WEBCAST 5/20 @ 2PM ET
Breaking Silos, Building Bridges: A Modernized Approach to Collaboration for Higher Education
Sponsored by:
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Higher education leaders are being asked to do more than ever—drive strategic priorities, improve student outcomes, and foster operational efficiency across increasingly complex institutions. But without visibility, alignment, or scalable systems, progress often stalls.
Join eCampus News and Asana for a discussion with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where institutional leaders are taking bold steps to modernize how work gets done. Learn how the university established its first-ever Project Management Office (PMO) to unify project efforts across campus and bring strategy to life—starting with a clear roadmap and a culture of cross-functional collaboration. Discover why they chose to centralize the PMO within the IT department, how that decision helped break down silos within IT, and how it enabled more streamlined, coordinated service delivery to the broader campus community.
This session is ideal for higher ed professionals looking to align work with institutional goals, prepare for the future of AI in operations, and foster connected, outcomes-driven teams.
In this session, you’ll learn:
- How to lay the foundation for a centralized PMO that aligns strategy with execution
- Why visibility and accountability are essential for driving progress across campus initiatives
- How to overcome siloed operations and foster collaboration across departments
- Key considerations for evaluating and implementing modern work tools in a higher ed environment
- What higher ed leaders should consider when preparing for AI adoption
Monica Kane
Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief of Staff,
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bio
Monica Kane serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief of Staff at UMass Amherst. With a career spanning over two decades in higher education and IT leadership, Monica has played a pivotal role in driving innovation, operational excellence, and strategic alignment across complex organizations.
At UMass Amherst, she oversees strategic planning, resource management, and cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring the IT department delivers transformative solutions to support the university's academic and research mission. Her expertise in project management, organizational change, and stakeholder engagement has solidified her reputation as a dynamic leader dedicated to fostering inclusive and forward-thinking technology ecosystems.
Monica holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and brings a blend of public sector and higher education experience to her work, focusing on elevating institutional impact through technology and strategic planning.
Kathleen Aldrich
Director of Strategic Change Management with Information Technology,
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bio
Kathleen Aldrich is the Director of Strategic Change Management with Information Technology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has extensive experience in organizational design, human resources, and continual improvement and holds a Master's in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Kathleen is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), and is a Prosci certified change practitioner.
Michelle Hart
Associate Director of Project Management Office in Information Technology,
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bio
Michelle Hart is the Associate Director of Project Management Office in Information Technology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Michelle has 20 years of project management, administration, clinical research, and education experience. Prior to her current role at UMass Amherst, she held the position of Strategic Initiatives Program Manager at Brandeis University.
Kelly Cauley
Head of Education & Public Sector Revenue, Asana
Bio
Kelly Cauley is the Head of Education & Public Sector Revenue at Asana, where she has spent the past three years building a dedicated vertical business to support education customers. With a focus on operational growth and strategic expansion, Kelly leads efforts to enhance collaboration and efficiency within higher education institutions through Asana’s platform.
Passionate about fostering community and knowledge sharing, Kelly actively creates opportunities for higher education leaders to connect and learn from one another, driving innovation in project management and teamwork. Her expertise lies in helping institutions streamline processes, improve cross-departmental collaboration, and maximize the value of work management technology in an academic environment.
Moderator – Kevin Hogan
eCampus News, Content Director
Bio
Kevin is an acclaimed writer, editor, and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially education technology.