DLT’s Adam Stewart leads ed tech conference at the U

The University of Utah welcomed more than 300 educational technology professionals from the across the United States and Western Canada for the 2026 Northwest Managers of Educational Technology (NW/MET) Conference on May 18–22, 2026, hosted centrally at the A. Ray Olpin Student Union. 

Founded in 1978, NW/MET is one of the oldest educational technology support organizations in the world, bringing together professionals across software, hardware, audiovisual systems, and instructional design. With 321 registrants representing 51 institutions, this year’s event marked the largest NW/MET conference to date. 

UIT’s Digital Learning Technologies (DLT) team, particularly Conference Director Adam Stewart, associate director for DLT AV & Technology Services, played a central role in hosting and presenting at the conference that featured 30 sessions, panels, and workshops, along with 176 exhibitors.  
 
Stewart and his team helped coordinate local logistics and venue selection, ultimately choosing the student union as the primary site because it could accommodate the conference’s growing number of vendors.  
 
While the union served as the main hub, attendees experienced a variety of campus and community venues throughout the week. Events included a reception at Spy Hop, a Salt Lake City–based digital media arts center; a closing event at the Natural History Museum of Utah; and a full day of programming at Salt Lake Community College’s South City Campus — complete with shuttle service to support attendees. 

Dr. Jon Thomas, director for DLT, noted that NW/MET stands out for bringing institutional leaders and industry partners — a “gathering of decision-makers” — together in a way that “fosters meaningful collaboration and connection.” 

Stewart said he and Thomas befriended Paul Burriel, a longtime member of NW/MET leadership, through their involvement in the Kaltura EDU community. On Burriel’s invitation, they attended the 2018 NW/MET conference at Oregon State University and “were so impressed by what we found.” 

“That first experience helped us understand what makes NW/MET so special,” Stewart said. “This organization brings together higher education AV and ed tech professionals who are eager to share ideas, solve problems, and learn from one another. In a field that continues to change quickly, that spirit of openness and collaboration is more valuable than ever.” 
 
Dr. Steve Hess, chief information officer for the U of U and the Utah System of Higher Education, delivered a keynote address. Hess, who holds a doctorate in educational administration with an emphasis in higher education and information technology from the U, spoke about the evolving role of technology in supporting institutional strategy and student success. 

Stewart joined Thomas and Holly Johnson, associate director for DLT Digital Learning Innovation and Outreach, to lead a workshop: “An overview of University of Utah’s central support team for educational technology.” The session highlighted DLT’s structure and services, including: 

• Audiovisual and video support
• Service desk operations
• Learning management system and online systems support
• Outreach and innovation services 

The team also shared recent projects that demonstrate how the U supports digital learning across campus. 

Stewart said he received a lot of positive feedback about the conference, particularly attendees “who mentioned how much they love the campus.”  

After meeting in Boise State University in 2025 and the U of U in 2026, NW/MET will convene at Washington State University in 2027.

Below are photos from the event courtesy of Lou Hong, senior hardware and software technologist at Idaho State University.

 

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