It’s a Wrap: The 2024 UC Tech Annual Conference Closes on a High Note
Diverse. Inspiring. Fun. These were the top three words (according to our post-conference survey) that attendees used to describe the 2024 UC Tech Annual Conference, which happened from October 27-29, at UC Davis and UC Davis Health.
We’re still reveling in all the memories, from enriching sessions to dynamic discussions with colleagues, and delicious food to exciting activities. It was an unforgettable event, uniting the University of California (UC) system in a shared commitment to collaboration for transformation. Together, we paved a better future forward for students, faculty, staff, and patients – one collaborative effort at a time.
2024 UC Tech Highlights
The energy and enthusiasm (and love for the flock of turkey) on our campuses were incredible. Here are some highlights from the conference program:
2 Keynote Addresses
UC Davis faculty, Raissa D’Souza and Martin Hilbert, highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence in our rapidly evolving technological landscape.
3 Panels
Panelists included leaders from across the UC, bringing together Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), and accessibility advocates to share their insights on different facets of IT in higher education.
2 Spotlight Talks
The Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Data at UC Irvine, Tom Andriola, and design thinking consultant at UC Davis Health, Kate McLoughlin, focused on transforming our roles and services to pave a better future forward.
800+ Attendees
Colleagues from 10 UC campuses gathered at the UC Davis and UC Davis Health for three days of laughter and learning. They reunited with old friends and made new ones as well.
160+ Presenters
Presentations, poster sessions, and birds of a feather meetings covered a wide range of topics, from communications to user experience, infrastructure to research computing, and much more.
17 UC Tech Award Winners
Six individuals and 11 teams from various UC campuses were recognized for their technological innovations to advance the UC’s mission.
18 Vendor Sponsors
Our Diamond sponsor (AWS), Platinum sponsors (CDW, Gartner, and Huron), and Gold sponsors showcased their latest products and services. Attendees also got to enter a vendor raffle for prizes up to $300 in value!
Passing the Buck: You’re Next, UC Riverside!
Per UC Tech tradition, the conference concluded with the annual Pass the Buck ceremony.
The UC Tech 2024 managing sponsors – Sarah Robertson, Iris Chelaru, Anita Nichols, Daniel Canuela, and Carol Mitchell – passed the buck (an actual dollar bill signed with the name and year of previous hosting campuses) to UC Riverside’s representatives, Chief Information Officer Matthew Gunkel and Azra Ayers, with well wishes for their conference planning.
We can all look forward to next year’s UC Tech annual conference, coming in June 2025!
Big THANK YOU to Everyone Involved
A huge shout out to our Planning Committees and 70 volunteers for their wonderful teamwork and dedication over the past year and during the three days of the conference. Pulling off a successful conference isn’t easy, but we accomplished it with their incredible support.
We’d also like to extend gratitude to the many other helping hands that made this conference a reality: the UC Tech Ambassadors, vendor sponsors, keynote speakers, spotlight talks, panels, and session speakers!
Lastly, thank you to everyone who attended this year’s conference!
Join Us at Future UC Tech Conferences!
If you weren’t able to join us at this year’s conference, we would love to see you in 2025 at UC Riverside!
From the multitude of opportunities to learn and connect, UC Tech is truly an enriching experience. Whether you’re a seasoned tech expert or simply curious about IT, all UC staff and faculty are welcome to attend! Here are just a few reasons why this year’s attendees found the conference so valuable:
- Build your network by connecting with professional IT colleagues from across the UC system.
- Discover how other campuses are addressing tech issues and implementing innovative solutions.
- Gain insights from sessions focused on current and emerging technologies and strategies relevant to your field.
- Connect with a community of like-minded individuals eager to share knowledge and ideas.
Start by joining the UC Tech Slack to get involved with fellow UC IT colleagues, and get excited about UC Tech 2025 in June!
Hear what 2024 attendees have to say about UC Tech:
“UC Tech was an excellent opportunity to interact with people outside of my narrow bubble. I had great conversations with folks ranging from IT support staff to CIOs, and I got the chance to reconnect with colleagues who I’ve worked with for years. ”
- Andrea McColl, Senior Information Security Analyst, UCLA Health
"There were many sessions where I got to learn how other campuses are approaching the same problems my campus faces."
- Jeremy Phillips, Executive Director of IT, UC Davis
"It was great to have informal chats with different IT leaders to help me understand key aspects of their work and how it relates to certain projects I am working on."
- Hilary Steinman, Strategic Sourcing, UCOP
“It was valuable to connect with people from other UCs and hear their stories that are so similar to mine. We have common goals, struggles, and purposes for the work we do at the UC, and that gives me hope for more collaboration and less duplication.
- Leanne Watkins, Information Security Analyst, UCD