Overview
Are you curious about the potential of virtual reality and how it may shape the future of education and work? Join us for a free webinar discussion to learn about the metaverse and its potential to revolutionize higher education. You’ll gain insights from experts in the field who are navigating the metaverse firsthand and also learn about their cutting-edge experiences. Specifically, we’ll explore the following questions:

• How does VR enhance or augment the learning experience compared to traditional methods?
• What are the challenges and limitations of using VR for education, and how can they be addressed?
• How can VR be used to create immersive and interactive learning environments that promote student engagement?
• How does the use of VR impact student achievement, and what kind of data or research supports these claims?
• How are academic leaders supporting faculty and students in the metaverse?

Who Should Attend
This training is designed for higher ed leaders for whom the challenge of future technological trends resonates, and who would like to hear how peers at other institutions across the nation are thinking about and addressing these issues.

Speakers

Lisa Flesher

Chief of Realm 4, Project Acceleration, Arizona State University

Lisa Flesher is the Chief of Realm 4, Project Acceleration at Arizona State University where she helps guide unique, technology-enhanced projects to advance initiatives in Realm 4 – Education Through Exploration.  An example of this work includes Dreamscape Learn which empowers learners through fully immersive and interactive VR learning experiences. Her background includes developing technical tools and solutions focused on student support and success, including Starbucks, Global Freshman Academy, me3, and our partnership with the Al Ghurair Foundation for Education. Flesher earned her undergraduate degree in education and taught seventh grade math before pursuing a master’s in higher and postsecondary education.

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Daniel Mintz

Chair Department of Information Technology, University of Maryland Global Campus

Mr. Mintz serves as the Department Chair for IT Technology within the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). In that role, he manages Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Data Analytics, and Digital Media and Web Development. He also is responsible for an Immersive Pilot effort to explore adding Virtual and Augmented Reality educational content to UMGC courses.

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Muhsinah L. Morris, PhD

Metaverse Director, Morehouse College

Meet the first ever Metaversity Director, Dr. Muhsinah Lateefah Morris. A BS chemistry graduate of the HBCU Clark Atlanta University. She obtained an MS & PhD from the Harvard of the South, Emory University in Biomolecular Chemistry. Dr. Morris has been part of and leading Morehouse’s Metaversity project since the Spring of 2021. She’s won awards for Teaching Excellence at Morehouse College, Best Emerging Technology and Innovation from CBRE, First Place Unconventional Innovation in Industry by T-Mobile, and Educator of the Year for 2022 by STEM Women Atlanta. She resides in McDonough GA with her husband and five sons.

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Overview
Are you curious about the potential of artificial intelligence and how it may shape the future of work and higher education as a whole? Join us for a free webcast discussion to learn about ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools that have the potential to revolutionize higher education. You’ll gain insights from experts in the field who are embracing artificial intelligence firsthand and learn about their cutting-edge experiences. Specifically, we’ll explore questions like the following:

• How are universities empowering their campuses using artificial intelligence?
• What are the toughest challenges institutions are facing with the introduction of ChatGPT?
• How can AI be used to create learning environments that promote student engagement?
• How does the use of AI impact student achievement, and what kind of data or research supports these claims?
• How can academic leaders best support faculty and students with the use of new AI tools?

Who Should Attend
This training is designed for higher education leaders, faculty, and staff who are interested in anticipating and meeting the challenges facing higher education, given the impact of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence advances.

Speakers

Dr. Chris Howard

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Arizona State University

In his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Chris works closely with President Crow and the other executive vice presidents to coordinate enterprise-wide initiatives and advancements, oversee ASU Enterprise affiliates, advance new enterprise relationships and opportunities, and integrate ASU Enterprise planning and strategy.

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Ann Cavallo

Assistant Vice Provost and Director for the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning, University of Texas, Arlington

Ann Cavallo, Ph.D., is Assistant Vice Provost and Director of the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence (CRTLE), Co-Director of UTeach Arlington, and Distinguished University Professor of Science Education at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). She earned her B.S. from Niagara University, and her M.S. in Science Education/Biology, M.S. in General Science, and Ph.D. in Science Education from Syracuse University.

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John Nash

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Educational Leadership Studies, University of Kentucky

John Nash champions the creation of learner-centric schools via design thinking as a professor and the director of the Laboratory on Design Thinking at the University of Kentucky. He also serves as a reliable source for educators and policy-makers, providing forward-looking advice on AI and ChatGPT.

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Kivanc Oner

Vice President of Digital Transformation and Chief Information Officer, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

As UNLV’s first Vice President for Digital Transformation and Chief Information Officer, Kivanc Oner is redefining IT to support the university’s progressive vision, driving innovation to build customer-centric experiences that give students a competitive advantage.

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Overview
Mergers, acquisitions, and closures are a reality for a large number of colleges and universities as the landscape of higher education continues to change. Colleges are seeking to be more competitive than ever. However, successful mergers/acquisitions cannot be only about survival or fixing bad economics; the resulting institution must be stronger as a result. Otherwise, when mergers and acquisitions fail to provide the perceived financial reward, closure is often the only option.

Unfortunately, the benefits of scale and competitiveness do not come easily or without risk. Key facts and information must be understood when evaluating, negotiating, and implementing a strategic merger. Further, it’s already too late to prepare once a merger or alliance is actively being pursued. Leaders need to be proactive and understand the landscape so that they can be either opportunistic or strategically positioned to create the best possible outcome for their institution. In this session, we will explore the following topics:

• Identifying key areas for partnership
• Creating a strategy for early conversations
• Navigating deal features and understanding what it takes to be successful
• Asking the right questions and identifying potential risks and threats
• Understanding the realities of closures

Who Should Attend
This training is designed for any higher education leaders, faculty, and staff who are interested in anticipating and meeting the challenges facing higher education given the impact of mergers, acquisitions, and closures.

Speakers

Ricardo Azziz, MD, MPH, MBA

Academic Health & Hospital Affairs, State University of New York (SUNY) System Administration; Principal, Azziz & Associates Consulting

With over 25 years of leadership experience, throughout his career Ricardo has been actively engaged in ensuring that institutions reach their greatest potential. Among his numerous executive positions, he led the merger that resulted in Georgia Regents University (now Augusta University), serving as founding President, and he previously served as President of Georgia Health Sciences University, leading the merger and alignment of various clinical entities to create the state’s only public academic health system (now Augusta University Health System).

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Bashar Hanna

President, Pennsylvania Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield

Bashar serves as the inaugural President of Commonwealth University. On July 1, 2022, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities officially came together to form Commonwealth University, uniting three historic institutions and promising expanded opportunities for students across the region.

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John Fuchko III

Interim President Dalton State College

John serves as the interim President of Dalton State College and previously served as the interim President for Columbus State University. He also has served in various executive administrative capacities for the University System of Georgia over the last 15 years.

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