GenAI, Student Success & The Future of Higher-Ed | Matthew Gunkel, CIO @ucriverside

Matthew Gunkel

Guest

Chief Information Officer, University of California, Riverside
Matthew Gunkel is an innovative and collaborative technology executive who leads large, decentralized organizations through digital transformation by aligning IT strategy with institutional goals. Since 2022, he has served as Chief Information Officer at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where he drives enterprise-wide initiatives that strengthen teaching, learning, research, and administrative excellence. As CIO, Gunkel focuses on enabling collaborative partnerships, modernizing IT services, and advancing the university’s strategic priorities through visionary leadership and data-informed decision-making.
Before joining UCR, Gunkel served as Chief Online Learning and Technology Officer at the University of Missouri System, where he launched the Missouri Online platform—scaling online enrollment from 3,000 to 10,000 students within three years and uniting over 300 academic programs under a cohesive, market-driven digital brand. He previously spent 12 years at Indiana University Bloomington, serving as Director of Teaching and Learning Technology and Manager of Online Instructional Design and Development. There, he engineered “Boost,” an award-winning mobile application powered by machine learning and predictive analytics, which earned the 2019 IMS Global Platinum Learning Impact Award for advancing student success.
Gunkel holds a Master’s in Information Systems from Indiana University Bloomington and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology from Purdue University. A transformative and people-centered leader, he is deeply committed to fostering cultures of trust, collaboration, and innovation that empower teams and elevate institutional impact.
Key Achievements:
1. Leads digital transformation and IT modernization at UC Riverside.
2. Scaled online enrollment at the University of Missouri System from 3,000 to 10,000 students.
3. Unified 300+ academic programs under the Missouri Online platform.
4. Developed “Boost,” a machine learning–based student success app, winner of the 2019 IMS Global Platinum Learning Impact Award.
5. Increased employee engagement and collaboration across university systems through inclusive, developmental leadership.
6. Expert in strategic IT governance, digital strategy, and organizational growth.

Ashish Fernando

Host

Founder & CEO, EDMO
Ashish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements:
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives