---
title: "#203: UHCL's 6-Week Leadership Pivot + AI Student Concierge + NASA Innovation Culture [Houston 2024]"
description: Learn how Dr. LeeBrian Gaskins executed a 6-week leadership pivot, built AI concierge services, and leveraged NASA's resilience culture at UH Clear Lake.
image: https://techtables.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-06-17%20at%209.22.42%20PM.png
---

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 June 18, 2025

# #203: UHCL's 6-Week Leadership Pivot + AI Student Concierge + NASA Innovation Culture \[Houston 2024\]

![Picture of Joe Toste](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/d79e02d2f67ca9987e895bb88cf1c034)    Joe Toste  ·   2 minute read

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/> <https://twitter.com/thejoetoste> <https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-public-sector-show-by-techtables/id1661752549> <https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFQBsDwKJkdNk2qENkhNL> <https://www.youtube.com/@techtables> [mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)

 

 

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**Listen now: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@techtables) x [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-public-sector-show-by-techtables/id1661752549) x [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/0bFQBsDwKJkdNk2qENkhNL?si=387c7ae946694939)**

---

 

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### **Featuring:**

- **[Dr. LeeBrian Gaskins](https://www.linkedin.com/in/leebriangaskins/)**, Senior Associate Vice President of IT/CIO at University of Houston-Clear Lake

### **What You’ll Learn:**

- **6-week crisis leadership insights:** How Dr. Gaskins built team trust and executed digital transformation during COVID with a brand-new team
- **AI concierge vision for higher ed:** Real-world use cases for student support systems that access enterprise data and provide personalized recommendations
- **NASA's cultural influence on tech strategy:** How space program values of exploration and resilience shape innovation approaches in higher education
- **Email security culture building:** Lessons from achieving 96-97% spam filtering while shifting user behavior from "fix later" to "safety first"
- **Collaboration as "magnifier and multiplier":** Why Texas higher ed leaders prioritize peer networking and mentorship for amplified problem-solving

### **Timestamps**

- [00:34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=34s) - Introduction and NASA Memorabilia Space Tour
- [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=60s) - Dr. Gaskins' Journey: West Virginia to NASA's Backyard
- [03:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=180s) - Childhood Space Dreams Driving Technology Innovation
- [05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=300s) - International Business Background and Cross-Border Tech
- [08:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=480s) - Texas Higher Ed Collaboration Networks and Mentorship
- [11:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=660s) - Collaboration as a "Magnifier and Multiplier" Strategy
- [13:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=780s) - NASA's Cultural Influence on STEM and Resilience
- [17:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=1020s) - 6-Week COVID Crisis Leadership with New Team
- [23:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=1380s) - Human-Centric Tech: Internet Access and TTY Device Stories
- [28:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=1680s) - AI in Higher Ed: Ethics, Policy, and Student Experience
- [34:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=2040s) - AI Concierge Vision: Enterprise Data and Student Support
- [41:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=2460s) - Email Security Culture: 96-97% Spam Filtering Success
- [45:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Xy3fs-0JM&t=2700s) - EDUCAUSE Takeaways and Cross-Pollination Benefits

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📧 **Interested?** Email Joe at[⁠**joe@techtables.com**](mailto:joe@techtables.com)[mailto:joe@techtables.com](mailto:joe@techtables.com)

#### Subscribe to the Newsletter

Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.

#### **RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES - FROM THE 2024 PHOENIX LIVE PODCAST TOUR**

**→ [#179: Richard McHattie, Chris Chirgwin, Mike Hojnicki, Don Ingle - Transforming the Resident Experience: Insights from Top County CIOs](https://techtables.com/podcast/179/richard-mchattie-chris-chirgwin-mike-hojnicki-don-ingle)**

**→ ****[#180: J.R. Sloan, Ryan Murray & Doug Lange – Arizona State CIO, CISO & Former CSO Talk AI](https://techtables.com/podcast/180/j.r.-sloan-ryan-murray-doug-lange)**

**→ **[**#181: Dr. Bianca Lochner, Feroz Merchhiya, Dr. Muriel Reid, & Ken Williams – Smart Cities & Digital Innovation – Transforming Cities with AI & 5G**](https://techtables.com/podcast/181/dr.-bianca-lochner-feroz-merchhiya-dr.-muriel-reid-ken-williams)

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