Wayne State College of Education to host Dean’s Distinguished Lecture featuring Kathleen deLaski

DETROIT - As major employers embrace skills-based hiring and alternative credentials reshape career pathways, Wayne State University's College of Education will welcome community voices to explore the future of college and how higher education can better serve today's diverse learners. The Dean's Distinguished Lecture will feature Kathleen deLaski, founder and board chair of the Education Design Lab and author of Who Needs College Anyway?, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center. The center is located at 495 Gilmour Mall on the university's main campus. The lecture will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a reception at 5 p.m.

The event, titled "Beyond Books and Buildings: Co-Designing the Future of College," seeks to bring together students, parents, faculty, employers and community members to examine how educational pathways can expand beyond traditional degrees to include apprenticeships, microcredentials and skills-based learning that connect directly to career success. The Dean's Distinguished Lecture connects the community with visionary leaders shaping the future of education. Conversations seek to spark bold ideas, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and empower the college and community to co-create solutions to the most pressing challenges in education.

deLaski's research with the Education Design Lab has helped pioneer new models that recognize learners' full range of talents and experiences. Drawing from interviews with 150 educational experts, employers and learners, she will share how institutions are successfully adapting to serve diverse learners - including first-generation students, working adults and career-changers who need flexible pathways to economic opportunity.

"This conversation reflects our commitment to welcoming every learner, nurturing their unique strengths and empowering them to create their own path to success," said Dean Denise Taliaferro Baszile. "As we launch four new community-engaged design labs, Kathleen's insights will help us think expansively about how higher education can accelerate mobility and fuel innovation across Detroit and beyond. We're not just asking what college should look like - we're inviting our community to help design it."

deLaski is a senior advisor for Harvard's Project on the Workforce and teaches higher education redesign at George Mason University. She has been named one of Washingtonian magazine's top policy influencers for four consecutive years. Her career includes leadership roles at Sallie Mae, ABC News, AOL and the U.S. Department of Defense.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register by Sept. 22 at forms.office.com/r/w1L1hs5Y4j. Parking is available in Lot 31 and Parking Structures 1 and 5.

For more information, contact KaRie Jorah at [email protected].

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About the Wayne State University College of Education
The Wayne State University College of Education offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs across multiple disciplines, preparing students to lead and excel in a wide range of professions, including education, health and sport. Guided by its core values of collaboration, community, equity, excellence, innovation and well-being, the college engages directly with Detroit-area communities through research, teaching and partnerships that drive positive change. Learn more at education.wayne.edu.

About Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs to nearly 24,000 students. For more information, visit wayne.edu.

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