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 will explore 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