BHEF Welcomes 2026 Faculty Innovation Fellows
May 6, 2026 - The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) is pleased to announce the selection of its 2026 Faculty Innovation Fellows, the third cohort of this competitive national program designed to empower faculty leaders to strengthen student outcomes and align academic programs with today's workforce needs.
About the Faculty Innovation Fellowship
The Faculty Innovation Fellowship is a multi-phase experience that equips fellows with the tools, expert guidance, and peer network needed to design, develop, and launch high-impact initiatives at their institutions. Each fellow enters the program with a proposed capstone project and progresses through BHEF's three-phase development process with input from cohort peers, BHEF Network Partners, staff, and national experts. Fellows also build leadership and change-management skills, forge new employer partnerships, and develop practices that extend well beyond their own classrooms. Fellows conclude the program with their capstone projects live in real-world settings across their respective institutions.
The 2026 Cohort
The 2026 cohort represents 22 fellows across 20 institutions in 15 states, spanning approximately 15 disciplines—from biomedical engineering and computer science to history, music, and sustainability. Each Fellow was selected to launch or accelerate the adoption of novel or promising practices that expand student access to AI-enabled skills, credentials, and career pathways, and that embed work-integrated learning experiences that prepare students for the workforce.
Nineteen of the 20 institutions represented are BHEF network partners, and approximately 80% are public institutions. The cohort includes 7 R1 research universities, 5 regional comprehensive universities, 5 community colleges and access institutions, 4 private independent universities, and one public online institution. Four institutions are Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
"The 2026 Faculty Innovation Fellows represent the best of higher education—faculty who are deeply committed to their students' success as demand for both AI-enabled skills and real-world experience continue to grow. This cohort brings together leaders ready to connect the transformational power of a college experience to the workforce and ensure institutions are working with agility to prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving world of work."
—Kristen Fox, CEO, Business-Higher Education Forum
The 2026 Faculty Innovation Fellows are:
| Fellow | Institution | Discipline | Sponsored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khald Aboalayon | Clark University | Data Analytics | John LaBrie, Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies and International Programs |
| David Askay | Cal Poly | Communications | Al Liddicoat, Provost |
| Shahab Band | CSCU – Western Connecticut State University | Computer Science | Stephen Hegedus, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs |
| Renu Balyan | SUNY Old Westbury | Math and Computer Information Science | David Lanoue, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs |
| Thomas Bowler | Wake Technical Community College | Business | Tim Humphrey, Provost, IT & Business Programs |
| Jakob Burnham | University of North Texas | History | Harrison Keller, President |
| Amilcar E. Challu | Bowling Green State University | History | Steve Russell, Chief Partnerships Officer |
| Leida Chen | Cal Poly | Business | Al Liddicoat, Provost |
| Christopher Cody | Hudson County Community College | History | Darryl Jones, VP Academic Affairs |
| Guy-Serge Emmanuel | Quinnipiac University | Communications | Debra J Liebowitz, Provost |
| Janna Goebel | Arizona State University | Sustainability | Michael Crow, President |
| Stan Kurkovsky | CSCU – Central Connecticut State University | Computer Science | Kimberly Kostelis, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs |
| Chris Porter | Drake University | AI | Marty Martin, President |
| Roger Narayan | North Carolina State University | Biomedical Engineering | Mark Schmidt, Associate Vice Chancellor for Partnerships |
| Dima Nazzal | Georgia Institute of Technology | Industrial Engineering | Ángel Cabrera, President |
| Eduardo Salcedo | Miami Dade College | Business | Antonio Delgado, VP Innovation & Technology Partnerships |
| Margaret Schedel | SUNY Stony Brook University | Music (Computer Science) | Carl Lejuez, Provost and Executive Vice President |
| Clint Stevenson | North Carolina State University | Food Science | Mark Schmidt, Associate Vice Chancellor for Partnerships |
| Martha Sullivan | Virginia Tech | Industrial Design | Julia Ross, Executive Vice President and Provost |
| Anne L. van de Ven-Moloney | Northeastern University | Physics | Beth A. Winkelstein, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs |
| Stacey Walraven | CSCU – Charter Oak State College | Healthcare Administration | Dave Ferreira, Provost |
| Charmaine Weston | Montgomery College | English | Jermaine Williams, President |
Find more information about the Faculty Innovation Fellowship here, or contact fellowship@bhef.com.
BHEF Media Contact:
Frank Avery
Managing Director
Business-Higher Education Forum
fellowship@bhef.com