2022 – Loyola Marymount University

Crista Copp, Matt Bazar, the whole team at LMU, and the program committee from all across CITM faced a daunting task putting together the 2022 conference.  No conference two years ago and only a virtual conference the previous year can throw even the best conference organization off track.  And when the cause of the upset is a global pandemic, where and how do you restart? 

The planning group succeeded so well for many reasons.  They recognized the need for people to come together in-person, especially for small group, impromptu conversations.  So they planned an in-person conference. They recognized the pandemic induced travel problems and the lack of travel funds at many schools.  So they also planned a virtual conference.  And most importantly, they chose a theme that focused on moving beyond the pandemic and finding our balance in this new reality. 

The opening reception at the conference hotel on Monday evening was casual and relaxed, just like LA!  Despite the very large number of first year attendees, the conversations were lively, all inclusive, humorous, engaging, and sometimes intense.    

The next morning, in the welcome from LMU president Tim Synder, who knew a mathematician could also be a successful stand-up comic.  Plus he was engaging, informative, and sincere.  When he asked how many were attending this conference for the first time, a quick look indicated that up to one third raised their hands.   

The first keynote, Driving Digital in Higher Ed: Empowering Digital Trailblazers to Lead Transformation, with Isaac Sacolock addressed the need for new types of leadership and innovation in our post pandemic world,. The second keynote with William D. Parham, PH.D., ABPP, Secret Stashes of Emotional Wealth: Finding Hidden Gems in Dark Spaces was most unusual and most appropriate in our post-pandemic world.  Rather than focusing on getting the technical work done, Bill Parham focused on keeping ourselves balanced mentally and emotionally so that we can be healthier, happier people, so that we will also be better able to get the work done.  The small group discussions that followed were open, sharing, emotional, supportive, and enlightening, in a way not often seen at a national conference.   

Some of the in-person sessions came directly out of pandemic experiences, like Security In Pandemic & New Geopolitical Issues and Struggling with Keeping Up with Hyflex and Hybrid Spaces.  Others sessions considered long standing issues with post-pandemic importance, like Recruiting, Retaining, and Remote Working – the 3 R’s of Current Staffing Concerns.  The in-person sessions focused mostly on strategic thinking and planning.  Of particular note was the very last session, Anti-fragility and the AJCU-CITM: Leveraging the Consortium beyond COVID-19.  What is the real interior strength of CITM and where can it take us? 

Keys to the success of CITM are our spirit of cooperation and selfless giving of time by the membership.  And within the group, there are those somewhat rare individuals who distinguish themselves by not only the very high quality of their service but also by the unusual length of their service.  Such are Jim Burke and Bruce Montes who were honored this year with the O’Hearn Service Award.  Jim is CIO with 40+ years of service at John Carroll University and he has held many positions and played many roles in CITM.  Bruce recently retired from Loyola University Chicago, again with 40+ years of service to LUC and CITM.  And Bruce continues to serve on the CITM History Project team. 

Perhaps most important to the success of the 2022 conference was the ample time allotted to informal gatherings.  After two years with no in-person conference and with so many first time attendees this year, could our collegiality and depth of trust pick up where it left off?  By the end of the Tuesday evening event (an authentic California parking lot event at a local brewery with food trucks) the answer was a resounding YES.  The evening started somewhat quietly, but by the time we finally got on the buses, the group was as happily unruly as in days of yore!  The Wednesday evening event, a visit to The Magic Castle in Hollywood, was a dress-up, much more formal affair with fine dining and world class sleight of hand magic.  Another wonderful experience that brought the group together. (Summary courtesy of Mark Castner, Canisius College.