Liberal Arts: An Essential Line of Defense for Critical Thinking in the AI Era

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Ken Eisner, Managing Director at ETS; Marjorie Hass, President at Council of Independent Colleges; Jonathan Koppell, President at Montclair State University; Frank Shushok, President & CEO at Roanoke College; and moderator Eloy Oakley, President & CEO at College Futures Foundation.The speakers explored how the liberal arts have become an essential line of defense for critical thinking in an era shaped by AI, misinformation, and polarization. They examined the paradox facing liberal arts education: being more necessary than ever while increasingly questioned in terms of value. The conversation challenged higher education leaders to reassert the strategic and societal return on investment of the liberal arts—not as a nostalgic ideal, but as a competitive differentiator for students entering an AI-enabled workforce. The session also explored how liberal arts education must evolve to remain relevant within an emerging, integrated workforce environment, while continuing to strengthen critical thinking, adaptability, and informed civic engagement.