FIU EdIT is a 1-day conference providing a platform to highlight the leading and innovative tools while showcasing the technologies that are shaping the future of education.
The conference focuses on the importance of technology and its impact on the educational landscape with a wide-ranging agenda including actionable ideas and best practices to implement in the classroom.
Robert Grillo leads a culturally diverse division of over 300 IT professionals. His passion for leading FIU’s Division of IT is fueled by a commitment to delivering the most innovative technological advancements to the university community. Under his leadership over the last 13 years, FIU has grown its technological infrastructure to support the growing needs of over 65,000 students, faculty, researchers, and staff. Prior to FlU, Robert led the consulting division for Oracle/PeopleSoft Latin America and Caribbean. Robert also worked for Andersen Consulting LLP (currently known as Accenture) as a senior consultant for Fortune 500 companies.
Matt Hagood is a technology professional who is a consensus builder and leads multiple university initiatives to optimize and improve classroom technology, ed-tech and event support at FIU. Matt began his career in sports marketing and entertainment with the Florida Marlins overseeing game presentation. He then served as the Associate Director of Instructional Technology at Florida Atlantic University, before joining FIU in 2012.
Matt is currently also the Co-Chair of the Technology Evaluation Group and oversees the FIU EdIT Conference.
Mariel is an edtech leader with over 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in event management, project management, web design, and strategic initiatives. She bridges the gap between people and technology, supporting students, faculty, and staff. Her creative solutions to complex problems and her passion for working with her team at Ed Tech Services highlight her commitment to enhancing education through technology.
Stephen has worked in the education technology space for over ten years. In his career, he has pushed for institutional audio-video technology design standards and enterprise-level audio-video technologies. Currently, Stephen is the director of MTS in the Division of IT. In his current role, he aims to implement classroom technologies that enhance the teaching experience while maintaining ease of use.
Arden is a dynamic and detail-oriented communications specialist with a strong background in technology, marketing, event planning, curriculum design and implementation. As an IT Manager at ETS in the Division of IT, Arden leads a team of instructional technology specialists, oversees various projects, and co-directs the FIU EdIT conference.
Ashley is a dynamic professional with 7 years in education and higher education. Renowned for her outstanding faculty support and active role in initiatives like technology evaluation and the EdIT conference, Ashley’s creativity and innovative approach consistently enhance learning environments. Her passion for education and technology drives her to inspire and improve.
Emilio Areas is an Instructional Technology Specialist at FIU with over seven years of experience in the tech field. His expertise spans tech support, electronic health systems, and digital legal case assistance. Passionate about learning new software, Emilio excels in boosting efficiency and automation. He thrives on supporting faculty with troubleshooting, enhancements, and training to manage their courses effectively.
Kristen brings 7+ years of experience in education, having traded her K-12 teaching hat for the dynamic role of an Instructional Technology Specialist! When she’s not guiding educators through the digital landscape and designing engaging content, she immerses herself in the world of digital marketing, where her creativity flourishes as she develops innovative strategies and captivating content.
