to grab our influencer images for your own social media pages or websites.

Adam Antor

Adam Antor is Florida Southern College’s director of esports and chair of the National Association of Collegiate Esports Competition Council. His streaming talk show, Collegiate Esports Talk, can be found on his Twitch channel and covers hot topics in high school and collegiate esports.

Ann Gagné

Ann Gagné is an educational developer for the University of Toronto who emphasizes accessible and inclusive instructional design in her work. She runs the All Things Pedagogical blog, where she dives deep into pedagogical ethics and instructional technology.

Bennett Newsome

Bennett Newsome is the esports strategist for Full Sail University’s Armada esports team, where he works on a range of initiatives that include directing the varsity team, collaborating on networking and partnerships, and guiding the Armada’s Stream Team student broadcasters. Newsome is also a Twitch partner, specializing in community building and gaming.

Bonni Stachowiak

Bonni Stachowiak is dean of teaching and learning at Vanguard University, leading the Institute for Faculty Development. Bringing a passion for equipping educators with digital tools to the airwaves, Stachowiak also hosts the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, which features interviews with educators on topics ranging from digital pedagogy to work-life balance.

Casey Fiesler

Casey Fiesler is an assistant professor in the Department of Information Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, where her research focuses on governance and ethics, online communities and more. Outside of the university setting, Fiesler runs a popular YouTube channel and TikTok account that cover topics relating to digital ethics, technology law and academia.

Catherine Knight Steele

In addition to her role as assistant professor of communication at University of Maryland, College Park, Catherine Knight Steele is director of the university’s Black Communication and Technology Lab, where her research focuses on Black culture and discourse and digital communication. She is the author of Digital Black Feminism, a book that explores the relationship between Black women and the past, present and future of technology.

David Seidl

David Seidl is the IT vice president and CIO at Miami University in Ohio. Before his time at Miami University, he was director of information security at the University of Notre Dame, where he co-led the cloud migration and operationalization of the university’s data center. He is a thought leader and conversation starter on Twitter, frequently participating in discussions with other technology leaders, both in and out of higher ed.

Edtech 30 Higher Education IT Influencers to follow in 2022 Article