Biographical note
Today, Lev Gonick is Vice President for Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Case is one of the nation's leading independent research universities. Case’s technology infrastructure and reputation for innovation and cutting-edge applications is recognized across the country and around the world. Case has been ranked number #1 in the nation among private, independent universities for wireless technology deployments. Gonick is chair of the CIO Executive Council’s higher education committee. He also co-chair Cisco Systems Higher Education Executive Exchange. Gonick founded the award-winning community ultrabroadband provider, OneCommunity. Today he is Chairman Emeritus of the organization and sets on its Board. He has served on multiple national and international Boards related to education, the arts, and technology. His regional, statewide and national leadership and innovation has been the subject of dozens of articles, blogs, panels, and book chapter.

In 2006 Gonick has been recognized in multiple annual editions of Cleveland Magazine, Crain’s Cleveland, and Inside Business as one of the top 50 and 100 most influential persons in Greater Cleveland. Lev was acknowledged by ComputerWorld as a Premier100 IT leader and by CIO magazine's CIO100 group. He and Case Western Reserve University have been awarded two Computer World Laureates for the innovation work associated with Cleveland 2.0 and OneCommunity.

Previously, Lev Gonick served as Chief Information Technology Officer for Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB). CSUMB is the Cal State's "Bullets to Books to Bytes" campus being built on former Fort Ord as the Cal State's first 21st century campus.

Gonick's national reputation includes an impressive series of major duties and responsibilities related to technology integration in education. Among his board services and consultations:

Gonick's international efforts in education and technology are extensive and date back to 1985.
He has consulted and lectured at 9 universities in Australia, 5 universities in Japan, 4 in South Africa, and spoken to audiences in England, Sweden, Israel, India, Cote d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Cuba, Mexico, and Botswana and across the United States and Canada. Nineteen years ago Gonick supported the development of HealthNet and Mango, one of Southern Africa’s first internet nodes in facilitating connectivity between healthcare professionals and NGOs n the field in Southern Africa. He has been involved in designing and implementing Digital Learning Network project in West African countries and another Multimedia Learning Network initiative called Seeds of Peace in Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Palestine.

Lev received his PhD in International Political Economy from York University in Ontario Canada. He is married to Barbara Weltman-Gonick. They have two grown children and live in Beachwood, Ohio.

Abstract
Building the Smart Connected City: A Platform Vision for the Future of Global Research Challenges, Academics, and Student Engagement
Keynoter Lev Gonick is the CIO Case Western Reserve University and the technology visionary behind a landmark project that will bring fiber connections to five underserved and impoverished Cleveland neighborhoods. Researchers, academics and students at Case Western Reserve University believe broadband, along with training, computers and other broadband-enabled devices, may be a critical factor in improving these residents’ lives. Simultaneously, the communities of interest working with Gonick believe they are setting out a course to architect the future and the pursuit of relevance for 21st century global research, academics and student engagement.