Plenary Speakers

Technology in Business Schools Roundtable Annual Meeting

June 13 – 15, 2007
Smeal College of Business
The Pennsylvania State University

Plenary I: Privacy, Security and Social Networking

Rodney J. Petersen, J.D., Government Relations Officer & Security Task Force Coordinator

Rodney Petersen is a Government Relations Officer with EDUCAUSE and the Coordinator of the EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Computer and Network Security Task Force. He was formerly the Director of IT Policy and Planning in the Office of the Vice President and Chief Information Officer at the University of Maryland where he was the founder of Project NEThics - a group whose mission is to ensure responsible use of information technology through user education and enforcement of acceptable use guidelines. He received his law degree from Wake Forest University. He also received a certificate as an Advanced Graduate Specialist in Education Policy, Planning, and Administration from the University of Maryland. He writes and speaks regularly on topics related to higher education law and policy. He is the co-editor of a book in the EDUCAUSE Leadership Strategy Series entitled "Computer and Network Security in Higher Education". He is also a founding member of the Association of College and University Policy Administrators and the author of "A Primer on Policy Development for Institutions of Higher Education" and "A Framework for IT Policy Development".

Plenary II: Integrating Technology into the Learning Environment: A Dean’s Perspective

James B. Thomas, Dean and Professor of Information Sciences and Management, Smeal College of Business at Penn State

Dr. James B. Thomas is dean of Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and professor of information sciences and management. From July 1, 1999, to June 30, 2006, he was the College of Information Sciences and Technology’s (IST) founding dean and oversaw the college’s growth and development across the Commonwealth, as well as the construction of the landmark IST Building at University Park. Prior to that, Thomas served as Smeal’s senior associate dean. He began his career at Penn State as an assistant professor. His publications have appeared in Administration Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, among other top journals. Thomas also has received several research grants, including support to study “Industry Structure and the Role of Information Technology,” and “Strategic Alignment.” Previously he served as the director responsible for information technology strategic planning for the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, and earlier was the director responsible for information management systems for the Florida Department of State. He is a frequent speaker on education policy and programs appearing before the U.S. Congress and Pennsylvania Legislatures among many other venues. A 1974 graduate of Penn State, Thomas received a master’s degree in government from Florida State University and a doctorate in strategic management from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988. He and his wife, Michele, reside in State College, PA. They have 3 children.

Plenary III: The Crucial and Potentially Transformational Role of IT Leaders in Business Schools

Dr. Kraft Bell, Vice President, Distinguished Analyst, Gartner Research

Dr. Bell has more than 20 years of experience working with medium- and large-sized firms in the United States, Europe and Japan on organizational development, organizational behavior, change management and culture. He has consulted with Fortune 500 executives to develop transformational strategic plans with linked and aligned business plans. He has been an advisor to CEOs and executive teams on strategy and change at Ford, Dow Corning, Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago, MichCon and DENSO. Dr. Bell has also built on the success of "Quality is Job 1" at Ford as lead advisor on the groundbreaking Concept-to-Customer product development redesign effort. Dr. Bell founded RKB Associates, Ltd., a strategic change management research and consulting firm, created practical business software, in addition to being a part owner and executive in three strategy, change and development consulting firms.