Reflections

On a particularly over-committed day in December, I rushed into a team meeting that had already begun, found an open seat, and got my things settled as I tuned into one of our undergraduate Student Research Analysts, Ethan, sharing his experience about coming to ASU. The question posed in the meeting was, “How can we best communicate the meaning of ASU’s charter to students?” I listened as Ethan shared how he almost didn’t go to college, and how there was a time when he thought college wasn’t for him.

Recently, I was listening to a GSV/ASU podcast featuring Dr. Crow.The podcast was about RoboED and focused on personalized and adaptive learning made possible through technology like Newton’s adaptive platforms. Near the end of the conversation, in reference to what lay ahead for ASU and education in general, Dr.

‘Tis the season for lists! It is the time of year when we log what we have done, what we need to do, what we have, and what we want. We at ASU are proud to top the 2015 U.S. News list of Most Innovative Schools. The joy of our achievements further inspires us to continue our mission: advancing quality, accessibility, and impact in higher education.

I just finished reading Paul Krugman’s book review of Thomas Piketty’s book “Capital in the 21st Century.” The review got me thinking about some of the fundamental questions of our time: how can free market capitalism work better? and how can higher education help? Notice I did not ask if free market capitalism works?

Imagine a rubber band. It is not particularly remarkable, yet even as you shrink or stretch it to hold what you need it will retain its original strength and shape. Unless, of course, you snap it.

Continuation from Part 1

A conversation with long-time members of the Office of the President

Is it worth operating in an ecosystem where the only speeds are fast and faster and where the intensity of projects almost never desist?

Last month, Fellows enjoyed an extended opportunity to gain perspectives from more senior members of the Office of the President: Joyce Smitheran, Kyle Whitman and Annemarie Belter. It was a very special and rare chance to collectively pause and reflect broadly on the work we do as well as the President we support. For me, the conversation was rewarding in many ways, and I feel that, in order to best convey its significance to me, I should start with a detour of days long passed.

A first taste of leadership in higher education