Faculty Innovation Fellowship
About the Faculty Innovation Fellowship
The Business-Higher Education Forum’s (BHEF) Faculty Innovation Fellowship provides the tools, experts, and space to design, develop, and launch high-impact initiatives that strengthen student pathways and align academic programs with today’s workforce needs.
Collaboration between business and higher education is vital to ensure that higher education experiences pave the way for rewarding employment. Faculty fellows are leaders empowered to drive positive change that position students for success and enables their institutions to be leaders in employer engagement.
Fellows pursue new employer partnerships and gain the leadership and change-management skills necessary to successfully implement innovative practices within and beyond their classroom. Fellows regularly meet over 9 months to learn, build a strong network, and develop capstone projects which are vetted and tested by their cohort peers, BHEF staff, and national experts.
2026 Faculty Innovation Fellowship
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.
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
Past Cohorts
BHEF launched its inaugural fellows cohort in 2024 with 19 fellows representing seven disciplines (ranging from business and hospitality to nursing, geosciences, and social sciences) across a mix of public systems, community colleges, independent universities, and public research universities, with nearly half being minority-serving institutions. Building on that foundation, the 2025 cohort grew to 28 fellows—a 47% increase—drawn from 18 institutions across 11 states, including eight new BHEF network partners and returning fellows from all 2024 institutions. Fellows' capstone projects focus on aligning education with industry needs, building faculty leadership and innovation skills, and improving student outcomes. Highlights of the 2025 cohort include launching semiconductor and nanoscience advisory boards, integrating GenAI into curricula, expanding cybersecurity access, and developing agrotech and renewable energy programs, as well as creating mentorship networks and experiential learning opportunities in biotech, fintech, and STEM manufacturing.
Learn more about past cohorts.
Point of Contact
For more information on the Fellowship, please contact fellowship@bhef.com.
Special thanks to the following network partners of the initiative's advisory committee:
Frank Avery, Managing Director for Partnerships, Business-Higher Education ForumTerrence Cheng, Chancellor, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
Marty Martin, President, Drake University
Michele Masucci, Vice Chancellor, University System of Maryland
Christopher Reber, President, Hudson County Community College
Jennifer Thornton, Senior Vice President & Chief Programs Officer, Business-Higher Education Forum