Ohio Higher Education IT Leadership Summit 2023 (2024)

Michael Baston is the fifth president of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a national thought leader on the role of community colleges in shaping educational success; supporting regional workforce needs and economic growth; championing diversity, equity and inclusion reforms; and developing executive leadership teams.
As Tri-C president, Baston focuses on strengthening the College’s nearly 60-year mission of providing high-quality, affordable and accessible education and services. Since becoming president in July 2022, he has promoted access and success for the 41,000 credit and noncredit students attending Tri-C’s four campuses and other locations throughout the Cleveland area.
As a national Guided Pathways and Equity Transfer Initiative coach for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Baston is noted for his work with leadership teams at two- and four-year colleges across the nation, helping them integrate student success initiatives to advance college completion and labor market entry success.
Among many other professional honors and activities, Baston is co-chair of Jobs For the Future’s Policy Leadership Trust and a member of the AACC Board of Directors Executive Board, chairing its Audit and Finance Committee. He received the National Council on Student Development’s Terry O’Banion Gold Prize in 2015 and the NAACP Community Leadership Award in 2010.
Before leading Ohio’s largest community college, Baston served as president of Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. During his tenure (2017-2022), he led numerous initiatives to spur growth and increase educational pathways. Under his guidance, the college launched a new hospitality and culinary arts center; developed career and English skills academies to address middle-skill workforce needs; and significantly increased grants, capital and other funding. Before joining Rockland Community College, Baston was vice president of student affairs and associate provost at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, New York.
Baston began his career as an attorney representing various educational institutions and social justice organizations. His work with academic clients led him to pursue a second career in academics, both as a professor of legal studies and business and as a student affairs administrator.
Baston holds a B.A. from Iona College, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and an Ed.D. from St. John Fisher College.

Phil Bertolini is a senior vice president for Government Technology, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

Jim has worked for John Carroll University for nearly 39 years in numerous positions of IT leadership. He was appointed the Chief Information Officer in 2018 after serving as the Associate CIO, Director of Computing and System Services, and the Director of Networking and Systems. Burke is a respected leader in higher education and has a demonstrated ability to provide superior client experiences; he is skilled in identifying and enhancing individual team members’ strengths to maximize team effectiveness. Jim has extensive experience in all areas of information technology including enterprise applications, all computing environments from mobile devices to mainframes, telecommunications, local and wide-area networking, and video/CATV production and distribution systems. He is passionate about teaching and learning technologies and delivering effective learning environments and employs a management style that facilitates the successful and effective implementation of all information technologies. Jim completed his undergraduate studies in computer science at Cleveland State University and received his MBA in Computer Science from John Carroll University.

Brian Cohen is the Vice President of the Center for Digital Government and Center Digital Education, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government and education. Prior to joining the Center, Brian was Vice Chancellor and University CIO for the City University of New York (CUNY). As the Vice-Chancellor and University CIO at CUNY, Brian directed the Office of Computing and Information Services (CIS), developed, and managed the enterprise IT vision, strategy and day-to-day technology operations of the University. His areas of focus included academic and business systems, cloud strategies, IT policies and procedures, Cybersecurity, project management, IT resiliency and disaster recovery, and network and telecommunications. Brain also served in leadership roles with the City of New York. Among his many accomplishments, Brian developed the City of New York’s E-Government strategy, implemented the City’s award-winning nyc.gov website, and managed the City’s effort to address the Y2K technology challenge.

Micah Cooper serves as the Associate Vice President for Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO). In his current role, Cooper establishes the objectives, priorities, and plans for technology at the University in cooperation with University Leadership, develops appropriate budgets, staffing, and operating procedures to implement the University’s technology plans, works with the CFO, academic chairs and deans, and the Center for Teaching and Learning to ensure that appropriate technology resources are provided for the accomplishment of the academic mission of the University, and ensures that the University has the adequate and appropriate equipment, network, software, and technology infrastructure to support the needs of all University constituents. Prior to Cedarville, Cooper held positions at Miami University including Director of Information Technology at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Network Administrator, and Network and Senior Support Specialist. Cooper attended Miami University, graduating with a BS in communications and religion, and a MBA in Management Information Systems.
Mr. Cooper believes that “The role of the CIO isn’t to be the expert. It’s really the one who knows the people and how to bring people together,” He approaches technology as more than a necessity; for him, it’s about the interactions people have with each other because of it.

Brian Elms is a nationally recognized leader in innovation who has personally trained over 15,000 leaders across the country on how to make their government agencies, elected offices, and nonprofits work better for civil servants and residents alike.
The founder and CEO of Change Agents Training, Brian empowers professionals to rescue broken services and improve inefficient systems. His tailored change management courses make government processes more practical and powerful for employees and the people they serve.
Brian’s teachings have helped transform more than 50 cities and local governments as large as Boston and Miami-Dade County to Pittsburgh and San Rafael, California.
Brian is also the author of Peak Performance, an intensive guide behind the training methods and tools he developed over decades of public service and in his prior role as Director of Denver City and County Government’s Peak Academy. He currently serves as Faculty in Urban Leadership at University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Valerio Ferme, PhD, serves as the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, providing oversight and strategic direction for the University of Cincinnati's (UC) more than 50,000 students, 6,000 faculty and 13 academic colleges, the Graduate College, UC Online, and a collection of state-of-the-art university libraries. As the university's chief academic officer, Ferme oversees the human and fiscal resources that fuel UC’s academic and research mission with assistance from the academic deans and Provost senior staff while also supporting various aspects of faculty and student success.
Ferme joined UC in 2019 as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences - UC’s largest college - overseeing a $125 million budget and 21 departments. During his decanal term Ferme created a 21st Century Task Force to support the college’s strategic plan, spearheaded a college-wide commitment to sponsored research, expanded co-op and academic offerings, and created the position of Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Community Partnerships. Notably, Ferme successfully led the college through COVID-19 campus-to-remote transition, and despite the global pandemic, balanced the college budget for the first time since 2012 by reducing debt through operational efficiencies, increased research, and philanthropic partnerships.
Prior to UC, Ferme served as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Northern Arizona University from 2017-2019 and Divisional Dean for the Arts and Humanities at the University of Colorado from 2015-2017, where he also served as Chair of the Department of French and Italian for six years. During his decanal term at Northern Arizona University, Ferme successfully addressed budget deficits, increased underrepresented faculty hires, and bolstered collaborations between students and cultural organizations within the Flagstaff area. At the University of Colorado, Ferme’s work also focused on curricular enhancements as well as support for underrepresented minorities. In 2014, Ferme was recognized for his pedagogy with the Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Teaching Award and in 2017 for his work in Inclusive Excellence on behalf of staff and underrepresented graduate students with a Special Recognition Award from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement.
Ferme earned undergraduate degrees in Biology and Religious Studies at Brown University, a Master in Comparative Literature and Italian Studies from Indiana University and a PhD in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, where he was awarded Fulbright and Chancellor’s Fellowships. As a scholar, Ferme has published three monographs, three edited volumes, two scholarly translations and a bilingual collection of poetry, in addition to over 60 articles and reviews.

Dr. Matt Franz was appointed senior vice president for technology, safety, and strategic initiatives at Clark State Community College. Franz began his tenure with Clark State in July of 2013 and has served Clark State as director of information technology, chief information officer, vice president of information technology and vice president of information technology and emergency management. In his current role Franz continually seeks innovative ways to leverage new and existing technologies to meet strategic organizational needs. As an educational delivery organization, he strives to support the needs for data-informed decision making and processes in order to ensure the highest level of performance and opportunity. As the senior leader overseeing IT, Safety/Security and Strategic Planning for the college, agility and adaptability are critical. Franz sees how IT is converging with many other functional areas within higher education and the importance of maintaining healthy working relationships with all areas as essential. Franz received his BS in Management/Computer Information Systems from Park University, Master of Science in Administration Information Resource Management from University of Missouri – Columbia, and his Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Roueche Graduate Center – North American University.

Miro’s leadership and operational responsibilities include university-wide technology as well as managing the technology and related personnel within the Schools and units, technology communications, customer support services and digital/new media technologies services. In addition, he is introducing new and innovative strategies and solutions to service delivery and provides oversight to business development and client management. Miro joined the Senior Leadership Team in July 2017 and has been involved in implementing [Re]Imagining IT, the CWRU IT Strategic Plan.
Prior to Case Western, Miro worked at Cleveland State University (CSU) where he served most recently as the organization’s Chief Information Officer. At CSU, he also held the title of Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships as well as Enterprise Applications Manager. Miro holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and master’s in management and labor Relations. He was served as chair of the Ohio Inter University Council – CIO Committee, a member of the Hyland Software Higher Education Executive Advisory Board, has presented at several national conferences and published several articles. He also teaches graduate classes at the Monte Ahuja College of Business.

Prior to joining Ohio Northern University, Charlie Rose served on active duty in the United States Army for 20 years, retiring from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps prior to joining the faculty at Stetson University College of Law. Rose led Stetson’s nationally recognized Trial Advocacy Program, maintaining its no. 1 ranking in trial advocacy for 12 consecutive years. Rose is an expert in trial advocacy, evidence, skills teaching pedagogy, criminal procedure and military law. He is a prolific author and lecturer in these fields and has presented to audiences worldwide.

Dr. Melissa Shivers is the Senior Vice President for Student Life at The Ohio State University where she serves on the university’s senior administration team and provides leadership and strategic oversight on matters related to the student experience. She has broad leadership responsibility for numerous university operations affecting students outside the classroom, including the residential experience, dining services, the Ohio Union and student activities, student leadership and service, mental health support, career development, recreational sports, health care and wellness programs, disability services, the Center for Belonging and Social Change, off-campus and commuter student engagement, the student judicial process, student advocacy and crisis intervention.
Dr. Shivers came to Ohio State from the University of Iowa where she was the Vice President for Student Affairs. Prior to that, she spent seven years at the University of Tennessee, where she held various roles, including Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students. She also held positions at the University of Georgia, Clemson University and Georgia Southern University. Dr. Shivers has held faculty appointments at multiple institutions, including teaching a required Diversity in Higher Education course for students in Ohio State’s Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate program. She was also selected as a faculty member for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ Institute for Aspiring Vice Presidents for Student Affairs
She is a proud first-generation college graduate with a BS from Georgia Southern University in Communication Arts, a master's degree in Education, Counseling and Guidance Services from Clemson and a Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling and Student Personnel Services from the University of Georgia.
Dr. Shivers was honored as a 2022 Legend and Legacy by the King Arts Complex and was selected as a 2021 Diamond Honoree by ACPA, which is one of the highest honors bestowed by the international student affairs professional organization. Dr. Shivers is a member of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors’ Board of Directors, the Georgia Southern University’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Melvin C. Terrell Educational Foundation Board of Directors, the King Arts Complex Board of Directors, the Campus Partners Board of Directors, a university representative on The Ohio State University Foundation Board of Directors and member of the Association of Public Land-grant Universities Council on Student Affairs and its nominating committee. She was also recently named as one of 40 higher education leaders to follow on social media.
Dr. Shivers loves to travel and is a college football fan. She is passionate about removing barriers to student and staff success, serving her community and contributing to the world in ways that help to ensure the health, safety and security of others.

Standish Stewart serves as the Vice President of Information Technology Services and the Chief Information Officer at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). Throughout her 25-year career, she has worked for large consulting companies, mid-size nonprofit organizations, start-up technology firms, hospitals, and academic institutions. An avid problem solver, Stewart enjoys transforming processes to improve the student, faculty, and staff experience. She relishes hands-on technical work as much as crafting strategy and engaging with institutional leaders to innovate and embrace new technologies. Stewart earned her BS in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, an MS in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, and an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management from Cleveland State University.