The Human Factor of AI in Higher Education

A Thought Leadership Series

Nuventive hosted a thought leadership webinar series exploring AI in higher education through the lens of diverse leadership roles—from presidents to provosts to technology leaders. Together with our long-time partner Microsoft, who co-sponsored the kickoff session and contributed expert speakers throughout, we’ve brought forward timely perspectives on one of the most transformative topics facing higher education today.

With the series complete, we are sharing the collection of replays, including our 10th and final session, available as an audio replay. These conversations highlight not just the technology itself, but the human side of AI—how leaders are addressing the last mile between data and the people who need to act on it in real time.

Across the series, key themes have emerged:

  • AI is potentially transformative – changing the way institutions operate and serve students.
  • People are essential – leadership, faculty, and staff remain at the center of every decision.
  • Bringing the two together is a leadership issue – aligning innovation with governance, data quality, and institutional mission.
  • Learning from shared experiences – exchanging both the breakthroughs and the obstacles encountered across institutions accelerates the ability to realize meaningful value from AI.
  • Ethics must guide innovation – ensuring AI in higher education is intentional, equitable, transparent, and aligned with the institution’s values.

Sessions in the series:

  1. AI's Impact on Higher Education Improvement: Exploring the Human Element - Dr. David Raney, CEO,  Nuventive; Rob Curtin, Director - Data and AI - Edtech Ecosystem, Microsoft; and Moderator Dr. Brent Ruben, Distinguished Professor, and Senior University Fellow, Rutgers Center for Organizational Leadership. Recorded October 17, 2023.   View the replay now.

  2. An Accreditor's View of AI in Higher Education - Dr. Belle Wheelan, Retired President, SACSCOC, interviewed by Dr. David Raney, CEO, Nuventive.
    Recorded November 16, 2023.  View the replay now.

  3.  From Congress to Campus: Discussions on the Impact of AI on Higher Education - Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President, Dakota State University; and Dr. Michael J. Jabbour, Chief Innovation Officer, Microsoft Education.  Moderated by Dr. Jim Moran, Advisor to Nuventive.  Recorded December 5, 2023.  View the replay now.

  4. Banding Together: How Independent College Presidents are Addressing AI - Dr. Ajay Nair, President, Arcadia University;  Dr. Marjorie Hass, President, the Council on Independent Colleges; moderated by Dr. Melissa Hortman, Education Strategist, Microsoft Education -  Recorded December 13, 2023.  View the replay now.

  5. AI and the Future of Work: How Community College Presidents are Addressing AI - Dr. Avis Proctor, President, Harper College; and Dr. Vincent Rodriguez, President, Coastline College.  Moderated by Dr. Andrew Jones, Strategic Advisor to Nuventive. Recorded January 30, 2024.  View the replay now.

  6. Artificial Intelligence for Academic Affairs: What Innovation Means for Students, Faculty and Administrative Processes - Dr. Rebecca Hoey, Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dakota State University;  Dr. Ranjit Koodali, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for International Affairs, New Mexico State University; and  Dr. Melissa Hortman, Education Strategist, Microsoft.  Moderated by Dr. Jim Moran, Advisor to Nuventive.  Recorded February 21, 2024.  View the replay now.

  7. Artificial Intelligence for Institutional Research: New Tools, New Strategies, New Questions - Dr. Jason Simon, former Associate Vice President - Data, Analytics and Institutional Research, University of North Texas; and Dr. Eric Zeglen, Executive Director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.  Moderated by Dr. Randy Swing, Advisor to Nuventive and former Executive Director at the Association for Institutional Research.  Recorded March 19, 2024.  View the replay now.

  8. Documenting Achievement: Is There a Role for AI in Higher Education Assessment? - Dr. Jenn Klein, Director of Institutional Assessment Systems, Gonzaga University; and Dr. Jessica Cannon, Associate Professor of History, University of Central Missouri.  Moderated by Dr. Jim Moran, Advisor to Nuventive.  Recorded April  4, 2024. View the replay now.

  9. Riding the Next Wave: IT's Role in Harnessing AI in Higher Education - Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President, Dakota State University; and Rashmi Radhakrishnan, VP Enrollment Management, Technology & Innovation/CIO, Arcadia University.  Moderated by Richard N. Katz, founder and leader of a firm dedicated to supporting the effective uses of IT in higher education.  He held executive posts at the National University of Singapore, Nuventive, LLC, EDUCAUSE and the University of California.  Recorded June 12, 2024.  View the replay now.

  10. Exploring What Is (and Isn’t) Working: Executive Perspectives on AI in Higher Education - Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President, Dakota State University; Dr. Rick Burnette, Sr. Vice Provost & Chief Strategy Officer, Florida State University; and Tracy Woods, Dir., Azure Cloud & AI Platform Solution Engineering, US SLED, Microsoft. Moderated by Dr. David Raney, CEO, Nuventive. Recorded on September 4, 2025. Listen to the audio replay now.

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