2025 Higher Ed AV Hall of Fame Class!
The “Higher Ed AV Awards” are the official industry-specific honor ceremony for higher education AV professionals, dedicated to honoring the people, projects, and products of the higher ed vertical. The highlight of the event includes the induction into the Hall of Fame those professionals who have shaped and redefined the vertical throughout their career. In it’s second year, HETMA and Higher Ed AV are proud to announce the 2025 class!
This year, we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions from three incredible higher ed professionals and one industry ally!
Learn more about the Higher Ed AV Awards and purchase your tickets at: https://www.HigherEdAVAwards.com.
Tim Albright
AV Nation | CTI
Tim Albright is founder of AVNation Media, and an award-winning AV professional. His career has led him into television, church production, radio, education, and digital media production. Albright has contributed to several industry-leading publications and has led industry discussions around the globe and is a highly sought-after moderator for his ability to bring real-world uses into conversations and panel discussions.
Connect with Tim Albright:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdalbright/
Justin Dawson
Dublin City University
Justin Dawson is a highly respected and award-winning Audio Visual Professional with over two decades of dedicated experience within the AV industry and higher education AV sector. His career demonstrates a deep commitment to advancing AV technology, fostering community, and supporting the unique needs of the higher education AV landscape. Justin’s expertise in Audio Visual is underpinned by his qualifications, including the esteemed AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist (CTS®) certification, which recognizes his proficiency in all aspects of AV solutions. His academic background, which includes a Master’s degree in TV & Radio Production, further strengthens his comprehensive understanding of media and AV technologies. His contributions to the AV field have been recognised through numerous accolades, including being a finalist for European CTS® Holder of the Year and his recognition as an AV Professional of the Year, highlighting his significant impact and standing within the Audio Visual industry. Justin is currently employed as a Senior Technical Officer at Dublin City University. At Dublin City University, Justin is involved in the design, production, and support live events, online courses and the implementation of AV technology in the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy & Community Health. Justin is the driving force behind the popular “All Things TechIE Podcast”. This influential podcast serves as a dynamic platform for exploring the latest trends, insights, and news in the AV and technology sectors, reaching a broad audience of enthusiasts and professionals. Through his engaging content, Justin actively contributes to knowledge sharing and community engagement within the AV industry. The podcast’s success underscores his passion for AV and his ability to connect with the professional community. Further demonstrating his commitment to the AV community, Justin founded AV GroupIE, a professional network specifically for AV professionals and students based in Ireland. This initiative fosters an inclusive and supportive environment for networking, collaboration, and career development within the Irish AV sector. The creation of AV GroupIE highlights his proactive approach to building a strong and connected AV community. A key aspect of Justin’s passion for AV is his role as the EMEA Executive for the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA). His deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within higher education AV makes him an ideal leader for HETMA’s European expansion. In this significant position, he is actively developing HETMA’s presence and impact across Europe, serving as a vital advocate for AV professionals and technology managers working within universities and colleges. His efforts are focused on raising awareness of technology issues specific to higher education AV within the European context.
Connect with Justin Dawson:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinrdawson/
Jon Hamilton
Emory University
Jon Hamilton is the Senior Audio-Visual Manager at Emory University School of Medicine, where he has driven AV innovation and infrastructure for over 13 years. With a background spanning corporate and higher education AV, Jon is skilled in Consumer Electronics, Video Conferencing, Digital Signage, and Troubleshooting. His notable projects include two Health Sciences Research Buildings at Emory, which were developed in collaboration with multiple architects. He also has completely reworked all of Emory’s School of Medicine into an AV over IP environment; Jon has maintained a CTS certification for over 20 years. Jon has held leadership roles at Xerox Audio Visual Solutions and Southern Business Communications. Additionally, he volunteers as the Sponsorship Chair for HETMA, supporting their nonprofit mission by cultivating sponsor relationships.
Connect with Jon Hamilton:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-hamilton-37056124/
Mike Pedersen
Iowa State University
Mike Pedersen, the Audiovisual Experience Manager at Iowa State University since the summer of 2018, brings over 30 years of experience in the engineering industry with a focus on the professional audiovisual (AV) sector for the past 25 years. Leading the Audiovisual Experience Team (AVXT) at Iowa State, Mike oversees the maintenance of AV systems in over 200 university classrooms and provides consulting, installation, and repair services across campus. The AVXT won the 2023 Higher Ed AV Team of the Year with Higher Ed AV Media. Recognized as an expert in the field, he holds both Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certifications in Design (CTS-D) and Installation (CTS-I), a distinction shared by only approximately 800 individuals worldwide. He is routinely a presenter and educator at conferences including InfoComm, ETC, MCUAV, NW/MET, and the HETMA Virtual Conference. In 2018, AVIXA named him CTS Holder of the Year. Mike currently serves on the Membership Committee and Certification Renewal Committee with AVIXA, and he previously served as an elected member of the Certification Steering Committee and chair of the Technology Mangers Council. He also currently serves on the board of directors with the Educational Technology Collaborative (ETC) as well as the Membership Committee and Program Committee. He has previously served extensively with HETMA including the original steering committee and later as the 1-year at large board member. Before joining Iowa State, he spent almost 19 years at Mechdyne Corporation, contributing to various roles including engineering manager, R&D, and pre-sales engineering. Outside of his professional endeavors, Mike actively volunteers in STEM education, having previously serving on the governor’s North Central Iowa Regional STEM Advisory Board. A 1994 graduate of Iowa State University, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with distinction and a minor in History and is working toward a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management degree.
Connect with Mike Pedersen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-pedersen-cts-d-cts-i-7477191/
Reserve your seats today!
The awards are taking place LIVE at InfoComm 2025 on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Funny Bone Comedy Club at Pointe Orlando.
Visit https://www.higheredavawards.com for tickets, entry submissions, and sponsorship info.