
ASU + GSV Summit 2021
Summary
Beginning in 2010 with a collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU) and Global Silicon Valley (GSV), the annual ASU+ GSV Summit connects leading minds focused on transforming society and business around learning and work.
ASA Session Recaps:
Engaging Students Through Technology Enabled Work-Based Learning
Covid-19 upended many plans for in-person work-based learning experiences that have proven to impact student engagement and help kids connect in-class learning to real world experience. But COVID has forced new models to emerge that create great opportunities to remove barriers to access for rural and underserved students to participate in internships, apprenticeships and other career focused learning. Learn how technology is being used to engage students in remote work-based learning experiences, remove barriers to access for high school students, and allow for greater coordination and flexibility from students, schools and employers.
Moderated By:
Julie Lammers Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Government Relations, ASA
Panelists:
Helen Russell Founder and Executive Director, Apprentice Learning
Nina Pande Executive Director, Skills for Rhode Island
Jewyl Alderson Clarke Integrated Curriculum Coordinator, San Diego County Office of Education
Networked Pathways to Economic Mobility: Tackling Opportunity Gaps by Investing in Networks, Not Just Skills
In recent years, a focus on chronic “skills gaps” has spurred investment, innovation, and policy change nationwide. But to drive economic mobility, innovators need to attend to another, more hidden gap: the network gap. Access to networks is a key ingredient to getting by and getting ahead and should be part of the design and measurement of any program aimed at boosting outcomes for historically marginalized learners and workers. In this session, participants will learn about the Clayton Christensen Institute’s new playbook distilling 5 steps to building and strengthening students’ networks and hear directly from innovators that are leading the way in ensuring that students have access to the networks they need to get the jobs they want. Participants will learn what it takes to build a systematic approach to equitably fostering positive and diverse relationships across their organizations.
Moderated By:
Aimee Eubanks Davis Founder and CEO, Braven
Panelists:
Julia Freeland Fisher Director of Education, Clayton Christensen Institute
Andrew Frishman Co-Executive Director, Big Picture Learning
Chris Motley Founder and CEO, Mentor Spaces
Sheila Sarem Founder, Basta
Middle School Career Exploration in the Wake of the Pandemic Recovery
Covid-19 changed the learning paradigm last year, but ASA wondered if middle school career exploration was abandoned or if it flourished and what the road back to increased student engagement will look like this fall. Join us for a panel about middle grades career exploration in the wake of the COVID-19 recovery. Hear from youth experts on how the pandemic affected youth development and from educators on how they leveraged technology successfully to pivot from analog to digital which created equitable access for all students–and just could be the path back to increased student engagement.
Moderated By:
Alisa Wilke Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, American Student Assistance
Panelists:
Christina Theokas Chief Applied Science Officer, Turnaround For Children
Ed Hidalgo Chief Innovation Officer, Cajon Valley
Dr. Elizabeth Micci Managing Director of Catalyst, Citizen Schools
The Catalyze Challenge: A Pathways Innovation Challenge
In June, a collaborative of funders launched the Catalyze Challenge to source innovations to deliver diverse and equitable opportunities for America’s students to achieve economic success. Just as adults are facing an unprecedented moment in history, today’s students are grappling with challenges too: rising college tuition, a crushing job market, a global pandemic, and an economic downturn. This innovation challenge will fund and elevate programs that help students navigate the transition from education to employment and empower students to make informed choices about their future. Learn about the plan to foster bold and innovative ideas for programs and models that prioritize career exploration and experiential learning inside and outside the classroom, expand knowledge about potential career pathways, and prepare students for lifelong success in school and tomorrow’s job market. Join a funders roundtable on why this challenge, why now, and how it will change the landscape of future career navigation.
Moderated By:
George Vinton CEO, The Common Group
Panelists:
Annabel Cellini Chief Strategy Officer, ASA
Gorick Ng Author and Researcher at Harvard Business School
Eric Chan Partner, Charter School Growth Fund
Skill-based Hiring: A Paradigm Shift for Educators and Employers
A discussion on how the paradigm shift to skill-based hiring is changing the landscape–for students, school districts and employers, how students are demonstrating skills, and how policymakers, business leaders and education leaders are leveraging technology to foster skill development and ensure equal opportunity for all.
Moderated By:
Julie Lammers Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Government Relations, ASA
Panelists:
Peter Janzow Vice President, Business Development, Credly
Jake Hirsh-Allen North America Workforce Development and Higher Ed System Lead, LinkedIn Learning
Courtney Reilly Founder, Skillsline
Case Study: Efficacy and Innovation in Middle School Career Exploration
Since 2018, American Student Assistance (ASA) has awarded career exploration grants of up to $100,000 each to middle schools in 14 Massachusetts districts. Using their grant funding, educators and district leaders have implemented innovative programming, events, and curriculum with their students. This session explores the impact of these programs over the last three years, including best practices and lessons learned throughout. The session begins with an overview of how we measure impact using holistic and equity-minded indicators: access, engagement, confidence, social-emotional learning [SEL], and self-efficacy in future planning. Next, we share selected outcomes from the first three years of programming. The session concludes with key considerations for using both quantitative and qualitative data to drive continuous improvement in middle school career exploration programming.
Speaker:
Avery Newton Educational Outcomes Research Manager, ASA
The 13th Year: Promising Models of Providing Equitable Access to Early College
Since the Pandemic, a promising education/work-based learning model has been trending. Some call it the 13th year. Others, the 5th year. While not a new idea, it’s leveling the playing field for economically disadvantaged students and students of color and providing pathways for economic mobility. It’s also easing the transition to career and college and reducing stress for teens. Join GSV and ASA for an overview of where these programs are gaining traction, promising best practices in the field, how districts are funding the experience, and how community colleges are benefiting from these feeder programs. (Also, learn from educators and students alike about how 13th year programs are making an impact/changing the game).
Moderated By:
Julie Lammers Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Government Relations, ASA
Panelists:
Chris Gabrieli CEO of Empower Schools, MA Board of Higher Ed Chair, Harvard University Lecturer
Paymon Rouhanifard Co-founder and CEO at Propel America
Julie Edmunds Program Director for Secondary School Reform, SERVE Center at UNCG
Speakers

Julie Lammers
SVP, Advocacy & Government Relations
American Student Assistance

Alisa Wilke
VP, Strategy & Innovation
American Student Assistance

Avery Newton
Educational Outcomes Research Manager
American Student Assistance

Nina Pande
Executive Director
Skills for RI

Gorick Ng
Author and Researcher
Harvard Business School

Jewyl Anderson Clarke
Integrated Curriculum Coordinator Speaker
San Diego County Office of Education

Peter Janzow
VP, Business Development
Credly

Helen Russell
Founder and Executive Director
Apprentice Learning

Eric Chan
Partner
Charter School Growth Fund

Aimée Eubanks Davis
Founder & CEO
Braven

Andrew Frishman
Co-Executive Director
Big Picture Learning

Chris Motley
Founder & CEO
Mentor Spaces

Sheila Sarem
Founder
Basta

Jake Hirsch-Allen
North America Workforce Development
LinkedIn Learning

Ed Hidalgo
Chief Innovation Officer
Cajon Valley Union School District

Christina Theokas
Chief Applied Science Officer
Turnaround for Children

Julia Freeland Fisher
Director of Education
Clayton Christensen Institute

Dr. Elizabeth Micci
Managing Director of Catalyst
Citizen Schools

Chris Gabrieli
Chairman & CEO
MA Board of Higher Education & Empower Schools

Julie Edmunds
Program Director
SERVE Center at University of NC

Paymon Rouhanifard
Co-Founder & CEO
Propel America

Courtney Reilly
Founder
Skillsline