Episode notes
What does innovation in higher education look like when it centers community, access, and learning for the common good?
In this episode of iNNOVATION Insights, host Dr. Eulanda Sanders speaks with Dr. Lance Bennett, President and Founder of The People’s Institute for the Common Good, Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University, and higher education leader. Dr. Bennett shares his journey from community college student to scholar-practitioner and how early mentorship shaped his path into higher education leadership.
This conversation explores how communication studies, organizational leadership, and systems thinking inform Dr. Bennett’s work in designing community-centered learning spaces. He reflects on launching The People’s Institute to create open, accessible learning spaces beyond traditional universities—through programs such as community book clubs, virtual Lunch & Learns, and a distinguished speaker series.
⚫Key topics include:
◾Why community-based learning matters in the future of higher education
◾Lessons from launching a nonprofit learning institute
◾Building partnerships between universities and communities
◾Rethinking enrollment, access, and alternative education models
◾How higher education can respond to AI, workforce shifts, and ethics
◾Leading with values, imagination, and courage Whether you are an educator, higher ed leader, nonprofit founder, or community innovator, this episode offers a powerful lens on how to reimagine learning spaces for impact and equity.
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⚫Connect with Lance
◾LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancekylebennett/
◾Substack: https://substack.com/@instituteforcommongood
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