Hi everyone, as we move into the fall season and the leaves begin to turn, so turns a new page for me.
I'm excited to announce that after a fantastic and fulfilling time at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, North America’s presidential public research university organization, I have accepted a new opportunity to join the think-tank New America, and its Center on Education and Skills as a Senior Analyst effective October 5! I’m so appreciative of my time at APLU, and I’ll share some lessons learned working at North America’s oldest higher education association soon, but today, I want to tell you a little about New America and ask for your help.
First, what’s New America? “New America is think tank dedicated to renewing the promise of America by continuing the quest to realize our nation's highest ideals, honestly confronting the challenges caused by rapid technological and social change, and seizing the opportunities those changes create."
Founded just 21 years ago by a visionary group of both right-leaning and left-leaning journalists and policy experts, New America has quickly become a new kind of think and do tank. New America advances bold, innovative, and actionable solutions to our nation’s problems in a variety of areas including international security, public interest technology, technology policy, education policy, and many other areas.
New America creates. Over its history, New America has incubated entire non-profit organizations, legislation and policies, books, podcasts, documentaries, and thousands of reports, analyses, and media articles.
New America is home to a community of more than 150 thinkers, writers, researchers, technologists, and community activists who believe deeply in the possibility of American renewal.
The center I’m joining was established by Mary Alice McCarthy to “follow developments in the world of work and to assess the effectiveness of education—both academic and work-based—in preparing all Americans for jobs and in keeping their skills relevant as technology, workplaces, and regional economies evolve.”
If that mission resonates with you, join our mailing list, follow @NewAmericaEd on Twitter. Plus, get to know some of my future colleagues and their research and writing which ranges from commentary on non-degree credentials to youth apprenticeships and even the Better Life Lab podcast on work-life balance and family justice in the workplace. Give them a follow on Twitter (By the way, I’m at @ShalinJyotishi).
Both the New America team (and yours truly) have lots of ideas for research, writing, and solution generation to help the nation make the worlds of work and education more effective, equitable, and fun.
As I prepare for this new chapter, I’d love to know what don’t you like when it comes to the relationship between higher education and the workforce? What do you like you? What books, articles, documentaries, conspiracy theories, or comments have you read about how we as a nation address higher ed and work? Email me your ideas.
Until next time,
Shalin