Sponsored Institutions - Stories

By Madelyn Birmingham
Interim Director of Marketing and Communications, Siena Heights University

February 6, 2024, Adrian, Michigan – Dr. David Staley, a renowned academic, writer, and futurist, will present his insights on “The Purpose of the University” at Rueckert Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on March 14, 2024, as part of the inauguration of Siena Heights University President Douglas B. Palmer, PhD. 

The discussion will explore how the remote work revolution has reshaped the higher education landscape and revitalized the potential for universities to become vibrant “talent magnets,” driving economic development and contributing to thriving communities. 

The local community is encouraged to attend the presentation for free. Register at https://shorturl.at/oyzFJ. 

The timely and insightful discussion by Dr. Staley, Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University, promises to spark a crucial conversation about the future of higher education. His unique perspective, informed by academic rigor and real-world experience, will equip educators, community leaders, and policymakers with valuable insights to shape a thriving future for universities and the communities they serve.

With millions seeking more affordable and livable locations, towns and cities that nurture a thriving academic environment stand to attract a skilled and engaged workforce. This allows for a refreshed “town and gown” relationship, where universities and communities collaborate to create vibrant societies of innovation, progress, and economic growth. 

However, the post-COVID-19 reality also poses significant challenges for many colleges and universities, which Dr. Staley will address. He will outline a compelling talent magnet strategy, as detailed in his 2023 book Knowledge Towns: Colleges and Universities as Talent Magnets. This framework offers a plan of action for institutions and communities to navigate and regenerate the changing landscape. 

Dr. Staley’s expertise spans multiple disciplines. Along with teaching history, he is an Associate Professor, by courtesy, in the Design and Educational Studies Departments of The Ohio State University. The author of numerous books and futures essays, he is an Honorary Faculty Fellow at the Center for Higher Education Leadership and Innovative Practice (CHELIP) at Bay Path University, an online college based in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and a Fellow at the Center for Science and Imagination at Arizona State University.