Dean's Fellow for Experiential Learning, Teaching Associate Professor, and Electus Faculty University of Pittsburgh, United States
Higher education must do more than teach skills; it must prepare students to navigate a complex and uncertain world with purpose, integrity, and a commitment to the public good. This session will present a scalable, research-informed framework for embedding experiential learning into the academic fabric of an institution, aligning career preparation with civic and global engagement, community involvement, and student well-being. Developed at the University of Pittsburgh through national benchmarking, institutional inquiry, and ethnographic research across forty-two departments, the model centers experiential learning as a cultural shift rather than an add-on. Initiatives include Steeping and Pouring Possibilities, a narrative-based reflection method; Humanities @ Work in the Community, Health, and Tech Industry; and three themed experiential learning pathways that connect students with real-world research and applied learning. Participants will gain adaptable tools and strategies for cultivating purposeful, student-centered learning anchored in public purpose.
