Video | Preparing Talent for the AI Economy

The DRI Wahba Initiative for Strategic Competition hosted a panel on Preparing Talent for the AI Economy at our Washington DC campus. The panel featured university presidents Andrew Armacost (University of North Dakota), Pam Eddinger (Bunker Hill Community College), and Todd Saliman (University of Colorado), and the conversation was moderated by Director Mark Kennedy. 

Panelists emphasized that AI represents both an opportunity and a challenge for universities, requiring institutions to rethink teaching, assessment, governance, and lifelong learning. The discussion highlighted the importance of AI literacy across disciplines, experiential learning through internships and apprenticeships, and stronger partnerships between higher education, industry, and government. While AI can expand access and personalize learning, successful adoption will depend as much on institutional leadership and change management as on technology itself. The panel concluded that preparing talent for the AI economy is not simply an educational challenge but a national competitiveness imperative. 

A summary of the panel discussion is available here