Join GIC at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia for our conference on The Roles of Higher Education in Competitiveness and Global Productivity. Speakers will address the relationship between U.S. higher education and how higher education can facilitate growth in U.S. competitiveness and global workforce preparation. Candid assessments, opportunities, and solutions will be vetted. The event will feature a keynote address from Patrick Harker, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia along with presentations from John Anderson Fry, President of Drexel University, Ali A. Houshmand, President of Rowan University, leaders of Arizona State University, University of Nebraska, the Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, and others. 

Counterpart C-Suite Business Leaders presenting are from Aramark, EMSI Economic Modelers, Citi Group, the Philadelphia International Airport, Hogan Lovells, Saul Ewing, Penn Mutual Asset Management, and others. This program was inspired by the research by Lloyd A. Jacobs, M.D., President Emeritus, The University of Toledo and Distinguished Fellow with the Council on Competitiveness, and Peter A. Gold, Esq., founder and president of TheGoldGroup, GIC Vice Chair, and Higher Education Program Chair. Click here to read a related paper.

Economic Outlook and workforce trends, what higher education needs from business and government, what business and government needs from higher education, organic changes and new initiatives in higher education will be examined.

Members of NAFSA will have the opportunity to attend The Roles of Higher Education in Competitiveness and Global Productivity at a discounted rate of $100, but a code is required. Please contact Colleen Murphy at [email protected] or 215.238.0990 to receive the code.

Arrival Information

Please take into account the time it will take to pass through security, as registration begins at 7:45 a.m. Upon arrival at the Bank, you will be asked to place your belongings on a conveyor belt and to pass through a metal detector and from there, you will be escorted to the conference center on the third floor. Guests are asked to enter through the 7th Street entrance (across from the African American Museum in Philadelphia).

Hotel Information

Click here to view a list of regional hotels listed in closest proximity to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. We recommend reserving accommodations at your earliest convenience.

Agenda

7:45 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. | Welcome

• Peter A. Gold, Esquire, Conference Chair, Vice Board Chair GIC and Principal, TheGoldGroup,LLC.
• Don Rissmiller, Chief Economist, Strategas Research Partners and GIC Chairman
• Mark Squilla, Council Member, First District, City of Philadelphia

8:45 a.m. | Session I: The Context: Part 1: Economic Outlook and Workforce Trends

• Catherine L. Mann, Chief Economist, CitiGroup
• Rob Sentz, Chief Innovation Officer, EMSI, A Strada Company
• Anthony Abbatiello, Global Head of Consulting, Russell Reynolds Associates
• Moderator: Vibhas Madan, Senior Associate Dean-Academic Programs-LeBow College of Business, Professor of Economics-School of Economics-LeBow College of Business, Drexel University

10:00 a.m. | Session II: The Context: Part 2: The Changing Legal Environment (Developments/Opportunities/Risks)

• Christina D. Riggs, Esquire, Co-Vice Chair, Higher Education Practice, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
• Stephanie J. Gold, Esquire, Chair, National & International Education Practice, Hogan Lovells
• Moderator: Esther Brimmer, Executive Director & CEO, NAFSA: Association of International Educators

10:45 a.m. | Break

11:00 a.m. | Session III: What Higher Education Needs and Wants from Business & Government in the Next 5 Years

• Ann Kirschner, Dean Emerita, Macaulay Honors College at CUNY and University Professor, CUNY Graduate Center
• James O’Brien, Senior Vice-President of University Affairs & Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Arizona State University
• John Fry, President, Drexel University; Member Board of Directors Wistar Institute
• Moderator: Catherine L. Mann, Chief Economist CitiGroup

12:15 p.m. | Lunch
 
1:00 p.m. | Keynote: Patrick Harker, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
The Importance of Higher Education to the US Economy

1:30 p.m. | Session IV: What Business and Government Need and Want from Higher Education in the Next 5 Years

• Victor Crawford, Chief Operating Officer Healthcare, Facilities & Higher Education, Aramark
• Mark Heppenstall, Chief Investment Officer, Penn Mutual Asset Management Co.
• Rochelle (“Chellie”) Cameron, CEO, Philadelphia International Airport
• Moderator: Peter A. Gold, Esquire, Conference Chair, Vice Board Chair GIC, Principal, TheGoldGroup, LLC.

2:30 p.m. | Break

2:45 p.m. | Session V: Organic Changes in the Next Five Years (i.e. Mergers, Combinations, Closures, Tenure, Governance, New Curriculum, Lifelong Learning)

• Ali Houshmand, President, Rowan University
• Lloyd Jacobs, M.D., President Emeritus, University of Toledo; Fellow, U.S. Council on Competitiveness
• Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, Chancellor, University of Nebraska, Omaha
• Moderator: Erin Arvedlund, Business/Finance Journalist, Philadelphia Inquirer; Author

4:00 p.m. | Session VI: New Initiatives with Higher Education

• Bruce Cohen, Managing Director, CitiGroup
• William Burke-White, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School and Inaugural Director, Perry World House
• Tonio DeSorrento, CEO & Director,  Vemo Education
• Moderator: Kathleen Stephansen, Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group Henderson Institute Center for Macroeconomics and GIC Vice Chair of Programs

5:15 p.m. | Close: Peter A. Gold, Esquire, Conference Chair, Vice Board Chair GIC, Principal, TheGoldGroup,LLC.