CDO Magazine Top 30 Higher Education Data & AI Influencers 2026 List

The CDO Magazine Top 30 Higher Education Data & AI Influencers 2026 recognizes senior leaders driving meaningful change across North American higher education through data, analytics and artificial intelligence — advancing teaching, research, student success and institutional effectiveness.

Higher education is at a turning point. AI is reshaping how students learn, faculty teach, researchers innovate and institutions operate. At the same time, evolving student expectations, demographic shifts and resource constraints are increasing the need for trusted data, informed decision-making and responsible technology adoption.

The leaders recognized on this 2026 list are turning those challenges and opportunities into action.

Across their institutions, they are developing secure AI platforms and intelligent assistants, advancing AI-powered teaching and personalized learning, strengthening institutional analytics, improving student pathways and workforce outcomes, and expanding AI access and literacy. Their work ranges from individual campuses to statewide university and community college systems serving students and communities at scale.

Behind these advances is the leadership to make them last. These leaders are modernizing enterprise technology and data foundations, establishing AI governance and responsible-use frameworks, building institutional capabilities, and connecting innovation with academic and operational priorities. Many are also influencing the broader direction of higher education through research, policy development and cross-institutional collaboration.

Representing public and private universities, community college systems and districts, liberal arts colleges and specialized institutions across the United States and Canada, 2026 honorees reflect the many forms of leadership required to advance data and AI in higher education.

The CDO Magazine Top 30 Higher Education Data & AI Influencers 2026 honors leaders turning data and AI innovation into institutional impact — and shaping the future of higher education.

How Honorees Are Selected

Nitesh Chawla

University of Notre Dame

Lucy Family Director, Data & AI Academic Strategy

Mark Daley

Western University

Chief AI Officer

David Ebert

University of Arizona

Chief AI & Data Science Officer

Michelle Fischthal

San Diego Community College District

Vice Chancellor, Institutional Innovation & Effectiveness

Barbara Forth

William & Mary

Chief Data Officer

Liv Gjestvang

Denison University

Vice President & Chief Information Officer

Lev Gonick

Arizona State University

Enterprise Chief Information Officer

Craig Hayward

California
Community Colleges

Vice Chancellor, AI Strategy & Digital Transformation

Vasant Honavar

Penn State University

Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence

Braden Hosch

Stony Brook University

Vice President, Educational & Institutional Effectiveness

James Hunt

Florida State University

Associate Vice Provost, Chief Data & Analytics Officer

Klara Jelinkova

Harvard University

Vice President
& University CIO

Thorsten Joachims

Cornell University

Vice Provost, Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Anupam Joshi

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Vice Provost
& Chief AI Officer

David Joyner

Georgia Tech

Interim Vice Provost,
AI in Education

Vince Kellen

Texas A&M
University System

Chief Information Officer

Olivia Kew

Vanderbilt University

Chief Data Officer

Susan McCahan

University of Toronto

Associate Vice-President
& Vice-Provost,
Digital Strategies

Manish Parashar

University of Utah

Chief AI Officer

Ravi Pendse

University of Michigan

Vice President, Information Technology & Chief Information Officer

Sharon Pitt

Virginia Tech

Vice President, Information Technology & Chief Information Officer

Bharath Prabhakaran

University of Cincinnati

Vice President,
Chief Digital Officer

Elizabeth Reilley

University of North Carolina System

Vice President,
Digital Transformation
& Chief AI Officer

Julie Schell

The University of
Texas at Austin

Assistant Vice Provost, Academic Technology

Bill Schneider

North Carolina Community College System

Vice President, System Effectiveness

Amarda Shehu

George Mason University

Vice President & Chief AI Officer

Ashutosh Singhal

Meharry Medical College

Chief Data Officer & Associate Vice President, Clinical Data Stewardship

Timothy Summers

Morgan State University

VP, Information Technology, Chief Digital & Information Officer

David Wiley

Marshall University

Chief Academic AI Officer

Jena Zangs

University of St. Thomas

Chief Data & AI Officer

Defining Excellence:
How Honorees Were Chosen

The CDO Magazine Top 30 Higher Education Data & AI Influencers 2026 was independently researched, evaluated and curated by CDO Magazine's editorial team.

Editorial research focused on senior leaders with substantive responsibility for advancing data, analytics, AI and digital transformation across North American higher education. Institutions considered included public and private universities, colleges, community college systems and districts, and specialized academic institutions.

Candidates were identified through peer nominations, recommendations from CDO Magazine's staff, and independent research.

Every candidate was evaluated using the same editorial standards and consistent review process. While partners may submit nominations, they do not influence the editorial evaluation, curation or final selection of honorees.

Each candidate was evaluated based on:

Institutional Strategy: Leadership of institutional data, analytics and AI strategy and transformation aligned with institutional priorities and mission.
Measurable Impact: Demonstrated improvements in student success, institutional effectiveness, operational efficiency, resource allocation or decision-making.
AI Innovation: Advancement and adoption of AI across teaching, learning, research, student services and institutional operations.
Governance & Trust: Leadership in data quality, governance, privacy, security, ethics and responsible AI.
Organizational Leadership: Building teams, capabilities, partnerships and cross-functional adoption of data, analytics and AI.
Sector Influence: Contributions to the broader higher education data and AI community through speaking, publishing, mentoring, advisory or board participation and other forms of thought leadership.

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