Rethinking College in the Age of AI | Creativity, Innovation & the Future of Higher Education

Welcome to the Purposeful Podcast. Purposeful is a podcast by Nardi Media, created to amplify the voices of leaders, thinkers, and change makers who are using their platform to shape a better future.In this episode, host Ashley Bernardi, Founder and CEO of Nardi Media, is joined by Caroline Levander, a leader in higher education at Rice University and author of Invent ED: How an American Tradition of Innovation Can Transform College Today.If you’ve ever questioned whether college is truly preparing students for the real world, especially in an era shaped by rising costs, rapid technological change, and artificial intelligence, this conversation is for you. Caroline’s work sits at the intersection of creativity, discovery, and the future of learning. In Invent ED, she explores how higher education can move beyond box-checking and rankings to help students develop curiosity, confidence, and the ability to connect ideas across disciplines, skills that matter more than ever in an AI-enabled workforce. Together, Ashley and Caroline discuss why creativity has been sidelined in education, how academic culture can unintentionally limit innovative thinking, and what students, parents, and institutions often misunderstand about what college is really for. A core takeaway from this episode: College isn’t just about getting in, it’s about learning how to use the opportunity wisely for decades to come. What You’ll Learn: - Why creativity is essential, not optional, in the age of AI- How higher education drifted away from its innovation roots-What parents can do now to support creative, risk-tolerant learners- Why grades and rankings don’t tell the full story of success- How growth mindset shapes long-term career adaptability- What colleges must rethink to prepare students for the future- Practical advice for students navigating college with intentionAbout the Guest:Caroline Levander is a leader in higher education at Rice University and the author of Invent ED. Her work focuses on innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and helping institutions and students rethink how education prepares graduates for an evolving world.