Arkansas State University will hold a "Forum for Innovation" on Thursday at the Fowler Center.
Jason Penry, vice chancellor for university advancement and organizer of the conference, said the purpose of the forum is to "convene some of the region's top leaders to discuss the role of innovation — change for the better — in the future of higher education."
The event will feature a keynote luncheon address by Bridget Burns, executive director of the University Innovation Alliance.
As leader of the national consortium of large public research universities, Burns has advised campus and university system chief executives and state and federal policy leaders. She advocates strategies to expand access to higher education, address costs and promote degree completion.
The day will begin with a 10:30 a.m. welcome address by A-State Chancellor Kelly Damphousse. After that, a panel of experts will talk about the importance of innovation. The panel will include Zora Mulligan, commissioner of higher education for the state of Missouri, and Joseph Rallo, commissioner of higher education for the state of Louisiana.
A second panel will convene at 1 p.m. to talk about implementing innovation on campus. That panel will feature Andrew Morriss, founding dean of the School of Innovation at Texas A&M; Chuck Welch, president of the ASU System; and Heidi Leming, vice chancellor for student success at the Tennessee Board of Regents.
