Time: April 9, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Speakers: Przemyslaw Bosak
Since the onset of computers, they have been used to create new modes of expression, enhance creativity, and make complex artistic forms possible, always at the service to the artist, though. Is AI a threat to upset this decades-old hierarchy? If so, how? What does the future look like for musicians in the age of Generative AI? In this presentation Przemyslaw Bosak will attempt to answer these questions by tracing the evolution of human-machine collaboration in music, drawing examples from important historical figures and his own musical practice. The talk will highlight the importance of University of Illinois (the birthplace of computer music) in how it’s shaped this evolution for generations of musicians.
Time: April 10, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Speakers: Craig Boassaly
Creating truly accessible digital experiences requires more than just passing a validation check; it demands a strategic shift in how we plan, design, and maintain content. This session explores the complete lifecycle of accessible content from web and documents to video, demonstrating why accessibility must start at the planning stage.
President, Eliquo Training
craig.boassaly@eliquotraining.com
Session: Beyond the Checkbox: Accessible Design for Humans in an AI World
Time: April 10th, 9:45 – 10:45 am
Craig Boassaly is a digital accessibility educator and corporate training leader with more than two decades of experience teaching professionals how to create accessible digital content. As the Founder and President of Eliquo Training & Development, Craig has helped public-sector and enterprise organizations train designers, marketing teams, communications staff, and content creators to apply WCAG accessibility standards in real-world workflows.
Head of University Strategy and Outreach
Session: Unlocking Team Potential: How the Six Working Genius Types Drive Success
Time: April 10th, 8:30 – 9:30 am
Professional background: Masha Trenhaile serves as Head of University Strategy and Outreach for Bayer Crop Science, where she identifies strategic university partnerships, fosters relationships with faculty and administrators, and develops talent pipelines across leading research institutions. A licensed and certified Six Types of Working Genius facilitator, Masha brings over 15 years of experience bridging the worlds of business development, operations, and strategic relationship building. She earned her Master of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has built a distinguished career creating meaningful connections between industry and academia, including working on developing the Research Park at the University of Illinois. Masha’s current work includes orchestrating large-scale university engagement programs such as Bayer R&D Hackathon Series and the Bayer’s “Bring Them In” initiative as well as spearheading partnerships that advance agricultural research and innovation. An active community leader, she has served as a director for the Public Art League and board member for Sinfonia da Camera and has been a generous sponsor of the Krannert Center for Performing Arts. Originally from Ukraine, Masha is passionate about helping organizations unlock their team’s potential and applying the Six Types of Working Genius framework to enhance productivity, satisfaction, and collaboration in professional settings.
Personal background: I wasn’t supposed to move to the U.S. permanently. But a few days after my family arrived in Oklahoma where my mother would be a visiting professor, the Soviet Union collapsed, and my native Ukraine became an independent nation. I finished high school and college in Oklahoma but came to Champaign-Urbana to the University of Illinois to study for a master’s in advertising; during my first day of Graduate Student orientation, I saw the man (Brent) who eventually became my husband. I continue to live in Champaign – Urbana and have two kids, Misha and Leeza. If you have ever watched Masha and the bear, that cartoon is about me. 😊
Time: April 9, 8:45 pm – 9:45 pm
Speakers: Chris Tidrick
Chris will share lessons from his career at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and how integrity has been a constant, guiding principle in his leadership journey. While tools, programs, and strategies evolve, how you put these things into action—especially when no one is watching—matters far more than the things themselves. Chris will challenge the audience to prioritize authenticity, honesty, and a people-first mindset as leaders, because lasting leadership is built on character, not just capability.
CIO, Gies College of Business
ctidrick@illinois.edu
Session: Leading with Integrity from the Inside Out
Time: April 9th, 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Chris is a seasoned technology leader with over 30 years’ experience driving digital transformation in higher education. As the Chief Information Officer at Gies College of Business, he leads strategic initiatives to enhance data-driven decision-making, student success, and operational efficiency. He’s also helped facilitate the IT Leadership Workshop for the last 11 years. Before moving into management and leadership roles in 2012, he built websites and applications for University of Illinois Extension. He regularly shares his insights through podcasts, speaking engagements, and writing as @thinkfeellead on Substack.
Time: April 10, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Speakers: Matthew Luken
Design plays a critical role in digital accessibility. This team can help reduce 67% percent of defects & violations. Join us to learn best practices that all designers – UX, UI, Content, UX Researchers, and Graphic Designers – should be implementing to ensure their designs are as accessible as they can be prior to development.
Time: April 10, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Speakers: Junaid Majaz
This presentation investigates existing disparities in online education by gaining a deeper understanding of how students interact with virtual spaces and how new tools can be designed to enhance learning experience by understanding the needs of the audience. By identifying these gaps, his research seeks to: Create frameworks that improve the sense of belonging and engagement for all students. Prepare the next generation of teachers to effectively utilize emerging technologies and utilize design and technology to make high-quality education more accessible to a global audience.
Time: April 10, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Speakers: Cassidy Marcum, Charlotte (Peloquin) Voznyuk
Did you know that the average person scrolls through 300 feet of content on their phone every day… about the height of the Statue of Liberty? Good design isn’t just decoration, it’s essential for standing out in an oversaturated digital landscape. This session will explore how thoughtful design choices in social media and digital ads can capture attention and extend your brand’s reach and impact. Through examples of scroll-stopping campaigns, practical design strategies, and our social media tips and tricks, you’ll leave with actionable tools to design content that stands out and connects with your audiences.
Time: April 10, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Speakers: Kate McGowan
AI-driven search, from LLMs like ChatGPT and Perplexity to Google AI Mode, is reshaping how consumers discover brands, engage with website content, and convert. As search engines and generative models surface answers directly, institutions face declining brand visibility, fewer site visits, and mounting pressure on each visit to convert.In this session, we’ll show you how to adapt. You’ll learn how to leverage Google Analytics and other data platforms to measure the impact of AI search on your traffic and brand discovery, and how to interpret shifting audience behaviors. We’ll discuss strategies to optimize your website for the future of search and a compressed enrollment funnel that’s more difficult to track and attribute. Finally, we’ll share tips for future-proofing your content strategy to ensure your institution remains visible, relevant, and competitive in the era of AI search.
