Innovation Insights: A Panel with Amy Dittmar, Martha Pollack, Lynn Wooten

Rapid technological change and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence are creating as many possibilities as questions for higher education. Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring current and former presidents and provosts from leading universities, as they explore the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the future of higher education. Leaders will share their insights on the opportunities and challenges presented by the rapid evolution of AI, from its role in personalized learning to its implications for academic integrity and the curriculum.

This is an essential conversation for anyone invested in the future of academia, providing a unique perspective on how to lead in an era of unprecedented technological change.

Discussion and questions are encouraged.

Panelists:

• Amy Dittmar - Howard R. Hughes Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rice University
• Martha Pollack - President Emerita, Cornell University
• Lynn Perry Wooten - President, Simmons University

Moderator:

• James DeVaney - Special Advisor to the President; Founding Executive Director of the Center for Academic Innovation; Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation

Amy Dittmar is a distinguished scholar with an extensive background in economics, finance, and university administration. She is the provost, as well as a professor of economics and finance, at Rice University.

As the Howard R. Hughes provost at Rice, she oversees the university's academic enterprise, including direct reporting relationships for the deans of eight schools, the dean of undergraduates, the dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies, vice president of enrollment, associate provost for digital learning, and other key leaders.

Dittmar led the university’s strategic planning, Momentous, launching a strategic plan in 2024. Dittmar is overseeing Rice’s substantial growth with an expanding student body, strategic increase in faculty, and several capital projects to support the university’s research and educational mission.

Prior to coming to Rice, Dittmar was a faculty and served in several administrative roles at the University of Michigan.

Martha E. Pollack is President Emerita of Cornell University (2017-2024), where she was also Professor of Computer Science, Information Science, and Linguistics. She previously spent 17 years at the University of Michigan, as a faculty member and in a number of administrative roles, including Provost. Her Ph.D. and M.S.E. degrees in computer and information science are from the University of Pennsylvania; her bachelor’s degree in linguistics is from Dartmouth College. A fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the Association for Computing Machinery, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, she is also a member of the Board of Directors of IBM.

Lynn Perry Wooten, PhD, is the ninth president of Simmons University and an organizational development scholar. Since assuming the presidency on July 1, 2020, she has led Simmons Strategy 2027, a comprehensive plan to strengthen the university’s financial model, reimagine academics, and foster a thriving campus culture. Among its hallmarks is the Simmons Edge, an accelerated program that connects undergraduate education with career preparation and graduate study. Dr. Wooten previously served as the David J. Nolan Dean at Cornell University’s Dyson School and spent nearly two decades on the faculty of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

James DeVaney serves as Special Advisor to the President, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, and Founding Executive Director of the Center for Academic Innovation at the University of Michigan. He provides leadership at the intersection of lifelong learning, AI and education, online learning, alternative credentials, and workforce development. James also directs Michigan Online, a key driver of U-M’s life-changing education and broad public engagement strategy, reaching millions of learners across Michigan and around the world. He brings global experience in higher education strategy, having advised more than 75 universities and dozens of edtech companies across 15 countries. He is an advisor to several education and technology companies including Anthropic, Podium, Noodle, and Coursera.

Host or Publisher U-M Center for Academic Innovation