“In higher education, success can’t always be measured in numbers. Leaders are shaping something far more enduring: global citizens who will contribute to the world.” - Winnie da Silva

What happens when the very institutions built to shape future leaders are suddenly shaken to the core? Higher education is facing pressures unlike anything we’ve seen before - political battles, the rise of generative AI, ongoing questions of safety, and cultural divides that threaten its very purpose. The truth is, these challenges don’t just affect universities; they mirror the pressures leaders everywhere are up against. So what can we learn from the people leading in higher ed right now?

You’ll hear me discuss:

• Why higher education has become such a critical and contested space in our country’s future
• How generative AI is raising new questions about the very purpose of learning
• The impact of campus safety concerns and the rise of school violence on students’ sense of belonging
• The erosion of healthy debate and why academic freedom matters more than ever
• The political attacks shaping what can and cannot be taught in classrooms
• Four big leadership lessons I’ve seen firsthand from working with presidents, professors, and their teams
• A preview of the three incredible guests joining me this month to share their own journeys and insights

Resources

Winnie da Silva on LinkedIn | On the Web | Substack | YouTube I Email - winnie@winnifred.org

Studies referenced:

Americans' Confidence in Higher Education Down Sharply

How to Save the American University

Students Hate Them. Universities Need Them. The Only Real Solution to the A.I Cheating Crisis

The Typical College Student Is Not Who You Think