Meet the speakers.
Learn from leading creatives in design, illustration, video, social media, and more. Their passion will spark your inspiration.
More speakers to be confirmed soon. Stay tuned!
Mohamed Elrefai
Senior Director Digital Media & Head of Worldwide Education Sales & Customer Success, Adobe.
Dr. Brian Johnsrud
Global Head of Education Thought Leadership and Student Success, Adobe.
Dr. Justin Hodgson
Associate Professor of Digital Rhetoric & Director Digital Gardener Initiative, Indiana University.
Dr. Magdalena L. Barrera
Vice Provost for Faculty Success, Office of the Provost, San Jose State.
Michael B. Horn
Author & Career Development Thought Leader, Clayton Christensen Institute.
Dr. Leslie Kennedy
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic Technology Services, CSU Office of the Chancellor.
Dr. Stephen Schellenberg
Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, San Diego State University.
Jennifer Sparrow
Associate Vice President, Research and Instructional Technology & Chief Academic Technology Officer, New York University.
Recommended hotels for EduMAX attendees.
Adobe is pleased to offer complimentary hotel accommodations for all confirmed EduMAX attendees as part of our reserved room block. If you prefer to cover your own stay, you’re also welcome to take advantage of our discounted hotel rate.
Full details and booking instructions will be included in your confirmation email after registration.
Hotel De Anza
Address: 233 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: 408-286-1000
Hayes Mansion San Jose
Address: 200 Edenvale Ave, San Jose, CA 95136
Phone: 408-226-3200
AC Hotel San Jose Downtown
Address: 350 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: 408-924-0900
Explore the EduMAX 2025 agenda.
5–8pm PT
Welcome reception
5-8 pm Join us at Adobe HQ for a fun networking opportunity before the conference officially opens.
(6:00–6:15 pm) Itinerary info 1
(6:15–6:30 pm) Itinerary info 2
(6:30–7:00 pm) Itinerary info 3
(7:00–8:00 pm) Itinerary info 4
8am–5pm PT
Full-day conference
8:00 AM – Breakfast and Check-in
9:00 AM – Adobe Higher Ed Product Keynote
Charlie Miller (Adobe) and team will share how Adobe is prioritizing education across products. Get a first look at upcoming features and hear how educator and student needs are shaping Adobe’s roadmap.
10:00 AM – Future U Podcast (Live Recording)
Jeff Selingo (Author) and Michael Horn (Author) record a live episode of their Future U podcast with academic and industry leaders, exploring practical ways to harness AI in higher education.
11:00 AM – Creative Campus Panel
Mohamed Elrefai (Adobe) moderates a discussion with Leslie Kennedy (CSU), Magdalena Barrera (SJSU), Alegra Lozano (UTSA), and Melissa Vito (UTSA). Panelists will share insights from Adobe’s Creative Campus program, including new research, student impact, and strategies for integrating Adobe tools campus-wide.
1:00 PM – Afternoon Breakouts
Participants will rotate through three immersive sessions:
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Adobe Express Workshop: Hands-on experience with Shauna Chung (Adobe) and Manuela Franceschini (Adobe), using Adobe Express to integrate generative AI into pedagogy.
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Creative Campus Data Deep Dive: Brian Johnsrud (Adobe) presents new findings on how Adobe tools improve student outcomes.
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Deloitte AI Lab: Explore the future of academic administration and teaching through interactive sessions on generative and agentic AI — systems capable of autonomous decision-making and proactive problem-solving.
4pm - Day 1 Closing Thoughts and Wrap-up
(6:00–6:15 pm) Itinerary info 1
(6:15–6:30 pm) Itinerary info 2
(6:30–7:00 pm) Itinerary info 3
(7:00–8:00 pm) Itinerary info 4
8–1:30pm PT
Half-day conference
8:00 AM – Breakfast and Check-in
9:00 AM – AI, Creativity & Productivity
Sheneese Thompson (Howard) and Justin Hodgson (IU) share how AI is driving a new era of teaching and learning at their universities.
9:45 AM – Morning Breakouts
Participants will rotate through three sessions:
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Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant Studio – Explore how Adobe tools help institutions turn ideas into action.
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Lightcast Data Insights (U.S.) – New research connecting access to AI tools with improved student outcomes.
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Adobe Innovator Campus Spotlight – Meet the first class of Innovators, Rebeca Navarrete (SDSU) and Stephen Schellenberg (SDSU), advancing Adobe’s Creative Campus Program into the AI era, with insights and takeaways for your institution.
12pm - Closing Remarks, Followed by Lunch
(6:00–6:15 pm) Itinerary info 1
(6:15–6:30 pm) Itinerary info 2
(6:30–7:00 pm) Itinerary info 3
(7:00–8:00 pm) Itinerary info 4
Empower your students to learn the skills that launch careers.
Creativity and AI literacy are the most sought-after skills in the job market today. Don’t let your students fall behind — join us to discover how equitable access to future-ready creative and AI tools helps students better engage with their learning, solve complex problems, and communicate their ideas with impact.
Now or Never: Higher Education at the AI Crossroads
October 7-9, 2025
Adobe Founders Tower, San Jose CA 95113
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Learn about past EduMAX events.
Empowering the AI Generation:
Building Career Pathways with Digital Storytelling
October 8-9, 2024
San Jose, CA
EduMAX 2024 was an in-person, two-day event that brought higher education leaders together to discuss and learn about innovative technology solutions designed to address institutional challenges, increase learning engagement, and improve student outcomes. Centered around the theme Empowering the AI Generation: Building Career Pathways with Digital Storytelling, the keynotes, fireside chats, and panels focused on how higher education leaders could empower the next generation of the workforce through generative AI and other emerging technologies. Attendees gained insights into the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education and the evolving workforce — as well as the role institutions played in equipping students with the career‑ready skills needed for long‑term success.
Next-Generation Innovators: Student Success in the Age of Generative AI
October 24–25, 2023
San Jose, CA
EduMAX 2023 was live, on-the-ground, and held in Adobe’s brand-new Founders Tower — a space that represented the future of work. It was a truly special EduMAX to remember. Generative AI is transformative technology. It can be used to create content, from art and music to solutions for complex problems. As we transitioned into the AI-augmented age, education systems needed to adapt to prepare students for success in this new landscape. EduMAX provided unique insights into how institutional peers were effectively improving faculty development, authentic assessment, and student success in a world shaped by AI.
Next-Generation Innovators: Student Success in the Age of Generative AI
October 18-20, 2022
San Jose, CA
EduMAX 2022 brought global higher education leaders together to explore the future of digital literacy and creative learning. Held alongside the Adobe MAX Creativity Conference, this two-day in-person gathering marked the first in-person EduMAX since 2019. The event spotlighted innovative institutions reshaping teaching and learning through digital tools—centered on creativity, access, and career readiness. From student storytelling that drives change, to system-wide transformations like the CSU’s Creative Cloud rollout, attendees saw firsthand how digital literacy is powering more engaging, equitable, and future-facing education across disciplines.
Next-Generation Innovators: Student Success in the Age of Generative AI
October 26-28, 2021
San Jose, CA
EduMAX 2021 united over 100 higher‑ed leaders online to tackle digital literacy in a post‑pandemic world. Across keynotes, panels, and workshops, academic decision‑makers explored how creative tools and continuous learning drive engagement, close skills gaps, and promote equity—equipping faculty and students with the digital fluency needed to thrive in hybrid and online environments.
