In the face of shifting demographic, structural, and political realities, along with increasing global competition, the nation needs colleges and universities to help it meet its urgent research, knowledge creation, and talent development needs. And, increasingly, towns, cities, and states are turning to academic institutions as key drivers in regional innovation ecosystems. This session examined the multiplicity of roles colleges and universities play in a complex world.
“We need to address the fragmentation of our approach to national competitiveness. We need a national plan.”
Dr. Santa Ono
President
University of Michigan
A key focus of the discussion was the integration of universities with their surrounding communities to address local challenges and foster regional development. Dr. Wilson, President of Morgan State University, discussed his university’s commitment to aligning its research agenda with the needs of Baltimore and Maryland. The university has established eight state-funded research centers addressing critical issues such as AI, cybersecurity, and climate change. Similarly, Dr. Espy, President of Wayne State University, described her university’s role in revitalizing Detroit’s economy by acting as a bridge between large corporations, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Through initiatives like WSU OPEN, Wayne State provides local businesses with access to university resources, demonstrating how institutions can simultaneously promote regional innovation, and maintain accessibility and excellence.
“We must challenge ourselves to collaborate with institutions that are different.”
Dr. David Wilson
President
Morgan State University
“We must keep teaching the humanities. We must keep teaching critical thinking, good communication skills, and how to write.”
Dr. Susan Poser
President
Hofstra University
Universities play a vital role in translating research into practical applications that benefit society. Dr. Mnookin, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, shared how her university contributes to Madison’s growing tech ecosystem, including its partnership in a Phase 2 EDA Tech Hub focused on personalized biomedicine. At Hofstra University, President Susan Poser described how partnerships with institutions like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory support innovation through boot camps that help scientists translate research into startups. Hofstra’s ideaHUb incubator, a business school initiative, further supports local entrepreneurs by providing startup resources, illustrating how smaller universities can make significant contributions to innovation ecosystems.
To better serve their students and to unleash the innovative potential of higher education, universities should prioritize collaborating with industry and national labs. Dr. Wilson described how Morgan State’s partnerships with U.S. DOE National Laboratories, including Los Alamos, have resulted in internships and research contracts for students. He also advocated for breaking traditional biases in partnerships to include non-traditional and smaller institutions, highlighting the potential for these collaborations to drive innovation. Dr. Mnookin then shared how there are challenges in engaging industry partners. She argued academic research must be aligned with workforce needs, and mechanisms for stronger industry engagement are needed.
“Universities are contributing in extraordinary ways to the future competitiveness of our nation.”
Dr. Jennifer Mnookin
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin – Madison
The panel also addressed workforce development and skills alignment, particularly in the context of declining public confidence in higher education. Dr. Ono identified three major concerns contributing to this decline: the rising cost of education, perceptions of ideological radicalization, and the misalignment between graduates’ skills and workforce needs. Ideas from the panel to address this included stressing the importance of equipping students with interdisciplinary skills, including critical thinking, communication, and adaptability. Dr. Poser argued the liberal arts remain essential for fostering these competencies, even as technical skills and AI-related expertise become increasingly critical.
“We need all of you to speak up about the value universities bring to your bottom line, because we cannot do it alone.”
Dr. Kimberly Espy
President
Wayne State University
The university leaders also focused on the need to rebuild public trust in higher education. With growing skepticism toward universities, Dr. Ono stressed the importance of promoting critical discussions on campuses, suggesting that initiatives like “Deliberation Dinners,” which encourage open dialogue on contentious topics, could help address concerns about ideological bias. The panelists also called for targeted reforms to address issues of cost, access, and workforce alignment, emphasizing the need for higher education to demonstrate its relevance and value to society.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of a unified national strategy to address skills gaps and bolster innovation. Dr. Espy called on policymakers to champion the role of universities in driving economic growth and innovation. Dr. Wilson compared the U.S. higher education system with China’s growing competitiveness, highlighting the unique strengths of liberal arts education in fostering creativity and Nobel Prize-winning discoveries. However, this value is often overlooked or not understood by the broader innovation stakeholder community. It is the prerogative of the university leaders to proactively engage with policymakers and industry leaders to rebuild confidence in higher education’s indispensable role to the United States’ competitiveness.
