ASU+GSV Summit Sessions

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Benjamin Riley, Founder of Cognitive Resonance.The session explored a provocative counter-narrative to the prevailing optimism surrounding AI in education. Riley challenged the assumption that AI will radically transform education for the better, arguing instead that it poses significant hazards to effective teaching and learning. Drawing on principles from cognitive science, he unpacked the disconnect between how AI tools are being promoted and how they actually function in educational settings—raising critical questions about the future of learning in an AI-driven world.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Tom Andriola, Vice Chancellor of Information Technology and Data and Chief Data Officer at UC Irvine; James DeVaney, Special Advisor to the President and Founding Executive Director of the Center for Academic Innovation at University of Michigan; Phil Regier, University Dean for Educational Initiatives and CEO of EdPlus at Arizona State University; Suzanne Dove, AVP of Strategy & Innovation and Executive Director of the Badavas Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning at Bentley University; and Anne Keehn, CEO at Quantum Thinking.The session explored the essential role of academic innovation leaders in guiding higher education institutions toward resilience and relevance during times of rapid change. The speakers discussed strategies for fostering innovation, leveraging technology, and preparing institutions for an uncertain future. They shared effective leadership practices that drive institutional transformation and ensure long-term success even amid evolving challenges.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Naria Santa Lucia, General Manager of Skills for Social Impact at Microsoft Philanthropies; Kristen Fox, CEO at Business Higher Education Forum; Antonio Delgado, Vice President of Innovation and Technology Partnerships at Miami Dade College; and Pam Eddinger, President at Bunker Hill Community College.The session highlighted the transformative role of community colleges in driving regional workforce development. The speakers explored innovative strategies and collaborative efforts that align education with emerging workforce demands, address skills gaps, and foster sustainable community growth. They shared valuable perspectives on how community colleges serve as dynamic hubs for innovation, talent development, and economic empowerment, ultimately strengthening local economies.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Rosemary Lahasky, Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs at Pearson; Joe Barela, Executive Director at Colorado Department of Labor and Employment; Dr. Steve Taylor, Policy Director and Senior Fellow of Economic Mobility at Stand Together Trust; and Alison Griffin, Contributor at Forbes.The session explored how leaders are shaping a resilient labor market through bipartisan policy innovations that bridge the skills gap, enhance job training, and drive inclusive workforce development. The speakers discussed how evidence-based strategies and public-private partnerships are transforming workforce policy to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy. They shared insights into successful initiatives, addressed common challenges, and presented actionable solutions for building a future-ready workforce that benefits communities across the nation.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Dana Bryson, SVP of Social Impact at Study.com; Dr. Asya Johnson, Principal at NYC Public Schools: HBCU Early College Prep; Megan Moulton-Levy, Vice President at JTCC & USTA; Kareem McLemore, Interim Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management and International Affairs at Delaware State University; and Sekou Biddle, Vice President at UNCF.The session highlighted how prioritizing access leads to transformational pathways for traditionally underserved students. The speakers shared how groundbreaking partnerships between community organizations, schools, colleges, and innovative programs are breaking barriers, driving educational equity, and building sustainable funding models that fuel opportunity and economic mobility. They explored how collective action is reshaping the future of education and workforce readiness, proving that when access isn’t optional, success becomes inevitable.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Christopher Gabrieli, Partner at Empower Schools; James DeVaney, Special Advisor to the President and Founding Executive Director of the Center for Academic Innovation at University of Michigan; Donna Linderman, Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success at SUNY System Administration; Noe Ortega, Commissioner at Massachusetts Department of Higher Education; and Stephanie Ralston-Khurana, Chief Executive Officer at Axim Collaborative.The session explored how state agencies and systems are becoming pivotal engines for innovation in higher education. The speakers shared their insights and experiences in orchestrating statewide educational transformation, highlighting how moving from campus-level initiatives to statewide strategies can drive more scalable and impactful change across the sector.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Marcus Felder, Managing Director & Head of Career Pathways at Blackstone; Julian Johnson, Corporate Manager, DEI & Engagement at Great Wolf Lodge; Ebony Thomas, Managing Partner at Grads of Life; and Barbara Logan Smith, Chief of Experience and Belonging at Teach For America. The conversation was moderated by Kim Mitchell, Chief People Officer at Renaissance Learning.The session explored the operationalization of talent acquisition and workforce development with an inclusive lens, focusing on the business imperative of innovation, expanding talent pools, and creating career pathways for employees. Industry leaders shared insights and best practices from diverse sectors, including private equity, education, and hospitality. The discussion uncovered how innovative approaches to sourcing and developing talent can drive business success, foster a more inclusive workforce, and empower employees to thrive in their career journeys.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Lee Weiss, Chief Commercial Officer of Higher Education & General Manager of Higher Education at Kaplan, Inc.; John Woods, Chief Academic Officer & Provost at University of Phoenix; Justin Lonon, Chancellor at Dallas College; Anne Kress, President at Northern Virginia Community College; and Paul Fain, Editor at Work Shift.The session explored how to more effectively connect education systems with the workforce to enable seamless transitions for students into meaningful careers. The speakers discussed the transformative potential of systems change, highlighting practical solutions such as apprenticeships, co-op programs, and the pivotal role of community colleges in bridging the education-to-employment divide.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Stig Leschly, President at Postsecondary Commission; Pano Kanelos, President at University of Austin; Courtney Hills McBeth, Chief Academic Officer & Provost at Western Governors University; and Meghan Cressman, Vice President of Development and Partnerships at Merit America.The session explored the significant barriers to creating new colleges in a higher education system where most institutions are more than 50 years old. The speakers discussed how higher education is not an open marketplace and emphasized the need for new models and innovative leaders to emerge. They highlighted what it will take to foster a movement of new colleges, including the roles that accreditors, state and federal leaders, and philanthropy can play in jumpstarting this transformation.

Adela de la Torre, the President of San Diego State University, Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, and Jacob Fraire, President of the ECMC Foundation, dive into the critical role of regional colleges in innovation and workforce development. They discuss how these institutions can uniquely adapt post-COVID, emphasizing student engagement and tailored programs. The conversation includes navigating workforce alignment in the age of AI and the importance of flexible credentialing to meet diverse learner needs, underscoring their potential to drive economic mobility.