The Transformative Power of Higher Education

Dear Higher Education Leaders, Administrators, and Staff,

Public confidence in the value of higher education is currently at an all-time low, and our sector is struggling to respond effectively. The media's excessive focus on elite institutions and their out-of-touch tuition arms race, which impacts only a small segment of society, exacerbates the issue.

At its core, higher education is about unlocking and nurturing talent for our nation and the world. Our mission extends beyond simply recruiting top students; it's about fostering the potential and abilities of all students, regardless of their background.

The future needs higher education to act as a talent activator. Every day, geniuses are born into diverse backgrounds, zip codes, and families. Without the right nurture, support, and opportunities, their potential might remain untapped, depriving us of their contributions to solving the world's challenges.

Our role is to activate and nurture the brilliance in our society, regardless of geography, income, race, ability, or gender. Raw talent is valuable, but it often remains hidden until it is tested, encouraged, and allowed to grow. Every graduation season, I am inspired and awestruck by firsthand accounts of students whose potential was recognized and nurtured by higher education, transforming the trajectory of their lives.

Our collective future needs exceptional talent to tackle the massive challenges facing our society, country, and planet. We cannot afford to let potential geniuses go unrealized. Unleashing talent in all its forms is the essence of what we do and who we are. Higher education excels at taking students from any background, exposing them to a range of ideas, opportunities, and experiences, and helping them realize their highest potential.

The phrase “talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not” serves as a clarifying touchstone in our field. By acting as the talent activator that the future of our country and world needs, we step into the role society values us most for.

We need to keep improving and listening to public feedback to understand their current needs and desires. At the same time, we must lean into our strengths—serving as the talent activator for society. If we do this—by improving and continuing to focus on talent activation as our cornerstone mission—we will thrive. This is how we benefit society: by constantly improving ourselves to help more of our students succeed in our institutions and reach their full potential in the world. Each generation faces unique challenges and opportunities, and it is our duty to prepare them to meet these head-on.

Warmly,
Bridget