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Welcome to the GPN & ARE-ON Joint Conference 2026 schedule. Use this page to browse sessions, view speaker and session details, and build your personal agenda for June 22–24 in Rogers, Arkansas. Check back through May as additional sessions and details are added.
Audience: IT Leaders clear filter
Monday, June 22
 

9:30am CDT

*Workshop: Setting Up and Maintaining a Science DMZ - Part I

If you need a secure network that firewalls research activities from your enterprise network, this is a workshop for you. Providing a framework for implementing segmented, locally managed academic technology environments for cybersecurity, networking, wireless, and advanced computing programs, a DMZ allows researchers to engage freely with their data without the concerns faced on the larger campus network. The proposed architecture uses isolated wired and wireless zones, internal firewalls, localized virtualization, and edge-level administrative control to support hands-on instruction — including red/blue team exercises, wireless security testing, and data-intensive computing — while protecting institutional systems.


Max Attendee Tickets Available: 25
*IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Attendees must first complete their Joint Conference registration prior to attending this workshop. In addition, pre-registration for this workshop session is required at: https://gpnandareonjointconference2026.eventbrite.com/


Speakers
avatar for Jason Zurawski

Jason Zurawski

Science Engagement Engineer, ESnet
Monday June 22, 2026 9:30am - 11:30am CDT
NWACC Shewmaker Center For Global Business Development-Peterson Auditorium 900 SE Eagle Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA
 
Tuesday, June 23
 

8:15am CDT

Keynote: The State of Fiber with Its Role in Building A.I. Infrastructure

The United States is experiencing unprecedented investment in fiber infrastructure, with fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment accelerating toward near-universal coverage of homes and businesses by the end of the decade. At the same time, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of demand for high-capacity fiber networks to connect data centers and support next-generation digital infrastructure. What do these converging investment cycles mean for the future of broadband, networks, and the broader technology ecosystem? As you're planning your campus and state infrastructures, renewing your leased broadband services, and navigating the emerging landscape of a BEAD universal connectivity deployment, learn what this means for you, your campus, and your students. 
Speakers
avatar for Gary Bolton

Gary Bolton

President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
Gary Bolton is President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), the largest industry association dedicated to advancing all-fiber-optic broadband networks. Prior to joining FBA, he held senior executive roles at both venture-backed technology startups and large publicly... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

8:45am CDT

Gary Bolton Q&A: How Will Advances in Broadband and Fiber Technologies Change My Program?
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is reshaping broadband infrastructure across the country, and state implementation is where policy meets reality. This panel brings together stakeholders from across the region to share where their states stand — what's working, where the friction is, and how institutions like universities and research networks fit into the buildout. Gary Bolton, President of the Fiber Broadband Association, moderates.
At the conclusion of his keynote session, Gary Bolton will field questions from a panel of Research and Education Network leaders and the audience members on the future of fiber and advanced needs for campus/community broadband connections.
Moderators
avatar for Mickey Slimp

Mickey Slimp

Executive Director, Great Plains Network
Recently joined GPN after working on NTIA, HUD, and HRSA grants in Texas. Now constructing a home near UAMS, UALR, and Philander Smith University in Little Rock.
Speakers
avatar for Gary Bolton

Gary Bolton

President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
Gary Bolton is President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), the largest industry association dedicated to advancing all-fiber-optic broadband networks. Prior to joining FBA, he held senior executive roles at both venture-backed technology startups and large publicly... Read More →
avatar for Chris Crook

Chris Crook

KanREN
KanREN, the national leader in public service connectivity, provides Internet and
network technologies to research, education, and public service institutions in
Kansas. Connect to the exclusive high-speed network that connects Research,
Education and Community Anchors throughout Ka... Read More →
avatar for John Woods

John Woods

Network Engineer – CORE/Optical, MOREnet
John Woods is a Principal Network Engineer and highly valued member of MOREnet’s Core Network team, where he has contributed his expertise for nearly 17 years. With a specialized focus on optical networking, he plays a key role in designing, optimizing, and maintaining the organization’s... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 8:45am - 9:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

11:00am CDT

Phantoms in the Portal: Ghost Students and Financial Aid Fraud

Higher Education is under attack by ghosts. I know how crazy that sounds, but according to a U.S. Department of Education press release form May 2025, approximately $90 million in federal student aid has been awarded and released to ineligible recipients in the prior three years. Your institution may have already dealt with this, is currently dealing with this, or could fall victim in the future.  Our goal in this session is to learn who these ghosts are, what they want, and discuss methods used by other institutions to stop them and mitigate resulting damage left behind.
Speakers
avatar for Natalie McNish

Natalie McNish

Director of Internal Audit & Risk Management, Missouri State University
Natalie B. McNish serves as the Director of Internal Audit and Risk Management at Missouri State University, where she leads efforts to strengthen governance, ensure compliance, and promote effective risk management practices. With a strong background in auditing and organizational... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador C 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

12:30pm CDT

State of ARE-ON: Built for What's Next

Twenty years of investment in shared research and education infrastructure has changed what is possible for Arkansas higher education and healthcare. This session reflects on that progress, examines the current state of ARE-ON's network and services, and turns to the strategic questions that will define the next era. Attendees will hear from ARE-ON Executive Director Elon Turner and learn how to engage in an upcoming formal strategic planning process.
Speakers
avatar for Elon Turner

Elon Turner

Executive Director, ARE-ON
Elon has spent his entire career in education IT, with seven years in K-12 and thirteen years in higher education as both a technical practitioner and in technology leadership roles. He believes there is no greater way to impact the future of Arkansas and the quality of where he lives... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 12:30pm - 12:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

1:00pm CDT

Keynote: Internet2's Support for State Networks

Tripti Sinha, President and CEO of Internet2, discusses Internet2's role in supporting state research and education networks and the evolving national R&E infrastructure landscape. From network infrastructure and cloud services to identity, research computing, and community programs, this session offers a direct look at how Internet2 and networks like GPN and ARE-ON work together to serve institutions of every type. The session also explores why collaboration is the foundation of a competitive R&E ecosystem and offers a practical look at emerging technologies that every institution should have on its radar.
Speakers
avatar for Tripti Sinha

Tripti Sinha

President and CEO, Internet2
Tripti Sinha is the President and CEO of Internet2, where she champions the organization’s core mission of enabling U.S. higher education and research institutions to collaborate on mission-critical technology services.Sinha is a leader in information technology, operations, governance... Read More →
Tuesday June 23, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

4:00pm CDT

Building Collaborations Using Non-Research Funding Mechanisms

Building collaborations by using non-research funding mechanisms
Using federal and state funding sources to imagine sustainability, collaborations, customer engagement.
Audience: CIOs / CTOs, Grant Administrators and PIs, Faculty and Academic Researchers
Speakers
avatar for Michael Wallace

Michael Wallace

Asst. Director, UAMS IDHI e-Link
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Martin Maize

Sr. PM, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

4:30pm CDT

GPN Statewide Initiatives in Quantum Technologies

The Statewide Quantum Computing Working Group is a multi-disciplinary collaborative initiative launched in March 2026 to establish an integrated educational framework for quantum computing curricula across Arkansas. Led by the Emerging Analytics Center at UA Little Rock, the group brings together academic faculty from the Arkansas Quantum Network, industry partners, and technical experts to bridge expertise gaps in the field. Its primary goal is to develop shared instructional materials and identify best practices for research data management and cyberinfrastructure to prepare a highly skilled STEM workforce.

The key takeaway for attendees is the opportunity to participate in the co-development of a foundational Quantum Computing Curricula designed for use by academic institutions throughout Arkansas.

Audience: CIOs / CTOs, VPs of IT, IT Directors and Managers, Network Engineers and Administrators, Cybersecurity Professionals, HPC & Research Computing Professionals, Grant Administrators and PIs, Faculty and Academic Researchers, New and Emerging IT Professionals
Speakers
avatar for Tom Coffin

Tom Coffin

EAC UA Little Rock
virtual reality; quantum; viz
Tuesday June 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
 
Wednesday, June 24
 

8:00am CDT

Keynote: Transform IT, Transform Everything in the Higher Education Industry

In this presentation, we will discuss external and internal forces that are dramatically changing the higher education ecosystem in conjunction with the exponential rate of change impacting IT. The impact of multiple and dynamic changes in funding, agentic AI, data quality, post-quantum encryption, culture, and ERPs, on pedagogy, research, and administration are core to the discussion. We will discuss how to successful to pivot an Education IT organization in this era of non-trivial transformation.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Roman

Mark Roman

Managing Partner for Education, Info-Tech Research Group
Mark Roman is the Managing Partner for Education and works with members throughout the higher education and K-12 sectors around the world. He is responsible for the delivery of Info-Tech services to members and the alignment of research with the education sector's needs.

https://w... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

9:00am CDT

IT Leadership Across Arkansas: Challenges and Priorities from the ARE-ON Member Community

Senior IT leaders from ARE-ON member institutions share what's driving their priorities right now, from budget and staffing to AI adoption and cybersecurity. This panel offers an honest look at the state of campus IT across Arkansas. Moderated by ARE-ON Executive Director Elon Turner.

Eddie Mahar - Associate VP of IT and CIO - Northwest Arkansas Community College
Eric Boardway - Director of IT - National Park College
Chris Lee - CIO - University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Jon Kelley - Associate VP, Technology - Art and Wellness Enterprises

Moderators
avatar for Elon Turner

Elon Turner

Executive Director, ARE-ON
Elon has spent his entire career in education IT, with seven years in K-12 and thirteen years in higher education as both a technical practitioner and in technology leadership roles. He believes there is no greater way to impact the future of Arkansas and the quality of where he lives... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

10:45am CDT

State of the State Networks

Leaders from state research and education networks across the Great Plains Network region will give brief updates on what's driving their work and strategy. Each network representative covers the priorities, projects, and challenges shaping their state's R&E network, offering a fast-moving, multi-state view of where the region is headed.
Moderators
avatar for John Hennessey

John Hennessey

Asociate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology & OneNet | CIO, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Speakers
avatar for Scott Ramoly

Scott Ramoly

Chief Technology Officer, ARE-ON
Chief Technology Officer – ARE-ON
Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network
avatar for Chris Kolsrud

Chris Kolsrud

Chief Technology and Security Officer, SD Board of Regents
avatar for Andrew Buker

Andrew Buker

Assistant Vice President, Infrastructure Services, University of Nebraska System
Andrew is an Assistant Vice President at the University of Nebraska System, leading Infrastructure Services.
avatar for Natasha Angell

Natasha Angell

Executive Director, MOREnet
avatar for Chris Crook

Chris Crook

KanREN
KanREN, the national leader in public service connectivity, provides Internet and
network technologies to research, education, and public service institutions in
Kansas. Connect to the exclusive high-speed network that connects Research,
Education and Community Anchors throughout Ka... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936

10:45am CDT

Resilient IT: Winning with People and Process

This keynote presents research on how IT organizations can build resilience in the face of environmental turbulence by focusing on the foundational pillars of IT service quality (people) and IT governance (process). Drawing on a study of 157 IT leaders, it demonstrates that resilience is not reactive, but proactively developed through mature governance practices and a strong service culture. Attendees will gain practical, research-backed insights on how to strengthen their IT organizations to adapt, recover, and lead through disruption.

Attendees will leave with a clear, actionable framework to strengthen IT organizational resilience by intentionally advancing IT service quality (people) and IT governance maturity (process), enabling them to lead their organizations more effectively through disruption.

Meeting Audience: CIOs / CTOs, VPs of IT
Speakers
avatar for Wesam Helou

Wesam Helou

Chief Information Officer, Cleveland State University
Dr. Wesam Helou is a cabinet-level Chief Information Officer, national speaker, and practitioner-scholar whose career sits at the intersection of enterprise technology leadership and organizational resilience. Known for building high-performing organizations and driving transformational... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Ambassador A & B 3303 South Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers, AR, USA

11:30am CDT

State of Higher Ed Cybersecurity

Higher education institutions face growing cyber threats amid limited resources and complex environments. This panel brings together cybersecurity leaders to share practical approaches for implementing best practices, prioritizing risk, and maximizing impact with constrained teams and budgets.
Panelists will also discuss strategies for communicating cyber risk to leadership and managing the opportunities and challenges of AI within academic environments. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to strengthen cybersecurity resilience across their institutions.

Moderators
avatar for Chad Johnson

Chad Johnson

Director of Cybersecurity, ARE-ON
Speakers
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Tamya Stallings

Director of Computer Services, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
avatar for Bryan Carnahan

Bryan Carnahan

CIO, University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain
avatar for Ryan Hoffman

Ryan Hoffman

Director of Information Systems, North Arkansas College
Wednesday June 24, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Embassy Suites Conv. Center - Grand Ballroom V 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758-8936
 
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