Dr. Farouk Dey
President of Palo Alto University
Virtual Presentation
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
11:00 AM-12:00 PM CST
Dr. Farouk Dey
Presentation Description:
Dr. Farouk Dey examines how technological change and shifting workforce demands are transforming education, career pathways, and talent development. Drawing on more than two decades of leadership across leading universities and global initiatives, he explores how institutions can move beyond transactional models toward human-centered, data-informed systems that connect learning to purpose, opportunity, and well-being. The talk offers practical insights on human potential, social mobility, and how education and organizations can design scalable pathways that prepare people to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
About Dr. Farouk Dey:
Dr. Farouk Dey is the President of Palo Alto University, a private, nonprofit institution in the heart of Silicon Valley dedicated to advancing human understanding in a world shaped by technology. A visionary higher education leader with more than two decades of experience, he is recognized for transforming university programs and services through innovation in life design, workforce development, experiential learning, and data-informed strategy. Prior to joining PAU, Dr. Dey held executive leadership roles at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University, and most recently served as the founding Vice Provost for Integrative Learning and Life Design at Johns Hopkins University. In that role, he established the Imagine Center and led institution-wide initiatives that connected learning to purpose and opportunity for students from all backgrounds. A trained counselor and global education leader, Dr. Dey brings deep expertise in social mobility, cross-cultural engagement, educational technology, and the future of work. He holds graduate degrees in educational leadership, counseling psychology, and business administration and is widely recognized for his thought leadership in education, work, and human-centered innovation.
Guest Speakers
Presenters from UW-Milwaukee will share more about the work being done on their campus that directly complements Dr. Farouk Dey’s focus on rethinking how education connects to talent and careers. By integrating life design, career exploration, emerging technologies, and employer engagement directly into the classroom, UW–Milwaukee demonstrates how human‑centered, data‑informed career pathways can be embedded across the curriculum. Their experience offers a practical example of how universities can translate Dr. Dey’s ideas into scalable campus practice.
Dr. Laurie Marks
Dr. Laurie Marks
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Executive Director, Center for Student Experience and Talent
Dr. Leslie Harris
Dr. Leslie Harris
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Professor and Department Chair, Communications