Dr. Dean Goon has been the dean of academic Innovation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University since June 2021, managing a team of over 75 professionals. With over 25 years of educational leadership, his expertise encompasses K-12 administration to higher education, including educational consulting, faculty development, and innovative education strategies, with a focus on innovating in higher education. His career highlights include contributions to educational technology, digital learning, and global academic partnerships. In spring 2024, he completed a Fulbright assignment in Mitrovica, Kosovo. A GenAI transformation strategist specializing in higher education, Dean advocates for the intersection of generative AI and human skills to enhance teaching and learning, focusing on cultivating cognitive and socio-emotional capabilities. He emphasizes transformational approaches to unlock the full potential of GenAI tools. Dean serves on the AI Leadership Council for Boodlebox. A recognized thought leader, he frequently delivers conference presentations and Design Thinking workshops, such as “The Quest to Reclaim Human Connection: Coexisting with AI.”

In this insightful conversation with the Higher Education Digest, Dr. Dean shares his expertise on overcoming resistance to change in academia and innovating in higher education, the transformative potential of generative AI, and the evolving role of digital learning in preparing students for the future. He also discusses how specialized institutions can adapt to global trends while maintaining their core strengths, offering valuable insights for educators, academic leaders, and innovators striving to push the boundaries of learning.

Throughout your career, what has been the most significant challenge you’ve encountered in driving academic innovation, and how did you overcome it?

One of the most significant challenges I have encountered in driving academic innovation is resistance to change from faculty and institutional structures. Higher education, by nature, has long been built on tradition. Introducing emerging technologies and digital learning, such as online modalities, competency-based learning, AI-driven learning platforms, adaptive courseware, and mobile-first education models, has often been meet with skepticism and disparagement. The challenge has been twofold: shifting mindsets and building the necessary infrastructure to support innovation at scale.

Read the full article about innovation in higher education by Dean Goon at Higher Education Digest.