Home - Conference on Instruction & Technology (CIT) 2026

Sarah Rose Cavanagh will be the keynote speaker for the CIT 2026 Conference, taking place May 26th–29th, 2026 at Stony Brook University.

Sarah is a psychologist, author, and educator whose work explores the powerful connection between emotion, motivation, and learning in higher education. Her engaging approach blends research-backed insight with practical application and storytelling that resonates deeply with faculty, instructional designers, and campus leaders.

Her keynote will explore themes from her newest book, Mind Over Monsters, examining how emotional experience shapes learning, resilience, engagement, and belonging in today’s complex educational landscape.

This keynote promises to spark meaningful reflection, energize conversation, and inspire action across our teaching and learning community.

Emily Laird will be the closing speaker for the CIT 2026 Conference, taking place May 26th–29th, 2026 at Stony Brook University.

Emily Laird is the AI Integration Technologist at University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she collaborates in support of campus-wide efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into education, research, and industry collaboration. With expertise in AI foundations, generative AI, AI literacy, and industry integration, she works closely with faculty, staff, and students to advance AI adoption and support ethical, effective implementation of emerging AI technologies.

Emily is the host of Generative AI 101, a podcast dedicated to supporting AI literacy for all. She is also a national speaker on AI literacy and AI integration, engaging industry leaders, educators, and policymakers in discussions on the changing role of AI in business, education, and society.

Emily also hosts UW-Stout's AI Weekly Meetup, a free, open-to-all, weekly AI discussion.

Kick-off your conference experience with a pre-conference workshop!

Cross-Cultural Learning: Don't Go It Alone!
Getting Up to Speed with AI for Educators
Learn to apply ethical, effective learning with AI using Metaliteracy
Preparing for Title II: Making Content Accessible in Brightspace and Microsoft Tools
Preserving Writing as a Means of Learning: A hands on workshop on students’ AI use – for faculty, instructional designers, librarians, and more
Vibe Coding Workshop
FREE! Empowering All Learners with Technology

Tuesday, May 26 between 11:00 am - 5:30 pm.

Cost: $40 per workshop

Join us for a fun and relaxing evening at The Bench!

Come together with the CPD on Thursday for a delicious dinner and a lively night of Trivia, hosted by Lisa Raposo, of the CPD.

Your dinner includes:

Soft drinks (alcoholic beverages available for purchase separately)
Mixed green salad
Your choice of mixed veggies or French fries
Entrée options:
- Penne
- Panini assortment (Chicken Pesto, Chicken Bacon Ranch, or Veggie)
- Chicken Parm
Dessert: Ice cream bar

Cost: $45 per person

Note: Space is limited — register early to secure your spot!

Designing the Future of Learning: Resilient Teaching, Innovative Practices, and Student Success

The Conference on Instruction and Technology (CIT) brings together educators, technologists, administrators, and thought leaders from across SUNY and beyond to explore the evolving landscape of higher education. This year’s theme, Designing the Future of Learning, centers on the transformative power of resilient teaching, innovative practices, and inclusive strategies that drive student success.

Through five dynamic tracks, the conference will showcase responses to emerging challenges, ethical considerations in digital learning, institutional transformation, human-centered design, and equity in action. Participants will engage in collaborative dialogue, share scalable models, and envision a future where learning is adaptable, inclusive, and deeply connected.

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