Recorded on May 8, 2026:
This week on The AV Life, Tim Van Woeart is joined by Brandy Johnson, Nancy Blanchard, Renee Benson, Steve Borho, and a surprise drop-in from Joe Way for a classic crew conversation that starts with a serious higher ed technology disruption and somehow still finds its way to dogs, border crossings, World Cup logistics, InfoComm plans, and youth sports officiating.
The episode opens with the recent Instructure and Canvas cyberattack, its impact on higher education during finals week, and the reminder of just how dependent campuses have become on learning management systems. From there, the conversation moves into the ripple effects of exam delays, student travel, residence life, and campus operations before shifting into World Cup planning in New Jersey, Kansas City, and Toronto, HETMA Lunch and Learns, the Higher Ed AV Awards, InfoComm FOMO, and why live events always seem easier to plan until the calendar gets real.
Topics Discussed
• The Instructure and Canvas cyberattack during finals week
• How LMS outages affect exams, grades, student travel, and campus operations
• Cybersecurity, phishing, and the frustration of malicious technical talent
• Rutgers’ response and the challenge of protecting student data
• Residence life complications when exams are postponed
• Joe Way’s travel through Japan and Dubai
• World Cup 2026 logistics in New Jersey, Kansas City, and Toronto
• Train pricing, parking restrictions, and event transportation headaches
• HETMA Lunch and Learns and staying connected to the community
• Dave Labuskes’ Higher Ed AV Podcast appearance ahead of InfoComm
• Higher Education Summit keynote announcements
• Higher Ed AV Awards submissions and judging timelines
• Why giving finalists more notice matters for higher ed travel approval
• InfoComm Vegas versus InfoComm Orlando energy
• Tim’s InfoComm FOMO and plans for remote AV Life coverage
• Brandy’s driving reputation and Chris Neto’s survival story
• Steve’s dog Marty making an unofficial AV Life appearance
• Joe’s voluntary guest status after arriving late
• Tim’s softball injury and player-manager self-demotion
• Youth sports, officiating frustration, and passionate parent moments
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
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Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
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