IBIT News

Digital Leaders Chris Kearns, Patrick Cozzi, and Yasmine Mustafa Honored at 24th Annual Information Technology Awards

The Temple University Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) honored three accomplished digital leaders at its 24th Annual Information Technology Awards on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Philadelphia.

The event brought together top technology leaders, innovators, and disruptors for an evening of celebration. The program featured remarks by Laurel Miller and an award presentation by IBIT Advisory Board Chair Sondra Barbour, followed by an AI discussion facilitated by Konstantin Bauman. Members of the IBIT community—including industry partners, alumni, faculty, and students from across Temple University—were in attendance.

The evening spotlighted IBIT’s three honorees for 2026:

Chris Kearns, Senior Vice President for Enterprise Applications at Kyndryl, received the 2026 Information Technology Leader Award. He oversees enterprise applications across the firm, including front-office lead-to-quote processes, back-office quote-to-cash operations, and corporate support functions. He is recognized for driving innovation and operational excellence across financial systems, CRM, marketing, procurement, and other core platforms.

Patrick Cozzi, Chief Platform Officer at Bentley Systems, received the 2026 Information Technology Innovator Award. He leads the open platform for digital twins of the built and natural environment, enabling a global ecosystem of developers. He is the founder and former CEO of Cesium, which was acquired by Bentley in 2024, and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year Greater Philadelphia Award winner.

Yasmine Mustafa, President and Founder of ROAR, received the 2026 Information Technology Award for Distinguished Alumni. Drawing on her experience as a refugee and entrepreneur, she leads ROAR’s mission to empower and protect individuals through technology. She has over 15 years of experience leading technology ventures, including the successful sale of her first company, 123LinkIt, in 2009.

For more information about the awards and honorees, visit:
https://ibit.temple.edu/itawards/

To view event photos, click here.

For inquiries, contact IBIT at ibit@temple.edu

PHYLL wins Spring 2026 Digital Innovation Award

The Digital Innovation Foundry is pleased to announce that PHYLL is the recipient of the Spring 2026 Digital Innovation Award!

Phyll, founded by Ethan Berg, creates a real-time digital record of physical infrastructure using existing video sources—no new hardware needed. It helps cities, utilities, and insurers track changes and conditions continuously, enabling data-driven, low-cost infrastructure management. The platform is grant-backed and already being piloted globally across utilities, government, municipalities, and insurance use cases.

Phyll was selected to receive $2,500 and support from DIF to further develop and commercialize its platform.

The Digital Innovation Award is open to all Temple University students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The award is presented by DIF in partnership with Temple University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI) Be Your Own Boss Bowl. Awards are based on the following criteria:

Digital – does the idea apply technology in an interesting and/or novel manner?
Problem – does the idea solve a real business or societal problem?
Practical – is the idea practically doable given current technology, context, and resources?

DIF Workshop – From Problem to Prototype: Building Real AI Solutions

The “From Problem to Prototype: Building Real AI Solutions” workshop, conducted by Kyndryl, was a highly engaging and impactful experience for students. With participation from 16 students and 4 faculty members, the session provided valuable insights into real-world applications of AI, enterprise systems, and product development.

The presenters—Chris Kearns, Chris Keohane, Jackie Woodson, Nick Piergallini, and Steve Terlecki—brought a wealth of industry expertise, offering practical perspectives on enterprise applications, data and AI enablement, product management, and IT risk. Their interactive approach encouraged active participation, making the workshop both informative and inspiring.

Overall, the workshop successfully bridged the gap between theory and practice, leaving students motivated and better equipped to think critically about building real AI solutions.

Data Science & AI @Temple Symposium

The Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT), in collaboration with the Fox School of Business and the Office of the Vice President for Research, is proud to host the inaugural Data Science & AI @Temple Symposium. This campus-wide, grassroots initiative brings together researchers from across Temple University who are using—or interested in using—data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in their scholarship.

Organized by the DS-AI@Temple network, the symposium is designed to foster meaningful connections across schools and disciplines. The goal is to help researchers learn about one another’s work, break down academic silos, and spark new collaborations that lead to interdisciplinary teams, shared workshops, innovative research initiatives, and competitive large-scale grant proposals.

The symposium will take place on March 12, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Alter Hall (Fox School), MBA Commons, 7th Floor. Whether you are building AI models, working with large datasets, developing new analytical methods, studying the societal impacts of AI, or exploring how AI can enhance your research program, this event offers a valuable opportunity to connect and collaborate.

Registration is free and required to assist with planning for food, seating, and poster space.

Learn More…

Spring 2026 Mentoring Session with Andrea Anania Stewart and Gregg Price

During the Spring 2026 term, the Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) hosted two mentoring sessions bringing together 15 Management Information Systems students at various stages of their academic journey. The sessions featured two distinguished industry leaders: Andrea Anania Stewart, Retired Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer of CIGNA and member of the IBIT Advisory Board, and Gregg Price, Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting. These sessions provided students with invaluable exposure to executive-level perspectives on technology leadership, consulting, and career development, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world professional experience.

Students benefited from direct access to senior executives, gaining insights into leadership, innovation, and career development. The sessions were not only informative but also energizing, highlighting the power of mentorship in shaping future professionals.

We extend our sincere thanks to Andrea and Gregg for their continued support and dedication to Temple students. Their contributions help make the mentoring program a cornerstone of student engagement and professional growth.