Higher Education & the Future of Work

Co-Creating A Prosperous Future for All

High-Level Convening Overview 

December 12, 2024 | Washington, DC

The state of work is changing, and quickly. While trends such as demographics, digitization, AI and remote work are driving this change, the call for more humane, people-focused work, with a heightened focus on the role of wellbeing, sustainability, and purposeful leadership, is also shifting this landscape. Higher education must rise to meet this historical moment. This convening explored promising practices – including an exciting methodology with a powerful set of tools focused on Project-based Mentoring®

Goal: Exploring how might we come together as a community to collaboratively create a prosperous future for all.
 
Description 
Leaders from business, higher education, and the citizen-sector came together to share and discuss:

  • What is the future of work that is desired?
  • What needs to happen within higher education to create this future?
  • What are challenges and how might we overcome them?
  • What are opportunities and how do we leverage them?

Program

8:30 am: Doors Open

8:30-9:00 am: Networking & Light Breakfast 

9:00-9:10 am: Welcome & Introductions 
Heather MacCleoud, PhD, Chief Network Officer, Ashoka U

9:10-9:30 am: Event Overview
Eidi Cruz-Valdivieso, Director, Strategy and Engagement, Ashoka U

9:30-10:45 am: Panel & Discussion: Why we need Project-based Mentoring®
Facilitators:

  • Patty Alper, Author, Teach to Work®, Founder, Project-based Mentoring®; President and Founder, The Alper Portfolio Group; Trustee, Alper Family Foundation
  • Heather MacCleoud, PhD

Panelists:

  • Kim Churches, President & CEO, The Washington Center
  • Ellen Glazerman, Executive Director, EY Foundation; EY Americas Director, University Relations, EY
  • John Halpin, Assistant Dean Workforce Development, City College of San Francisco 
  • Kaiwei Hsu, Skilling & Impact Hiring Lead for Skills to Succeed National Program, Accenture
  • J.D. LaRock, JD, EdD, CEO, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

10:45-11:15 am: Coffee Break

11:15-11:45 am: Fireside Chat & Discussion with Patty Alper
Facilitator: Eidi Cruz-Valdivieso

11:45 am-12:15 pm: Panel & Discussion: Changemaker Ecosystems™ & the Role of Higher Education 
Facilitator: Eidi Cruz-Valdivieso 

Panelists:

  • Erin Lewis, MPA, Executive Director, Center for Innovation and Change, University of Evansville
  • Andrew Carter, Associate Director, Center for Innovation and Change, University of Evansville
  • Derek Jones, PhD, Director, Cognitive Science Program and Faculty Director, Center for Innovation & Change, University of Evansville
  • Derek McKillop, Director, Evansville Promise Neighborhood, University of Evansville

12:15-1:00 pm: Networking Lunch 

1:00-1:45 pm: Roundtable Discussions: Co-creating the Future We Want
Facilitators:

  • Heather MacCleoud, PhD
  • Eidi Cruz-Valdivieso

1:45-2:00 pm: Conclusions & Next Steps 
Facilitators:

  • Eidi Cruz-Valdivieso
  • Heather MacCleoud, PhD

Participants & Roundtable Discussants

  • James Kassaga Arinaitwe, Senior Advisor, Teach for All
  • Mariana Levinas Huberman, Senior Director, Lugano Diamonds
  • Rubén Mancha, PhD, Associate Professor, Technology and Information Management, Operations and Information Management Division; Faculty Director, MSM in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Babson College
  • Robin Matross Helms, PhD, Vice President, Membership & Educational Services, Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)
  • Aaron Miller, Director, International Trade, Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC); Chairman, Virginia/DC District Export Council, George Mason University
  • Mardell Moffett, Executive Director (former), The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation