SPEAKING
Your audience leaves knowing what to do about AI, not just worried about it.
Tonya R. Bennett speaks as a practitioner who has written the policy, signed the contracts, and sat in the room when the decisions were made.
Tonya books a limited number of engagements each season.
Formats
Keynote
30 to 60 minutes, for conferences and convenings.
Workshop
90 minutes to a half day, hands-on for leadership teams.
Executive Briefing
A focused session for decision-makers (Board or Executive).
Panel & Moderation
For multi-voice conversations on AI and governance.
Also available for podcasts, fireside chats, webinars, and master classes.
Why Tonya
Tonya R. Bennett has championed educational technology at the University of Pennsylvania for 18 years and holds a Master of Law in Technology and Intellectual Property from Penn Carey Law School. An EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award recipient and published author, she serves as an elected chair for over 5,000 university staff. She speaks as a practitioner who has written the policy, signed the contracts, and sat in the room when the pivotal decisions were made.
18 Years
Penn EdTech Leadership
Penn Carey Law
Tech & IP Strategy
EDUCAUSE
National Rising Star
Expertise at the Intersection
Tonya R. Bennett, ML, is a leading voice in AI governance, bridging the gap between technological innovation and institutional risk. With over 18 years of leadership at the University of Pennsylvania in educational technology and governance, she brings a practitioner's precision to complex regulatory environments. Her foundation is formal legal training from Penn Carey Law School, where she focused on the intersection of innovation, technology, and IP law, which lets her navigate FERPA, HIPAA, and civil rights in the age of generative AI. An EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award recipient and published author, she serves as an elected chair for over 5,000 university staff. She speaks as a practitioner who has written the policy, signed the contracts, and sat in the room when the decisions were made.
Her foundation is rooted in formal legal training from Penn Carey Law, where she specialized in the intersection of Innovation, Technology, and IP Law. This unique blend of operational EdTech experience and legal strategy allows her to navigate the nuances of FERPA, HIPAA, and civil rights in the age of generative AI.
Through Syntrovex Innovation Group, Tonya advises executive boards and institutional leaders on building accreditor-ready AI policies. Recognized with the national EDUCAUSE Rising Star Award, she continues to serve in key leadership roles, ensuring that AI adoption remains ethical, inclusive, and legally sound.
18 Years
Penn EdTech Leadership
Penn Carey Law
Tech & IP Strategy
EDUCAUSE
National Rising Star
Speaking Topics
AI Governance for Boards
Empowering executive boards to move from AI anxiety to informed oversight through disciplined risk management and strategic frameworks.
AI Detection & Civil Rights
Analyzing the intersection of algorithmic integrity and equity in education and hiring.
Higher Ed & Healthcare
Navigating FERPA, HIPAA, and accreditor standards in the age of generative AI integration.
Vendor & Contract Governance
Protecting institutional data through advanced procurement language and vendor accountability.
AI Policy Design
Drafting adaptive, executive-grade AI policies that evolve with regulatory shifts.
EDUCAUSE National ConferenceAI Governance Panel · 2024
Past Engagements
Ivy+ IT Leadership SummitFuture of AI in EdTech · 2023
Penn Carey Law SchoolEthics of AI & IP Law · 2024
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine Faculty Retreat - 2006
AIGP Governance ForumPolicy Design Workshop · 2025
Bring this conversation to your stage.
Tell me about your event and your audience. Tonya books a limited number of engagements each season and tailors every session to the room.
Or email directly at tonya@syntrovex.com.
What Your Audience Walks Away With
Risk Mapping & Diagnostic
A structured assessment to identify the institutional AI footprint and surface latent regulatory vulnerabilities in complex systems.
Executive Oversight
Establishing the strategic vocabulary required for boards and general counsel to ensure informed governance over AI initiatives.
Applied Frameworks
A concrete operational roadmap for transitioning high-level policy into ethical, accreditor-ready enterprise deployment.
Durable Governance
Establishing long-term decision-making structures to evaluate emerging technology risks without compromising institutional integrity.
Tonya in the field
Public, documented appearances. Each one links to the original source so anyone can verify it.