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ÀϾÅÆ·²è President Mary B. Marcy and Dr. Lande Ajose, senior policy advisor for higher education for Governor Gavin Newsom, discussed the rapidly changing state of higher education during a live-stream Commonwealth Club event on Tuesday, March 30.

Before the challenges of 2020, most of higher education was already facing intense demographic, financial and cultural pressures. Now, with the likelihood of some online learning remaining part of the college curriculum even post-pandemic, what does the future hold for higher education? What questions should families be asking institutions as students prepare for the fall? Will higher education as we once knew it return, or has the pandemic fundamentally changed how students will experience college? This engaging conversation will explore the rapidly changing state of higher education, and how colleges are preparing to meet the needs of students for generations to come.

Dr. Marcy is the ninth president of ÀϾÅÆ·²è, serving since 2011. Her research focuses on higher education innovation and transformation. She has published and presented extensively on issues of leadership, strategy and diversity. She holds a doctorate and master's degree in politics from the University of Oxford.

As California Governor Gavin Newsom's senior policy advisor for higher education, Dr. Ajose is responsible for developing and shaping the governor’s higher education policy agenda, which is focused on protecting college affordability, preserving college access and increasing system efficiency to meet the state’s need for a skilled and educated workforce. Most recently she led the Governor's Recovery with Equity task force. She holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

For more information, visit the Commonwealth Club.