In early November, the Risepoint leadership team headed to Georgia Tech for the annual P3•EDU conference. It was an incredible gathering of higher education leaders, all focused on the future of education and sharing real stories of innovation and impact. We’ve been attending this event since its inception and have witnessed the impact these strategic partnerships create for institutions and learners. This year was no exception, and it offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the possibilities ahead.
Themes and featured sessions
Here are a few standout sessions featuring Risepoint leadership and partner universities.
The New Era of Public-Private Partnerships in Higher Education
This opening panel set the tone by challenging us to rethink how private-public partnerships (P3s) should work in today’s environment. The message was clear: universities need to be intentional about when and how to partner, and outside partners must embrace true collaboration—aligning expectations and sharing accountability for outcomes.
Panelists:
- Susana Rivera-Mills, President, Aurora University (Risepoint partner)
- Gary May, Chancellor, University of California, Davis
- Mike Reeser, Chancellor & CEO, Texas State Technical College
- Rodney Rogers, President, Bowling Green State University
- Lee Gardner, Senior Reporter, The Chronicle of Higher Education (moderator)
The Long Game: How the Right Partnerships Reinvent Your Business Model
This session emphasized breaking free from rigid, traditional models. The panelists highlighted the importance of innovation and pursuing multiple creative partnerships—from industry collaborations to technology alliances—to meet the evolving needs of learners and employers. The core takeaway: institutions willing to rethink traditional models and enter diversified partnerships will be best positioned for long-term sustainability and growth.
Panelists:
- Susan Burns, President, University of Mount Saint Vincent (Risepoint partner)
- Kent Devereaux, President, Goucher College
- Larry Czarda, President, Greensboro College
- Kamalika Sandell, CEO, Core Education (moderator)
Higher Education Technology Roundtable
This wide-ranging conversation explored how technology is transforming education from course design to learner engagement. The big insight: successful tech initiatives start with the problem—real pain points for learners, faculty, or institutions—not the tool. When it comes to AI, panelists agreed that higher ed needs to shift from isolated pilots to integrated strategies that drive meaningful outcomes.
They also cautioned against siloed or disconnected tools and reminded us that the human side of change matters just as much as the technology. Ultimately, public-private partnerships can play a critical role in helping institutions build clean, connected systems and cultivate a culture of experimentation to enhance the learner experience.
For more on this topic, read the in-depth analysis shared by Risepoint CEO Fernando Bleichmar.
Panelists:
- Fernando Bleichmar, CEO, Risepoint
- Kevin Mills, Head of Education & Government GTM, OpenAI
- Courtney Hills McBeth, Chief Academic Officer & Provost, Western Governors University
- Saurabh Sanghvi, Partner, McKinsey & Company (moderator)
Key takeaways
According to Dr. Rivera-Mills, “The pace of change and emerging technology is happening at unprecedented speeds. It is critical that higher education engages fully with the implications to learning experiences to ensure that students are ready to be part of this rapidly evolving workforce.”
The best parts of the event for Dr. Burns, “were feeling affirmed for the work we are doing at UMSV, learning more about some innovative new ideas, and making connections with like-minded individuals from and beyond higher education to imagine possibilities together.”
“This event illustrates the true value public-private partnerships bring to student success,” noted Bleichmar. “Regional universities want to expand access to online programs and implement new technologies, but they don’t have the dedicated resources to keep up with the pace of change. That’s where partners like Risepoint can help build a foundation that delivers real impact for modern learners.”
P3EDU continues to stand out as one of the few events where institutional leaders, innovators, and partners come together with a shared purpose: to build a better future for higher education. It celebrates bold leadership, spotlights diverse partnership models, and fosters action-oriented dialogue.
It’s a reminder of why this work matters—and why collaboration across sectors is essential to serving today’s learners. We’re grateful to the organizers for creating a space where these meaningful conversations can happen and where higher ed’s evolution takes shape in real time.
