HSB Welcomes Global Scholars to Waco for the 2025 SIGMIS Conference

The Hankamer School of Business (HSB) recently hosted the 2025 ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research (CPR) Conference – one of the longest-running academic gatherings exploring the intersection of information technology and people.

Baylor was selected as the host site three years ago by the CPR Executive Committee. Cindy Riemenschneider, PhD, and Yulia Sullivan, PhD, both faculty within the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics (ISBA) at HSB, served as conference co-chairs, overseeing all aspects of the event from planning logistics and coordinating meals to organizing the doctoral consortium and working closely with ACM headquarters.

This year’s theme, “Managing IT in a Dynamic World: The Social and Organizational Ramifications of Sophisticated Technologies and Security Threats,” brought together faculty, doctoral students and practitioners for three days of thought-provoking presentations and meaningful collaboration. The conference included 69 unique authors and drew attendees from the United States, Germany, Israel, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Singapore, along with representatives from Prospect Press.

Throughout the event, participants engaged with a wide range of timely and critical topics including health and burnout, artificial intelligence, learned passivity in the workforce, IT security, workforce development and technology adoption and use.

“For close to 60 years, the ACM SIGMIS CPR conference has engaged the academic and practitioner communities in understanding issues pertaining to the intersection of information technology and people,” said Riemenschneider, holder of the Helen Ligon Professorship in Information Systems. “From its roots in studying the IT workforce, CPR has broadened its focus to investigate all aspects of this important and complex relationship – and this year’s conference did an incredible job continuing that tradition.”

The agenda included a doctoral consortium, panel discussions, research paper presentations, poster sessions, networking opportunities and an awards ceremony. The conference also featured a keynote address by A. Michael Smith, a former partner at Deloitte and PwC with more than 35 years of experience in public accounting and industry leadership.

“It was incredible learning from A. Michael Smith, who has held senior leadership roles in major financial institutions and most recently served as Chief Audit Executive at Nasdaq,” Riemenschneider said. “Hearing from someone with such experience, who also openly shared his Christian perspective, was truly impactful for our audience.”

In addition to its academic depth, the conference left a personal impression on many participants who remarked on the distinctive Christian atmosphere at Baylor.

“The most meaningful feedback I received was how many attendees were struck by our Christian mission,” said Sullivan, associate professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics. “Several guests shared that they hadn’t known such a strong faith-based university existed in the United States. They felt our values were evident throughout the event – from the welcome remarks to the way we interacted with one another. It was deeply encouraging.”

Attendees also enjoyed Baylor’s warm hospitality and local charm. Beyond the conference itself, a cowboy-themed social at a venue just outside of Waco gave international guests a true taste of Texas, with countryside views, rustic décor and grazing cattle. Additionally, ISBA faculty led an impromptu campus tour that included the bear habitat and other well-known Baylor landmarks.

“Hosting this conference gave Baylor and Waco valuable exposure,” Riemenschneider said. “Participants are taking their experiences back to their universities across the globe. I believe the connections they formed here and the impressions they left with will continue to benefit Baylor and the Hankamer School of Business in the years to come.”

The success of the 2025 ACM SIGMIS CPR Conference reflects the Hankamer School of Business’s continued commitment to academic excellence, meaningful scholarship and values-driven leadership. By bringing together a global community of scholars and professionals, Baylor not only advanced vital conversations in information systems but also showcased the distinctive culture that defines its community – one rooted in collaboration, purpose and faith.