Franklin University’s Dr. Patrick Bennett Showcases AI-Driven Innovation and Workforce-Aligned Education at Global EdTech Summit

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

National thought leadership highlights Franklin’s model for scalable, workforce-connected learning in an AI-powered economy.

Dr. Patrick Bennett, vice president for academic quality and planning and dean of the H.K. & Eva James College of Education at Franklin University, is helping shape the future of higher education through national conversations on innovation, artificial intelligence, and workforce alignment.

At the ASU+GSV Summit, one of the world’s leading gatherings of education, workforce, and technology leaders, Dr. Bennett joined a panel exploring how institutions must rethink traditional approaches to AI adoption. The session emphasized a shift from static technology purchasing to dynamic co-creation models that embed AI directly into real-world workflows.

Dr. Bennett’s participation reflects Franklin’s broader commitment to innovation that is both practical and outcomes-driven, and designed not for theory alone, but for measurable impact in today’s workforce.

“AI is not something institutions can simply buy and deploy,” said Dr. Bennett. “It must be built collaboratively, continuously refined, and aligned to how people actually learn and work.” 

FACT BOX: Dr. Patrick Bennett & Franklin’s Innovation Model
Role: Vice President, Academic Quality & Planning; Dean, H.K. & Eva James College of Education
Experience: 25+ years advancing innovation and scale in higher education
Focus Areas: Academic quality, program design, AI-enabled learning, institutional strategy
Approach: Technology-enabled, scalable models that expand access and improve outcomes
Workforce Connection: Partnerships with employers, universities, and global organizations to align learning with real-world needs
Global Impact: Fulbright Specialist and international speaker on education innovation 

Advancing an Innovation-First, Workforce-Connected Model
Dr. Bennett’s expertise sits at the intersection of academic rigor and applied innovation, guiding the design of learning experiences that directly connect to workforce demand. At Franklin, this includes building scalable, technology-enabled programs that serve working professionals while maintaining high academic standards.

This model reflects a broader shift in higher education, one that necessitates that institutions must move beyond content delivery to become engines of workforce readiness, aligning curriculum, technology, and employer needs in real time.

Through partnerships with industry, global institutions, and solution providers, Franklin University is embedding innovation directly into the learning experience, ensuring students graduate with skills that are immediately relevant and economically valuable.

Why This Matters
As AI reshapes industries at an unprecedented pace, higher education faces increasing pressure to deliver both access and outcomes. Franklin University’s approach, exemplified by Bennett’s national thought leadership, demonstrates how institutions can:

• Scale innovation without sacrificing quality
• Integrate AI into real-world learning environments
• Align academic programs with evolving workforce needs
• Deliver measurable career outcomes for modern learners

By prioritizing co-creation, applied learning, and workforce alignment, Franklin is positioning itself as a national leader in the next generation of higher education, one where innovation is not an initiative, but a core operating model.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).