From First Conference to Lasting Impact: The CommEX26 I2EL Scholarship Recipients Reflect on Their Experience

“As a first-time attendee, the conference helped me better understand how my role fits into the broader higher education IT landscape.”

– Katie Lungren, systems administrator at Colorado State University

Kelvin Echenim, graduate teaching assistant at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

“Conversations with leaders in R&E IT throughout the conference, particularly during breakfast sessions with community colleagues, gave me insights into infrastructure challenges, technology decisions, AI adoption, and workplace dynamics. Meeting the other scholarship recipients and connecting with the Internet2 Community Leadership and Culture (CLC) Steering Committee expanded my sense of what this community is about.”

Kristen Finch, director of research computing solutions at the University of Washington Information Technology

“The sessions leading up to the conference helped us get to know one another, understand what to expect, and feel prepared to fully participate. By the time we arrived, we already had a strong sense of community, which made a big difference. It was reassuring to walk into sessions and immediately have people to connect with, reflect alongside, and learn from throughout the event. That foundation made it easier to engage more broadly and take full advantage of the conference. As a new leader, I have often felt a bit reserved, but this experience encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone, make new connections, and bring that confidence back to my work at the University of Washington.”

Zach Fuchik, senior data center network engineer at the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation at Ohio State University

“My fellow I2EL Scholarship recipients turned out to be the perfect cohort for my first-ever conference. Though we came from different roles and institutions, we shared that same leadership journey. It was fascinating to hear how similar their challenges were to my own. Having the opportunity to network with some of the brightest minds in higher education technology was eye-opening. These interactions solidified that I am on the right path to pursue leadership opportunities. I’m grateful for every connection made, and I look forward to giving back to this community, whether through nominating others, sharing skills, or offering insight, as I continue this journey.”

Tristan Gaspas, project manager at the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC)

“I found the discussions at the morning breakfast meetings with various R&E and industry leaders invaluable. Hearing from existing leaders about the challenges they had faced in their leadership positions (and how they addressed them) provided valuable insight into what constitutes a leadership mindset. The practical advice they provided was extremely helpful. The R&E community is filled with supportive and collaborative people.”

Taylor Graham, associate solutions hardware engineer at the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing at Purdue University

“The scholarship program offered mentorship opportunities you don’t often get at conferences and challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone. As a first-time attendee, I felt genuinely welcomed by the community, which made it easier to engage, ask questions, and fully participate in conversations. One of the most impactful parts of the experience was meeting a wide range of mentors and hearing their stories and advice. Those interactions helped me think more critically about my own career path and gave me practical insights into working with people from different backgrounds, communication styles, and leadership approaches.”

Mia Langworthy, manager of network and telecom at the University of Wyoming

“Through the events I attended, I connected and scheduled three meetings with other universities to discuss similar experiences, frustrations, and improvements in areas where I saw a need for additional resources at our university. Not only did I meet with other universities, but I also met with a company to explore cost savings on devices and enhancements for campus events.”

Katie Lungren, systems administrator at Colorado State University

“Overall, the experience reinforced the value of staying adaptable, continuing to learn, and approaching our work with a strategic mindset. One of the biggest takeaways for me was how much the conversation has shifted away from institutions trying to build and manage everything themselves, toward shared services, regional collaboration, and better use of external resources. This opportunity made me think differently about strategic planning, and more about flexibility, scalability, and the importance of leveraging partnerships instead of always defaulting to local solutions.”

Ashley Stauffer, associate director of solution alignment at Pennsylvania State University

“I learned that it is common for some IT leaders to not have a technical background, and that some still experience imposter syndrome. Shared stories helped normalize my own professional experience. One of my main goals in attending the conference was to understand career pathways I had not yet explored. I learned that there are a variety of paths that I can take from where I am today. I reached out to Jason Maslanka regarding the work the accessibility team is conducting at the University of Illinois Chicago, as mentioned in his panel presentation. He quickly connected me with the team, and I met with them two short weeks after the conference to discuss an open-access tool they are currently developing, one that may fit my team’s use case.”