Redefining Academic Innovation: Insights from the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion exploring the pivotal findings from the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0, a collaboration between Quantum Thinking and the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation. This conversation will uncover key trends shaping the future of higher education, as highlighted by 138 academic innovation leaders across 117 U.S. institutions. These are the decision-makers driving critical changes in teaching, learning, and technology.

During the session, Anne K. Keehn, founder & CEO of Quantum Thinking and co-principal investigator of the study, will present a fresh analysis of the state of academic innovation leadership today—contrasting the latest data with insights from a decade ago. Following this, a panel of thought leaders will dive deeper into the actionable implications of the survey, exploring themes such as:

  • Generative AI & COVID’s Lasting Impact: How institutions and leadership are evolving to meet the demands of a post-pandemic, AI-driven world.
  • Leadership in Innovation: Who are the leaders at the forefront of academic transformation, and what skills are now crucial for success?
  • Faculty Empowerment: New support structures that align with the evolving demands on instructors and academic staff.
  • Top Priorities for academic innovation leaders for the next three years.
  • Collaborative Partnerships: The increasing importance of interdisciplinary teams involving faculty, students, and industry partners to solve pressing educational challenges.

This session offers an opportunity to reflect on how academic innovation has not only grown in prominence but also matured into a vital engine for student success. Learn how to leverage these insights to foster forward-thinking strategies and ensure your institution thrives in this new era of higher education. Whether you’re an administrator, faculty member, or industry partner, this discussion will provide you with key data points and strategic guidance for navigating the future of academic innovation.

This webinar is sponsored by IntelliBoard

Speaker Bio

 

Anne Keehn

Founder & CEO – Quantum Thinking

Over the course of my 30+ year career, I’ve been recognized as a visionary and accomplished executive in scaling technology initiatives, programs, and businesses. My cross-sector experience spans across education technology, teaching and learning innovation, and research for higher education, K-12 and corporate learning.Throughout my career, I’ve held several leadership positions. Most recently, I undertook the role of Global Education Lead for Zoom where I helped design the Zoom Summer Academy, which reached thousands of educators during the pandemic. I also served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Senior Fellow for Technology & Innovation for the Postsecondary Success Team for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Previously, I held positions as the President, Global Solutions, Americas for Kaplan Ventures; SVP of Pearson Learning Solutions; and was the early stage Executive VP of Global Sales and Client Relations at Blackboard. I have led sales, marketing, and business development teams for PeopleSoft (Oracle), Datatel and SCT (Ellucian).I share my expertise globally as a published writer and speaker on education technology, design thinking, and academic innovation and change.
Cait Hayward, Ph.D.

Director of Research & Analytics, Center for Academic Innovation – University of Michigan

Cait manages the research and development portfolio at Academic Innovation, with a focus on ensuring that our projects are taking advantage of the vast amount of data available to them to inform design, iteration, and prioritization. In her role, she manages the data science, user experience research, and educational research teams, and provides data analysis, research design, and creative problem-solving to initiatives at all stages across Academic Innovation. Prior to her role at the Center for Academic Innovation, Cait co-founded and led the development of the GradeCraft platform. In parallel to developing GradeCraft, she completed her PhD in Information Science, with a focus on learning analytics, the theoretical foundations of gameful pedagogy, and novel educational technologies.
 

Jennifer Mathes, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer – Online Learning Consortium

Jennifer Mathes serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). In her role, she sets the strategic direction for the organization and spearheads the development of key projects and programs to benefit OLC members. With over 25 years of experience in both public and private sectors of education, Dr. Mathes has been a staunch advocate for digital learning initiatives. In addition, Dr. Mathes is the author of the ICDE Report Global Quality in Online, Open, Flexible and Technology Enhanced Education: An Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (2019) and co-editor of the OLC Quality Scorecard Handbook: Criteria for Excellence in Blended Learning Programs (2017). She continues to write and present on key topics in online, blended and digital learning. Dr. Mathes began her academic journey as a faculty member, eventually ascending to the role of Chief Academic Officer. She has also served as a consultant, advising educational institutions on implementing best practices in online education. Her recent work has involved collaborating with higher education associations and institutions internationally to support the global adoption of best practices in online learning.


Patrice Torcivia Prusko, Ph.D.

Director, Learning Design – Harvard University

As director of learning design, technology and media within the Harvard Graduate School of Education Teaching and Learning Lab, Patrice Torcivia Prusko oversees the design, development, and project management of online and technology enhanced courses in the TLL portfolio. Most recently, her team led the design and development of the first fully online Master’s program at HGSE. Patrice’s research interests include the assessment of pedagogical practices in online learning, application of theory to practice, and cultivation of care. She is passionate about increasing global access to STEM education for all women and believes this will enable more communities across the globe to thrive and flourish.


Becky Keith

Chief Product Officer – IntelliBoard

Becky Keith is an accomplished leader in the educational technology sector, boasting a comprehensive background as an educator, Chief Product Officer, and executive within various EdTech enterprises. Presently, she holds the position of Chief Product Officer at IntelliBoard. As CPO, she leads the Product, Client Success, and Solution Consulting teams. She’s driven by the belief that strong data governance is a critical piece of every organization, and data adoption at scale is achievable and can transform daily actions that lead to learner success. She leverages her experience to make a tangible impact on education worldwide.