Fresh From The UIA

Panel before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development

Building an AI-Ready America: Higher Education in the Age of AI

On June 3, 2026, our CEO testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Higher Education & Workforce about AI and higher education. We wanted to share her full testimony with you here.

Chairman Owens, Ranking Member Adams, and Members of the Subcommittee:

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

My name is Bridget Burns, and I serve as CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, a national consortium of 19 public research universities serving more than 570,000 students across the country.

Two students sitting in a common space looking at a book together and laughing

Effective Change Management in Higher Education

By UIA
What scaling means, why it’s often hard to implement change, conditions that should be met, and how our completion grant programs represent a model of successful scaling.
Dr. Jennifer Sobanet

Developing Leadership Capacity in Higher Education

By UIA
Jennifer Sobanet, chancellor of University of Colorado Colorado Springs, discusses accepting the emotional weight of leadership, the need for ongoing executive coaching, her own nontraditional path to leadership, and how a foundation in the humanities will prepare students for the future.
John Fry, President at Temple University

Seeing Higher Ed Through the Public’s Eyes

By UIA
John Fry, president of Temple University, reflects on the lessons he’s learned moving from consultant to university president and why higher ed leaders must better understand public perceptions and strengthen their civic partnerships.
Dr. Harrison Keller

Delivering on Higher Education’s Promise

By UIA
Harrison Keller, University of North Texas president, discusses the value of soft skills, the smart use of actionable intelligence, the practical reality of universities adopting AI, and giving people something to be for rather than against.
Dr. Carole Basile ASU

Designing the Future Education Workforce

By UIA
Carole Basile, dean and professor at Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Arizona State University, discusses the myth of the average student, teacher teamwork, formative assessments for the system, successful pilot programs, and innovation’s ripple effect.
Kenneth Christensen, Chancellor, University of Colorado Denver

Servant Leadership in Higher Education

By UIA
Kenneth Christensen, chancellor at University of Colorado Denver, discusses removing barriers for nontraditional students, embedding in his campus community, clarity and purpose in challenging times, speaking truth with civility, and modeling urban public universities.
Dr Kevin Guskiewicz, President Michigan State University

Why Curiosity and Trust Shape Higher Ed Leadership

By UIA
Kevin Guskiewicz, president at Michigan State University, discusses turning a challenge into an opportunity, the importance of trust and good will in any enterprise, how to focus on delivering the ROI for college education, and the enduring power of curiosity.

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