Voices of Innovation

What can video games teach us about the future of education—and AI? In this episode of Voices of Innovation, Lev Gonick sits down with Deirdre Quarnstrom, Vice President of Education at Microsoft, for a fascinating conversation recorded at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit. From her unconventional journey from Xbox to education leadership, Deirdre shares how game design principles are transforming how stude...

How are universities rethinking education in the age of AI? In this episode of Voices of Innovation, Mark Milliron, President of National University and proud Sun Devil, joins host Lev Gonick to explore innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and leadership in a rapidly changing landscape. From practical AI frameworks to whole-human education, this conversation highlights how institutions can...

What does it take to build an AI-ready university? In this episode of Voices of Innovation, Lev Gonick sits down with Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, to explore how higher education leaders are navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Drawing from conversations with institutional leaders across the country, Bridget shares what she’s hearing on the frontlines—and what...

Change is coming to higher education—are we ready for it? In this episode of Voices of Innovation, Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President of the College Futures Foundation and host of The Rant Podcast, joins Lev Gonick for a timely conversation on the evolving higher education landscape. Together, they explore what the future holds for community colleges and why strong leadership is more critical than ever...

How is technology shaping the future of global education? This week on Voices of Innovation, Cintana CEO Rick Shangraw joins host Lev Gonick for a conversation recorded at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit. From helping launch the summit to leading a global education network, Rick shares a unique perspective on where education and technology are headed. In this episode, Rick discusses: • His role in the ori...

In this episode of  Voices of Innovation , ASU’s Lev Gornick sits down with Amanda Bickerstaff, Founder & CEO of AI for Education, to unpack the reality of AI adoption in schools. From her early days as a high school teacher in the Bronx to leading one of the largest AI education coalitions in the U.S., Amanda shares why AI isn’t just a technology shift—it’s a leadership and systems challenge....

What happens when AI meets education — and why does it feel like we’re only at the beginning? In this episode of Voices of Innovation , ASU CIO Lev Gonick sits down with GSV Founder and CEO Michael Moe to explore the future of learning, the rise of AI, and why education is at a major inflection point. From the evolution of edtech to the explosive potential of AI, Michael shares why today’s moment...

AI is transforming education – and that transformation is creeping into adjacent industries. Brad Wolverton discusses the urgency and the adaptability of journalism in a world driven by AI, particularly when covering AI in higher education. Back in the editor’s seat, Wolverton covers the biggest stories on higher education, including political, technological, and economic coverage. “But what we re...

For Melissa Vito, the key to innovation centers on meeting the students where they are.  Vito talks with Lev Gonick about framing AI innovations to support the needs of students. Rather than the kneejerk reaction of villainizing AI in education, Vito redirects the mindset into a framework that meets students where they are with AI and then stepping forward. “Innovation and thinking about the futur...

Futurists do not simply predict the future – they think systematically about the future and prepare for opportunities. In this episode, Marina Gorbis deconstructs the sense of disruption against the sense of opportunity with rising AI use in higher education with Lev Gonick. “AI is entering into our basic infrastructure just like electricity or water or oxygen, it’s become a part of everything,” G...

In this episode, Phil Komarny discusses the meaning behind business technology numbers with Lev Gonick. According to Kormarny, it’s not just enough to be knowledgeable about the latest in technology – it’s important to look at the data and understand the language of that data in order to create innovative solutions. The key to transformation is in the language of business data. “We've been abl...

The constellation of literacies approach to education strategy embraces a culture of openness and inclusion, ensuring innovations such as AI so as to include learners from all backgrounds. In this episode, Gunder discusses the interconnection of literacies with Lev Gonick, opening up the conversation around who gains privilege and power when these literacies are decided. “For me the biggest thing...

By leveraging the anti-silo mindset, agentic AI can elevate the user’s ability to create, add, and improve even faster and smarter than before. Vala Afshar speaks with Lev Gonick on the release of his new book, Autonomous: Why the Fittest Businesses Embrace AI-First Strategies and Digital Labor , and on the value of lifelong learners. For Afshar, staying teachable and embracing the new and improve...

Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich, Strategic Advisor and former President for SkillsWave https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashatberr/ Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich is starting a new university: New State University. Join Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich and Lev Gonick on Voices of Innovation as they discuss Thackaberry-Voinovich newest project launch - a new university. According to Thackaberry-Voinovich, the unive...

Anne Keehn, CEO at Quantum Thinking https://www.linkedin.com/in/annekkeehn/ How do you make sense of new technology? Anne Keehn poses the question along with the problem among innovators in ed-tech: the capacity to lead innovation in higher education institutions. Anne Keehn is the latest guest on Voices of Innovation, a podcast hosted by Lev Gonick. Anne is a global executive with cross-sector le...

Ellen Levy, Managing Director at Silicon Valley Connect https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenlevy/ The natural convergence of technology and education has led to a breaking of education-silos. Ellen Levy discusses the evolution of ed-tech with Lev Gonick in this episode of Voices of Innovation . “You see this convergence happening where you have these top founders who are very technically savvy saying...

Kemi Jona, Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation at University of Virginia https://www.linkedin.com/in/kemijona/ Kemi Jona jumps in the podcast booth with Voices of Innovation host Lev Gonick. In his current role, Kemi serves as the Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation at University of Virginia Together, Kemi and Lev discuss the role of AI in university cours...

Rahim Rajan, CEO at AQL Labs & Vice-Chair at Seattle Colleges Foundation https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahimsrajan/ “The biggest opportunity we have in front of us is educating the billions,” Rahim Rajan. Rahim joins host Lev Gonick for Voices of Innovation .  Educating the billions, not the millions, on innovation in technology is Rahim Rajan’s mission with AQL Labs. Join the discussion with Ra...

Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. Senator, Ret. and Professor of Practice at ASU “I watched a lot of kids fall through the cracks because our education system wasn’t designed and wasn’t equipped with the tools to help kids with neurodivergent experiences learn in the ways that worked for them,” says retired U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema on the most recent episode of Voices of Innovation . In the episode, Kyrsten...

Claire Zau, Partner and AI Lead with GSV Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairezau/ Claire Zau is up next in Voices of Innovation with host Lev Gonick.  From ChatGPT, to audio and video and now multi-modality — Claire reflects on the fast-paced evolution of generative AI to agentic AI with Lev Gonick, and highlights the future of AI use in the marketplace. “Every company is an AI-education co...