Roger Ehmpke

Strategic digital leadership for higher-education web ecosystems

Building accessible, sustainable, and AI-aware platforms that serve people and institutional purpose.

I help higher education and mission-driven organizations simplify digital ecosystems, strengthen accessibility, and align content, governance, and technology with institutional goals — for both people and emerging AI-driven discovery.
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Roger Ehmpke's photo

About

I'm a higher education web and digital strategy leader with more than 25 years of experience in UX, accessibility, and content systems. My work centers on creating clarity within complex digital environments — ensuring alignment between user experience, institutional strategy, and long-term sustainability.

As Director of Web Strategy and Digital Experience at Kankakee Community College, I oversee the college's digital ecosystem, leading accessibility governance, CMS architecture, analytics, and AI-readiness initiatives. My focus is on shaping web infrastructure that supports people, protects privacy, and strengthens organizational integrity.

Across roles — from CMS architect and accessibility advocate to mentor and systems designer — I've guided teams through redesigns, policy shifts, and governance transformations. I approach every project through the lens of clarity, ethics, and long-term maintainability.

I also collaborate with peers across higher-ed and nonprofit sectors on emerging challenges: ethical AI adoption, summarization accuracy, digital equity, and sustainable governance frameworks that evolve with technology and expectations.

Skills & Specialties

From strategic leadership to accessible development, these are the areas where I bring depth and practical experience:

Governance & Strategy

Aligning digital ecosystems with institutional structure, legal readiness, and organizational goals.

UX & Accessibility

WCAG/508 compliance, inclusive design, screen reader readiness, and equitable access planning.

CMS Architecture

WordPress, SharePoint, Jekyll/CloudCannon, Git-based systems, and content workflows for sustainable content management.

Web Development

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node — including CI/CD, structured data, and responsive frameworks.

Security & Performance

DNS resilience, uptime strategy, SEO, and AI parsing awareness.

AI & Automation Readiness

Ethical adoption of AI tools to enhance accessibility, governance, and operational efficiency.

Selected Projects

A few examples where I've led digital strategy, accessibility improvements, and CMS architecture — delivering scalable, user-centered solutions in higher education and mission-driven contexts.


computer screen with an image of kcc redesign project

Kankakee Community College

Lead digital strategist responsible for the college’s public web platforms and intranet ecosystem — including CMS modernization, accessibility govenrance, analytics strategy, and AI-aware information arghitecture.

Web Strategy Accessibility CMS Architecture AI Readiness Higher Education
computer screen with an image of Economic Alliance of Kankakee project

Economic Alliance of Kankakee County

Led digital strategy and CMS redevelopment for a regional economic development organization. Delivered an accessible, content-forward platform aligned aligned with the organization's mission and regional engagement goals.

UX Strategy Responsive Design WordPress Economic Development

Recommendations

A few words from collaborators on past strategy and development work.

Lisa M. Wogan

Economic Development Professional

Roger's methodical approach and proactive attitude helped produce a website that exceeded our needs.

Febin Mootheril

Strategist | Digital & Hybrid Manufacturing | President & CEO

Roger's creativity and attention to detail made him a pleasure to work with.

Ron Sattar

Business and IT Consultant / Sattar Group

Highly skilled and strategic. Roger managed our project from start to finish with clarity and care.
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