1993, 2007, and 2022
Three Tech Shifts That Changed Everything—And Why AI Will Be the Biggest Yet
Why it matters:
Every generation experiences a handful of technological revolutions that redefine how we live, work, and think. For me, three stand out:
1993—The World Wide Web brought the entire world online and allowed people to bypass traditional institutions and connect directly with one another.
2007—The iPhone put the Internet in our pockets and gave us access to direct connectivity at any time and from anywhere.
2022—Generative AI is now changing how we create, learn, and work, with far-reaching social, cultural, and economic implications that remain elusive.
These shifts transformed higher education, business, and society in ways few predicted. But AI’s impact will be even bigger than the Internet itself.
1993: The Internet Reshapes Higher Ed
I got my start as a technologist in 1997, just as universities were figuring out how to use the Internet for more than just email. At Texas A&M and other institutions, I worked on leveraging the web to streamline administrative processes, improve student success, and connect institutions in ways never before possible.
Coming into the field as a sociologist, I wasn’t just interested in the technology—I wanted to understand its cultural and economic impacts. Who benefited from this shift? Who was left out? How did the power dynamics of our society change?
The early days of the web brought massive promise but also immense challenges. Universities had to rethink everything—how they communicated, how they managed information, and how they prepared students for a world where knowledge was no longer locked in libraries but instantly accessible online.
2007: The iPhone Era and My CIO Career
By 2007, I had stepped into the role of CIO, shifting my focus to IT strategy and leadership. The iPhone’s launch that year marked another inflection point. Suddenly, people expected seamless, mobile-first experiences—students, faculty, and administrators alike.
Higher ed IT leaders had to adapt. Cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital experiences became central to our work. A decade and three ERP implementations later, I saw firsthand how technology could enable business transformation or create new bureaucratic nightmares when higher education institutions refuse to change.
But technology alone wasn’t enough. The success of any major IT initiative hinged on leadership—on the ability to align people, processes, and culture with the possibilities technology unlocked. That realization pushed me to focus on developing talent. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring and helping seed higher education with over a dozen CIOs and senior executives nationwide.
2022: The AI Disruption
Then came COVID-19, which forced universities into a crash course on digital transformation. We adapted, some faster than others. For my organization and the faculty we worked with, this was our finest moment. And just as we thought we had stabilized, generative AI arrived.
I believe the social, cultural, and economic impact of AI will dwarf that of the Internet in 1993. Unlike past shifts, AI doesn’t just change how we access information—it changes how we generate knowledge, automate tasks, and interact with the world.
For higher ed, the implications are staggering:
Learning models must change – How do we assess knowledge when AI can write, summarize, and problem-solve?
Workforce shifts will accelerate – What jobs will still require human expertise, and how do we prepare students for that future?
IT leadership must evolve – CIOs can’t just be tech managers; they must shape strategy, policy, and ethics in an AI-driven world.
What’s Next?
For the past decade, my focus has been on leadership and talent development. But as AI reshapes everything we know, it’s time to return to my roots—writing, thinking, and evangelizing about the intersection of technology, society, and education.
Technology isn’t just about tools and systems; it’s about power, culture, and the future of institutions. The Internet changed higher education, the iPhone redefined access, and AI will transform how we think, work, and lead.
This is the next frontier. And I’m here to explore it.