3.42. Brien Lewis - Transylvania University

Dr. JP Novin talks with Brien Lewis, President of Transylvania University, about how artificial intelligence is shaping higher education and the future workforce. President Lewis explains how Transylvania adapts its curriculum to emphasize critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, while taking a balanced approach to AI by encouraging students to learn and use the tools in some contexts and restricting their use in others to ensure independent skill development. He highlights new initiatives such as a Data Analytics program and an accelerated three-year degree option, and frames the current moment as a shift into a “conceptual age,” where empathy and ethics become increasingly valuable. The conversation also explores Transylvania’s investment in digital liberal arts, its consideration of process-based grading, and its partnership with the University of Kentucky to support innovation and student success.