Penn Carey Law - Master of Law, Tech and IP
EDUCAUSE - Rising Star Award
University of Pennsylvania - 18 years EdTech leadership
NASDAQ PHLX - SEC and FINRA compliance
IAPP - AIGP candidate
Why a practitioner-strategist, and not just a consultant?
AI governance has five dimensions. Most advisors cover one or two.
Dimension
Typical consultant
Syntrovex
Operated the technology inside an institution
No
Yes ★
Formal legal training in tech and IP law
No
Yes ★
Regulatory compliance experience (SEC, FINRA)
No
Yes ★
Accessibility and civil rights expertise
Rarely
Yes ★
Drafted and implemented institutional AI policy
No
Yes ★
"The engagements that go wrong usually fail in the dimensions the advisor never lived."
THE RISK — Without a governance framework
AI adopted across the organization with no policy that anyone owns
Vendor contracts signed with no AI, data, or accessibility terms
Algorithmic tools affecting students, patients, or citizens with no review
Accreditors, auditors, or regulators arriving to find gaps
Leadership accountable for decisions they cannot yet see
THE SOLUTION — With Syntrovex
A governance program with a named owner and a review cycle
AI and data terms built into procurement before signing
Tools evaluated for bias and accessibility before exposure
Accreditor-ready and audit-ready policy on the shelf
Leadership with clear decision rights and visibility
Questions institutions ask before they call.
Founder and Principal of Syntrovex, specializing in AI governance strategy for complex, regulated organizations.Credibility built on 18 years of University of Pennsylvania educational technology leadership, formal legal training in technology and IP law, and 8 years of SEC and FINRA regulatory compliance.
Credibility built on 18 years of University of Pennsylvania educational technology leadership, formal legal training in technology and IP law, and 8 years of SEC and FINRA regulatory compliance.
Education
- Master of Law in Technology and IP, Penn Carey Law School
- Law Certificate in AI Ethics, Policy and Governance
- IAPP AIGP candidate
Tonya R. Bennett, ML
Philadelphia metro area, 25-plus years of professional experience
Leadership
- Director of Educational Technology, Penn Vet
- Chair, Penn Professional Staff Assembly, 5,000-plus staff
- Co-Lead, EDUCAUSE Women in IT Community Group
Recognition
- EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award
- Models of Excellence, University of Pennsylvania
- Published EDUCAUSE author
18
Years in higher education technology leadership
10+
Publications and media appearances
20+
Committees and groups served across Penn and EDUCAUSE
5,000+
University staff represented as elected assembly chair
The Protocol
A refined five-phase governance framework established through 18 years of institutional technology leadership.
01
ASSESS
Identify shadow AI adoption and regulatory compliance gaps to quantify institutional risk.
02
ALIGN
Bridge leadership and legal counsel to set risk tolerance and AI decision rights.
03
ARCHITECT
Develop accreditor-ready policies and procurement language that protect data privacy.
04
ACTIVATE
Drive compliant adoption through targeted training and clear communication.
05
AUDIT
Run continuous monitoring and audit cycles to keep institutional clarity absolute.
EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award
Models of Excellence (University of Pennsylvania)
Recognized in the field.
Published EDUCAUSE author
30 Higher Ed IT Influencers to Follow
Impact that holds up under scrutiny
Representative scenarios that show how governance, accessibility, and leadership experience change outcomes.
Higher Education
AI-supported curriculum at a major veterinary school
Challenge: Faculty adopting AI tools with no governing framework.
Action: Moved a vendor AI contract from negotiation through execution with governance and accessibility terms.
Result: Established a scalable, low-risk model for high-stakes curriculum AI deployment.
Academic Integrity
When the tools decide who is honest
Challenge: AI detection and proctoring tools producing disproportionate impact on disabled and neurodivergent students.
Action: Legal research and policy analysis grounded in case law and equity frameworks.
Result: Reduced liability through balanced integrity policies that prioritize student rights.
Accessibility
Accessibility built in, not bolted on
Challenge: AI tools entering institutions without WCAG review.
Action: Accessibility compliance reviews and CPACC-level institutional practice implementation.
Result: Ensured full inclusive access while mitigating long-term civil rights litigation risk.
Leadership
Representing 5,000+ staff in technology decisions
Challenge: Staff voice absent from institutional technology and AI decisions.
Action: Elected assembly leadership across 20+ committees to integrate staff expertise.
Result: High-impact adoption driven by community buy-in and practical user governance.
EDUCAUSE
Rising Star Award, and named to 30 Higher Ed IT Influencers to Follow. Published EDUCAUSE author.
Recognized in the field.
Independent recognition from the institutions and bodies that set the standard.
University of Pennsylvania
Models of Excellence recognition, and 18 years leading educational technology across Penn Vet and Penn Dental.
Elected leadership
Chair of an assembly representing 5,000-plus university staff, with service across 20-plus committees.
Tonya in the field
Public, documented appearances. Each one links to the original source so anyone can verify it.