ITS RISE Together Showcase

"Ruby Reimagined: From Keyword Search to Agentic Intelligence with Salesforce Agentforce" with Rutuja Umrao Jagtap, Jody O’Steen, Elias Latimer, and Manavi Kotwani.
Many ITS staff are familiar with Ruby, FSU ITS’s original Salesforce-based virtual assistant, but this session introduces a completely reimagined version built on Salesforce’s Agentforce platform. The new Ruby is a fully intelligent AI agent capable of reasoning, interpreting intent, and autonomously executing complex, multi-step tasks in real time—going far beyond traditional search-based tools. Presenters will walk through Ruby’s transformation, why Agentforce was chosen, and what she can do today, with a live demonstration showing how she thinks, responds, and acts in real ITS scenarios. No technical background is required—just curiosity about the possibilities of AI at FSU.

"From Data to Decisions: Modernizing Analytics at FSU with Snowflake, AI, and Power BI" with Dinesh Kumar Sundararajan and Tazmeen Alam.
Universities generate massive amounts of data, but the challenge lies in transforming it into secure, meaningful, and actionable insights. This session explores how modern cloud platforms like Snowflake are evolving into AI-powered analytics environments, covering how data is ingested, managed, and transformed for analysis. Attendees will see how tools like Snowpark and Cortex enable advanced analytics and how insights can be visualized through Power BI, demonstrated through an end-to-end example from raw data to AI-enhanced dashboards. Designed for both technical and non-technical staff, the session offers practical takeaways on security, performance, and how ITS can modernize analytics to support research and student success.

"Navigating ITS Alignment and Finding Your Place in the ITS Community" with Sara Mischler, Lisa Smith, and Kathy Wilkes. 
As Information Technology Services (ITS) continues its campus-wide alignment, hundreds of IT professionals have joined a unified organization while still supporting their local units. This session is designed to help newly aligned employees understand the why and how behind ITS alignment, learn where they fit within the broader ITS ecosystem, and discover meaningful ways to get involved and build community. The session blends data-driven context, practical engagement guidance, and open dialogue with leadership to foster clarity, connection, and belonging.

"Interdisciplinary Data Humanities Initiative: Outreach for Non-traditional disciplines in ITS" with Jose Hernandez and Marcelina Nagales.
In 2023, the Research Computing Center (RCC) launched the Interdisciplinary Data Humanities Initiative to expand access to advanced computing resources for non-traditional and underrepresented disciplines. Since then, RCC support has grown significantly, now reaching over 75% of departments in the College of Arts & Sciences, with more than 35 discipline-specific workshops and support for a range of research projects. This session highlights the initiative’s impact, the outreach strategies that made this growth possible, and approaches for designing accessible, audience-specific programs while securing faculty and administrative buy-in. Attendees will also gain insight into sustaining and scaling these efforts across the university.

"NoleBarrier: Gamifying Accessibility Training through Agentic AI and Immersive Design" with Damilare Ajayi, John L. Crow, and Jamie Lutz.
NoleBarrier is a gamified platform designed to transform how faculty and staff approach instructional accessibility by turning training into a mission-driven, interactive experience. Using Agentic AI and the Gemini API, the app generates discipline-specific scenarios that challenge users to solve real-world accessibility barriers with adaptive, real-time feedback. This session will showcase how the platform’s engaging design and AI-driven backend create dynamic learning experiences, highlight its development from pilot to deployment on Create FSU, and explore how it can be scaled to support inclusive excellence across the university.

"Identity First: The Roadmap to Modern Security & Access at FSU" with Jose Rodriguez and Martin Schaefer.
Join the IAM team for a behind-the-scenes look at FSU’s multi-year journey to modernize digital identity and align security with the needs of the campus community. This session covers the Phase 1 Assessment to identify system challenges, how those insights informed the selection of Fischer Identity, and the current Phase 3 Implementation building a “Unified Identity Fabric.” Attendees will also learn about the long-term strategic roadmap focused on standardization, automation, and creating a more seamless, secure experience for faculty, staff, and students.

"RISE Through Research: Secure Data Collection with REDCap" with Paul Van Der Mark, Marcelina Nagales, and Semy Redda. 
REDCap is a flexible, web-based platform that supports secure data collection for health research and clinical studies, enabling teams to manage participant information, build surveys, and coordinate complex projects while maintaining strong standards for privacy and compliance. At FSU, the Research Computing Center (RCC) centrally manages REDCap to ensure secure hosting, system integration, and alignment with data governance requirements, while also providing consultation to support effective research workflows. This session will highlight how REDCap functions as an enterprise-level research service and showcase the Health Research Support Portal, demonstrating how it improves efficiency, visibility, and coordination across stakeholders.

"Where Innovation Takes Shape: 3D Printing at ITS" with Courtney Stokes, Hailie Tucker, and Sofia Bernal.
This presentation highlights how student interns in the ITS Emerging Technology team are expanding 3D printing innovation at Florida State University. Our team brought that creativity and technical curiosity into ITS, where we have developed practical solutions that support faculty and staff across campus. Attendees will learn how our internship roles work together to build a growing 3D printing service. We will highlight three key focus areas: immersive media design for creating and optimizing 3D models, web development for building a streamlined faculty and staff request platform, and the use of AI tools such as Microsoft’s AI-powered 3D scanning technology to help convert real-world objects into printable models. Together, these efforts allow ITS to support both individual and large-scale printing needs, including bulk requests for campus events as well as custom projects for professional or creative use.

"Elevated Instruction: Modernizing Instruction & Training with Interactive Design" with Jamie Lutz and Teodora Abrams.
DesignPlus offers a modern way to elevate course design with interactive learning elements and built-in AI support. This session shows how instructional designers can create flashcards, fill-in-the-blank activities, and multiple-choice checks to streamline content creation and enhance engagement. Using embedded elements and the DesignPlus dashboard, educators gain real-time insights into learner interaction and knowledge gaps. Through lecture and live demo, participants will learn practical strategies to modernize materials, improve learning experiences, and simplify workflows.

Mid-afternoon intermission featuring a poster session by ITS student interns and networking opportunities. Light refreshments will be provided.
Atrium

"Understanding AI Agents: The 2026 Landscape and Opportunities Ahead" with Satish Sundaramoorthy.
This session explains what AI agents are, how they differ from chatbots, and what they can do in 2026. Through live demonstrations, attendees will see agents autonomously solve problems, transform repetitive tasks, scale expertise, and free up capacity for higher-value work. The session also provides frameworks for evaluating opportunities, building business cases, and leading innovation. Aligned with ITS’s RISE campaign, it demonstrates how agents support research, instruction, and student success, leaving participants with practical strategies and confidence to champion AI initiatives.

"From Possibility to Practice: Supporting Faculty AI Workflows with Gemini Gems & NotebookLM" with John L. Crow.
This session explores practical uses of AI tools like Gemini Gems and NotebookLM in teaching and research. Using examples from instructional and scholarly work, attendees will see how configurable assistants can support course preparation, assessment development, literature synthesis, and curated material exploration. Focusing on faculty realities—advancing scholarship and teaching under time constraints—the session highlights tools that reduce friction, enhance productivity, and align with institutional priorities while meeting privacy standards. Participants will leave with practical insights for integrating AI into classroom and research workflows.

"Smart Learning Journey Orchestrator" with Garima Dubey.
A Smart Learning Journey Orchestrator is an AI companion that plans learning activities, explains concepts, and guides student and employee progress. Integrated with institutional systems, it tracks grades, assignments, and certifications while offering adaptive study plans, practice quizzes, and real-world learning connections. The agent recognizes knowledge relationships, reinforces weak areas, and evolves based on engagement and outcomes. By combining planning, coaching, and contextual guidance, it delivers personalized, measurable support that enhances learning and professional growth.

"Transforming Research Access and Preservation: FSU Libraries’ Figshare & TIND Journey" with Louis Brooks, Favenzio Calvo, and Debra Hanken Kurtz.
Florida State University Libraries is transforming its digital scholarship services through Figshare and TIND, creating a modern, secure environment for research outputs and curated collections. This 45-minute session, including Q&A, shows how the project supports the RISE campaign’s priorities in research, instruction, innovation, security, and student engagement. Participants will see system demonstrations, real-world examples, and lessons learned, gaining practical strategies for managing digital platform transitions. Figshare enables sharing, citing, and open access to research, while TIND strengthens preservation, discovery, and accessibility. Together, they offer a comprehensive approach to modernizing digital scholarship and library services.

"College of Medicine - Wi-Fi Monitoring for Customer Experience" with Matt Hohmeister.
This session shares FSU’s journey in developing a wi-fi monitoring solution using laptops returned by alumni. Running Linux with the lid closed, these laptops provide continuous connectivity monitoring, alerting staff to issues and providing data to NCT for investigation. Beyond basic yes/no monitoring, the system tracks network connectivity and wi-fi signal strength over time, helping identify problems before users notice. Instruction has already benefited—for example, data from a monitoring laptop helped locate and replace a defective access point in a large lecture hall. The presentation will outline the proof-of-concept, key decisions, and improvements that led to the current solution.