The ninth annual Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Experiential Learning (ExL) in Higher Education will take place April 9 at the University Club.
This year’s theme, “Serving Society, Driving Growth, Empowering the Future,” reflects a guiding conviction at the heart of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, according to organizer Abdeselam Soudi, teaching associate professor and dean’s fellow for experiential learning in the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences. “Preparing students for the future requires more than technical skills alone. It requires an educational model that integrates knowledge, experience and civic purpose, supported by the critical insight and human understanding that a humanities education uniquely cultivates.”
The keynote speaker will be janera solomon, founder and CEO of Artpower, who will discuss “The Art of Work.”
ExL@Dietrich, which is led by Soudi, positions experiential learning as the backbone connecting education, industry and innovation. Rather than treating these as sequential processes, this approach views them as unfolding simultaneously. Effective collaboration across universities, employers and emerging technology sectors increasingly depends on experiential learning environments that integrate learning, problem-solving, and real-world application.
The conference highlights a three-pronged approach: transformative learning through reflection, empathy and adaptability; applied skill building that connects coursework with professional and real-world practice; and character and civic leadership rooted in ethical engagement.
The day begins with breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by solomon’s talk. There also will be panels with department chairs in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and one with alumni and industry representatives.
For more information, go to the conference website and register here.