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Dr. John O'Brien serves as the president and CEO of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education through technology innovation. EDUCAUSE serves over 2,300 member colleges, universities, and organizations from 45 countries. In his role as CEO, he speaks and writes on a variety of topics related to higher education, technology, and the crucial intersection where the two meet. Throughout his 30-year career in higher education, John has served in a variety of key leadership roles. Before his EDUCAUSE appointment in 2015, John served as senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the fourth largest higher education system in the United States. In this position, he was dedicated to ensuring student success and implemented strategic changes to help the 37 colleges and universities in the system adapt to the changing needs of higher education. Prior to this role, John served as president of North Hennepin Community College (NHCC), and before that was director of the "Students First" initiative, a system-wide effort that redesigned online systems to better meet students’ needs. John’s past experience also includes senior positions at Century College, as chief academic officer and subsequently acting president. John also served as associate vice chancellor for instructional technology and deputy CIO for the Minnesota State system. In addition to his experience as a higher education executive, John taught English at a wide variety of institutions. He was a faculty member at Normandale Community College, Augsburg University, the University of Minnesota, the University of St. Thomas, and Augustana University. John holds a bachelor’s degree in English and English education from Augustana University, a master’s degree in Anglo-Irish Literature from the University of Dublin (Trinity College), and a doctorate in English from the University of Minnesota.

Maria Quail began her teaching career in Brooklyn as an elementary school teacher and later transferred to the Bronx. She went on to become a certified Reading Recovery teacher working with at risk students. In time she became an Assistant Principal and eventually the Principal of Public School 8 in the Bronx. Later she served as a mentor to new principals in her district under a Project Lead Grant in District 10 in the Bronx. For the following 8 years, Maria served as a Network Leader in the Empowerment Organization of the Department of Education in the City of New York, initially leading a team of 4 who supported 26 NYC schools. Under her leadership the network quickly grew in school numbers and became one of the first in the city of New York to pilot a Children First Network (CFN) and Phase One of the Special Education Initiative. Selecting a team of 14 experts in operations and instruction, CFN 109 was formed which supported 36 schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn instructionally and operationally. She has also served as an adjunct instructor for graduate students at Manhattan College. Maria joined Generation Ready in 2016 and is currently Generation Ready’s Chief Executive Officer.

Ranjit Sidhu is a Chief Executive Officer at ASCD and is based in Annandale, Virginia. He has worked as Senior Vice President, Strategy and New Product Development at The College Board; President and CEO at National Council for Community and Education Partnerships; and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Partners in Education. Ranjit attended University of Pittsburgh, University of Mary Washington, and GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.