The Learning Ideas Conference 2023

Dr. Lydia Liu is Principal Research Director at ETS and a globally recognized expert in the assessment of critical skills and competencies in higher education and the workforce. She has also managed large-scale grants awarded by government and private funding agencies in the U.S. and international countries including India, China, and Korea.

Check out Lydia Liu’s full bio and the abstract for her talk, “Power Skills: Unlocking Potential for the Future of Work”.

Dr. Tony O’Driscoll is an adjunct professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Pratt School of Engineering and serves as a Research Fellow at Duke Corporate Education. These appointments afford Tony the unique opportunity to apply cutting-edge academic research to address increasingly complex business challenges.

Dr. O’Driscoll’s current research and practice examines how rapidly emerging technologies are disrupting existing industry structures and business models. He specifically focuses on how to develop leadership systems that enable organizations to adapt and evolve in increasingly unpredictable and turbulent business environments. His new book, Everyday Superhero, explores how you can inspire everyone to create real change at work.

You can follow Dr. O’Driscoll’s work at tonyodriscoll.com.

Check out Tony O’Driscoll’s full bio and the abstract for his talk, “Learning in Context: How Emerging Technologies will Change the Game in Generative Learning”.

Dr. Maria Rosaria Re is a Research Fellow, qualified as Associate Professor, in Experimental Pedagogy at the Dept. of Education, University Roma Tre, as well as an Assistant Professor at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT). In 2020 she obtained a joint Ph.D. in “Culture, Education, Communication” from the University Roma Tre and the University of Foggia on the enhancement of Critical Thinking Skills in museum users. Her expertise concerns research education methodologies within formal and informal professional training contexts.

Check out Maria Rosaria Re’s full bio and the abstract for her talk, “Museum Education for Professional Development: How to Use Heritage to Create Training Experiences for both Hard and Soft Skills“.

Dr. Joiselle Cunningham Smith is a federal policy advisor, consultant, and award-winning educator who has worked in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

Joiselle is the CEO of Pathways to Creative Industries, an organization focused on building access for youth interested in creative careers in partnership with the CFDA and is currently on the faculty at NYU. Joiselle currently leads efforts at CareerWiseNY, working on changing systems to support underserved communities through work-based learning, humanitarian, and social impact.

Check out Joiselle Cunningham Smith’s full bio and the abstract for her talk, “Higher Education & Transitions to Careers”.