Sarah J. Buszka is an internationally recognized leader at the intersection of higher education, technology, and AI strategy. As Executive Director of the Applied AI Lab at Waukesha County Technical College, she leads transformative efforts to apply artificial intelligence to real-world challenges. In this role, Sarah develops cutting-edge AI solutions, delivers workforce training, and serves as the region’s primary resource for AI strategy and innovation.
Her 15-year career spans both U.S. coasts, with previous leadership roles at Stanford University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she shaped enterprise IT strategy and infrastructure. Passionate about building the next generation of leaders, Sarah has chaired the EDUCAUSE Young Professionals Advisory Committee, co-hosted the EDUCAUSE Rising Voices podcast, and advised national organizations and government on the future of education technology and artificial intelligence.
Sarah’s academic foundation includes a Master of Public Administration from Cornell University, where she specialized in AI policy and published on democracy and innovation in the Cornell Policy Review. She also holds a B.S. in Neurobiology, Psychology, and Russian from UW–Madison and has founded Forward AI Consulting to expand AI access across sectors.
She is driven by a bold vision: to establish Wisconsin as the “Silicon Prairie” of AI.
Recipient of the 2024 EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award.
A panel of higher education IT leaders challenges five persistent myths about CIO success, revealing the diverse backgrounds, leadership styles, and career paths that define the role today while highlighting how CIOs drive institutional strategy, innovation, resilience, and collaboration.
As John O’Brien prepares to retire, he joins Sarah Buszka and Alycia Baggett Chastang to reflect on eleven years of the Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC) and its role in expanding leadership pathways and building a community for emerging higher education technology professionals.
This episode explores how institutions are balancing innovation, governance, trust, privacy, and digital literacy while preparing learners for an AI-enabled future.
| Status: | Yes, current member |